but I really enjoy waking up in the mornings to go to work! I wake up at 6:00 am to walk a few miles in the rain, heat, and snow (I wish), in rush hour traffic to get to work every morning and sometimes on Saturdays because I love what I'm doing and I really enjoy the people with whom I work. I know, I know, I've only been working/volunteering with SOS Children's Village for a short time, but just being here makes me feel fulfilled...like I'm actually contributing to something...like I am a part of something big and worthwhile. I'm even planning to start waking up even earlier (5:30am) on Saturdays to start a walking club with the village mothers.
One of the best parts of my day is talking with my coworkers about things that are going on in the village, and in their lives. In such a short period of time, I have developed a really nice relationship with everyone in my office and look forward to seeing them first thing in the morning. The highlight of my day, however, takes place soon after the children arrive home from school, like just now when some of the kids (I call them my "regulars") stop into my office to check up on me. I get to probe them about homework and their social lives, and best of all, get to see their smiling faces.
I know, I know (again), you might be thinking that I'm making this all up, but I'm really not. It has taken me over a year of my Peace Corps service to reach a point where I am so happy with the things I'm doing (in my work life). The Peace Corps always says that this is the "toughest job you'll ever love", and I finally agree. I had to go through the "tough" part to finally find the part that I love.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Friday, March 07, 2008
Can you hear the bells?!
Ba alright?!
Wow, it certainly has been a verrrrrrrry long time since I've been able to update my blog. You remember, about two posts ago, I told you that I was changing organizations? In changing organizations, I also lost a reliable connection to the net. Additionally, it took me a while to find and get settled into a/my new organization (I'll tell you about that later)! So now I'm working with SOS Children's Village in Rustenburg. At my org, there are two programs that are up and running. The first (of which I've yet to become familiar) is the Family Strengthening Project (FSP). Outreach workers and social workers identify families, either child headed households or families where there are orphans and vulnerable children, to provide assistance to: food parcels, skills-based training, clothing, etc. I hope that, as time goes on, I'll be able to learn more about it. The second component of the program is the actual orphanage, although being here has reshaped my idea of what an orphanage is/looks like. When I think of an orphanage, I think of: old, rundown buildings, nuns, old women, corporal punishment, a hall full of bunk beds, a dining room with long tables, ashy children wearing potato sack dresses, little girls with bobbed cuts. So right now you're probably thinking that I have more issues that you initially thought, or my perceptions are somewhat in line with yours. SOS Children's Village in Rustenburg makes me think of a family or rather families. The main office, which is located in a house deep in the heart of a recently developed neighborhood is a place that kids come and hang out. Where work stops because a child wants to say hello. The organization actually has ten houses that are integrated into the same community. Women from the community were hired on to take care of children, acting as surrogate mothers. The children, up to ten per household, are encouraged to call each other brother and sister. Children are taken on outings, nurtured spiritually, emotionally and physically. When you walk into a house, there is laughter and smiling faces, where as in their biological homes, these characteristics were virtually non-existent.
So, I guess you're asking yourself, "Well what does she do at this SOS Village-something or other?" Thus far, I'm helping to set up a monitoring and evaluation system for children who have been recently placed with the organization, to evaluate if they are adjusting to their "new" life. I've been helping with budgets (household and organizational), developing a life skills course for both the mothers and children, and I'm in the process of developing a mentorship program for the children. The mentor program is going to be a combination of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, professional/personal grooming, and "Take your daughter to work day." I hope to build up the children's life skills, etc. in such a way that they will be able to be healthy, happy individuals who follow their passions and realize that their past doesn't always have to predict their future in a negative way. I'll keep you updated. I have a lot of work to do between now and when my Peace Corps Service is up! But with all of that said, I feel fulfilled and in a place that provides a great learning opportunity and fosters out of the box thinking.
Yep, I said it, Peace Corps service is almost up! Can you believe that I technically have six more months to go? It has been a long journey, but one that I don't regret and will keep learning from for years to come. Since it's not over just yet in combination with having so much work to do until then, I'll leave those thoughts for later.
Well, since I'll be able to update you more often, I'll resist the urge to tell you my whole life story (between Oct and March)in one post! Thanks for hangin' in there with me guys through that pregnant pause! I'll chat with you soon!
Salang Sentle!
Wow, it certainly has been a verrrrrrrry long time since I've been able to update my blog. You remember, about two posts ago, I told you that I was changing organizations? In changing organizations, I also lost a reliable connection to the net. Additionally, it took me a while to find and get settled into a/my new organization (I'll tell you about that later)! So now I'm working with SOS Children's Village in Rustenburg. At my org, there are two programs that are up and running. The first (of which I've yet to become familiar) is the Family Strengthening Project (FSP). Outreach workers and social workers identify families, either child headed households or families where there are orphans and vulnerable children, to provide assistance to: food parcels, skills-based training, clothing, etc. I hope that, as time goes on, I'll be able to learn more about it. The second component of the program is the actual orphanage, although being here has reshaped my idea of what an orphanage is/looks like. When I think of an orphanage, I think of: old, rundown buildings, nuns, old women, corporal punishment, a hall full of bunk beds, a dining room with long tables, ashy children wearing potato sack dresses, little girls with bobbed cuts. So right now you're probably thinking that I have more issues that you initially thought, or my perceptions are somewhat in line with yours. SOS Children's Village in Rustenburg makes me think of a family or rather families. The main office, which is located in a house deep in the heart of a recently developed neighborhood is a place that kids come and hang out. Where work stops because a child wants to say hello. The organization actually has ten houses that are integrated into the same community. Women from the community were hired on to take care of children, acting as surrogate mothers. The children, up to ten per household, are encouraged to call each other brother and sister. Children are taken on outings, nurtured spiritually, emotionally and physically. When you walk into a house, there is laughter and smiling faces, where as in their biological homes, these characteristics were virtually non-existent.
So, I guess you're asking yourself, "Well what does she do at this SOS Village-something or other?" Thus far, I'm helping to set up a monitoring and evaluation system for children who have been recently placed with the organization, to evaluate if they are adjusting to their "new" life. I've been helping with budgets (household and organizational), developing a life skills course for both the mothers and children, and I'm in the process of developing a mentorship program for the children. The mentor program is going to be a combination of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, professional/personal grooming, and "Take your daughter to work day." I hope to build up the children's life skills, etc. in such a way that they will be able to be healthy, happy individuals who follow their passions and realize that their past doesn't always have to predict their future in a negative way. I'll keep you updated. I have a lot of work to do between now and when my Peace Corps Service is up! But with all of that said, I feel fulfilled and in a place that provides a great learning opportunity and fosters out of the box thinking.
Yep, I said it, Peace Corps service is almost up! Can you believe that I technically have six more months to go? It has been a long journey, but one that I don't regret and will keep learning from for years to come. Since it's not over just yet in combination with having so much work to do until then, I'll leave those thoughts for later.
Well, since I'll be able to update you more often, I'll resist the urge to tell you my whole life story (between Oct and March)in one post! Thanks for hangin' in there with me guys through that pregnant pause! I'll chat with you soon!
Salang Sentle!
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