I have blindly been planning a trip to a national park for some students participating in of the programs. A similar trip was organized last year, but my supervisor nor myself knew of the proper route to take. So the trip is to happen at the end of the school term which is in just 2 weeks. Not one part of the trip is finalized: lodging, travels, nor food. Some is at the fault of my supervisor or me and the rest is just planning in Africa itself. I am coming to the true realization of this. There was a national meeting planned for a certain week and location and just 1.5 weeks prior to the event, the date and location changed. So, it comforted me that it is not just me and something I will have to get used to. I personally don't understand how anything gets done with this type of planning though. I will start to be more flexible and not care (hopefully to a healthy level) if something does not work out. There are 30 eager students wanting to go on this trip and I don't want to disappoint them. They also deserve it and I hope it motivates them to try harder in school and choose a healthier path in life with this small reward of a trip.
 |
| Another Chance Social Club |
I guess I will fill you in on the actual work I have been doing here. I am part of the Khorixas Coalition on the Reduction of Harmful Drinking (CORHD) and presented on responsible drinking at various workplaces in Khorixas during the Seven Days of Activism Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse. At one high school I lead a girls club to promote women empowerment, teenage pregnancy prevention, and general well-being of the girls. Attendance can range from 5-30. I have never had any youth projects and was not quite prepared for any projects during my first three months. My first months in Knorixas was supposed to be spent on a community needs assessment, building relationships and from there determine the best projects to implement. Well, let's just say my supervisor had different things in mind. I did still learn a lot, and have many great improvements for the coming months! At the same school I co-facilitated (ending up leading) a co-ed health club. Each of the clubs meets once a week. The previous PC volunteer received grant money for a gym. So, in my office building at the hospital, there is a gym with free weights and some exercise balls. Two schools have been coming to exercise. We always warm up, stretch, have a health discussion, gym, then stretch. This has proven to be successful in my opinion as the learners enjoy themselves even the health topics to my surprise! So my big focus for the next semester is maintaining attendance, encouraging leadership among youth, and program sustainability for all the clubs. With the gym is also darts (which we all the darts are currently broken) and chess. I have not incorporated these activities as successfully, but I have plenty time to do so! This upcoming month I am getting hospital staff involved with the gym, starting a girls club at a different school and helping with a teen support club for those infected with HIV. Wish me luck and prayers!
Taylor!!!! So good to read your blog! Sounds like you are doing much good and being a blessing to the people there. Praying you find the appropriate balance between flexibility and structure, and continue to do great things!
ReplyDeletePatrick
Sounds like you are headed in the right direction with your work. Good luck in finding the that fine balance between flexibility and patience. Your in my prayers everyday.
ReplyDeleteLove you,
Aunt Diana
Taylor,
ReplyDeleteAlthough we may have heard about one another and perhaps even passed each other in the hallways, you probably don’t know me personally. That’s ok though, because we are part of the same family. The ACS family! I have been following your blog since the day I found out you were leaving the PSC. I just wanted to let you know that I think you are really brave. I know you’ve heard that from many friends and family, but sometimes hearing it from, basically a stranger, should make the sentiment that much more heartfelt. I don’t know many people who would be able to leave their entire life behind to work and live in another country like you did. It’s actually inspirational!
I understand that you no longer have consistent internet access and cannot update your blog very often but please try to write as much as possible. We are all rooting for you over here and definitely want to read more about this incredible journey of yours. I would assume you’d appreciate any and all letters, which is a big reason I decided to write to you.
Anyway, take care of yourself and don’t stop learning, growing, evolving, and reaching for the skies.
All the Best,
Erik
Good morning, how are you?
ReplyDeleteMy name is Emilio, I am a Spanish boy and I live in a town near to Madrid. I am a very interested person in knowing things so different as the culture, the way of life of the inhabitants of our planet, the fauna, the flora, and the landscapes of all the countries of the world etc. in summary, I am a person that enjoys traveling, learning and respecting people's diversity from all over the world.
I would love to travel and meet in person all the aspects above mentioned, but unfortunately as this is very expensive and my purchasing power is quite small, so I devised a way to travel with the imagination in every corner of our planet. A few years ago I started a collection of used stamps because through them, you can see pictures about fauna, flora, monuments, landscapes etc. from all the countries. As every day is more and more difficult to get stamps, some years ago I started a new collection in order to get traditional letters addressed to me in which my goal was to get at least 1 letter from each country in the world. This modest goal is feasible to reach in the most part of countries, but unfortunately, it is impossible to achieve in other various territories for several reasons, either because they are very small countries with very few population, either because they are countries at war, either because they are countries with extreme poverty or because for whatever reason the postal system is not functioning properly.
For all this, I would ask you one small favor:
Would you be so kind as to send me a letter by traditional mail from Namibia? I understand perfectly that you think that your blog is not the appropriate place to ask this, and even, is very probably that you ignore my letter, but I would call your attention to the difficulty involved in getting a letter from that country, and also I don’t know anyone neither where to write in Namibia in order to increase my collection. a letter for me is like a little souvenir, like if I have had visited that territory with my imagination and at same time, the arrival of the letters from a country is a sign of peace and normality and an original way to promote a country in the world. My postal address is the following one:
Emilio Fernandez Esteban
Avenida Juan de la Cierva, 44
28902 Getafe (Madrid)
Spain
If you wish, you can visit my blog www.cartasenmibuzon.blogspot.com where you can see the pictures of all the letters that I have received from whole World.
Finally, I would like to thank the attention given to this letter, and whether you can help me or not, I send my best wishes for peace, health and happiness for you, your family and all your dear beings.
Yours Sincerely
Emilio Fernandez