Arriving here in early October, Anthony and I became friends pretty much right off the bat. I mean looking back to the beginning of PC training, it was really unavoidable. Not only did we make up two thirds of the male population in our health volunteer training group, but we were also in the same small language class. Then, of course, there was another key factor that pretty much sealed the deal: our shared passion for all things nerdy. After a bit of goofing around and chatting we found out that we are both big fans of movie quoting and referencing. We love to discuss history; especially American as of late (he’s reading a Lincoln bio I suggested while I’m reading an FDR bio). We both have similar, ridiculous senses of humor. And we both share and like to discuss our similar ideas concerning social justice and development.
When I found out my site placement in November, I was excited to learn that Anth was going to be placed in a town nearby. So, naturally, in the weeks following the announcement, there was talk between us of everything from movie hang-outs to co-organizing projects together. We were absolutely stoked about getting started as official Peace Corps volunteers and being able to hang out as well. These next two years were going to be great!
On the day that all the volunteers from our area were being dropped off to site for the first time, I don’t think we were fully prepared for what we encountered. After saying our goodbyes to my friend Molly in Quissico, we drove for maybe two minutes before the view of the trees and long grass gave way to the bluest and most beautiful body of water I had ever laid my eyes on. I couldn’t help but gasp as my eyes followed the waves to the white, powdery beach and to the small number of coconut filled palm trees along the shoreline. *What could this possibly mean my site would look like?!* I wondered. As if Anthony was partially reading my mind, he turned away from the window and asked jokingly, “So… do you feel like you’re in Peace Corps yet?”
Since that day in December, Anthony’s question has become somewhat of a gag between him and me. We found out that my city has everything from standard appliances and electronics to foods that most of the other volunteers here can’t find at their own sites. “Do you feel like you’re in Peace Corps yet?” There’s a restaurant on the other side of town that has milkshakes, hamburgers, and French fries. “Do you feel like you’re in Peace Corps yet?” Maxixe is right on the beach and is within close proximity of some of South Africa’s favorite vacation destinations. “Do you feel like you’re in Peace Corps yet?” And so on… and so on…
‘Do I feel like I’m in Peace Corps yet…?’ Depending on the day, amongst some of the Inhambane volunteers, the answer to the question can become less playful smiling and more of a stern and somewhat bitter ‘no.’ Stern because their own Peace Corps expectations were not met and bitter perhaps because of a fear of other people calling them out for not living the ‘true’ Peace Corps experience. From there, in the midst of disappointed expectations, occasionally comes this next question: ‘Why exactly am I here in the first place?’
For me, there was a time that I struggled with my own ‘Peace Corps Experience’ and unmet expectations. (I blame my inherited Catholic guilt :)) ‘You mean I don’t have to worry about harsh weather conditions weighing me down, or sicknesses all the time, or even of working with very limited resources?’ Of course, after the first few weeks at site of trying to make sense of things, I came to my own somewhat more rational conclusion: maybe I am asking myself the wrong question. Maybe it should not be ‘Do I feel like I’m in Peace Corps.’ Maybe it should be something like ‘Is there a need where I am living that I can attempt to alleviate utilizing whatever talents that God gave me?’
In this light, as the focus goes from the individual volunteer to the community at large, the very ‘positives’ of the area come into question themselves. The coastal cities in our Province have lots of resources, but can the average Mozambican in Maxixe afford them? Upon exploration, one realizes that the answer is no. Does the Province really need financial help when they boast of some of the most lucrative beachside tourist businesses on this side of the continent? Here the volunteer begins to notice that these businesses are really booming. But how much really goes to the locals when the hotels, restaurants, and beach side attractions are almost exclusively owned by South African and other foreigners?
When the perspective changes, one comes to see past some of the distractions of warm weather and beaches and see the reality. There are marked fields of mines remaining from the civil war still yet to be cleaned up. The area, especially the city of Maxixe, is home to many child headed households and orphaned children living with their aunts or grandpas. HIV is a threat, yes, but there are also the less talked about issues of why children are so often found playing in and with garbage, why marital and relational dishonesty is so common, and why honesty in general is often hard to find on the streets and in the marketplace.
In the end, I think we ‘privileged’ volunteers, while initially thrown off by the degree of separation between our previous expectations and the reality in which we live in, have to ask ourselves a few things. Is the ‘Peace Corps experience’ about the volunteer or the people she serves? What are we really gaining or losing by living outside of our expectations?
We came here as individuals for a reason, each probably somewhat different that others’. But at the very least many of us came because we have faith in the idea, however unrealistic or naive it may be, that there is something that we can concretely do to make a difference in the life of at least one other person. With this is mind, wouldn’t it be better if we simply let our actions and not solely our surroundings define our two years here? I’d like to think so…
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Projects
Hey Folks! So figured that in order to give you a better idea of what I have been doing here, I’d talk briefly about two projects that I am interested in starting/ have already started. I figured with all my ideas that I have for the programs, it would make sense for me to organize them in little sections instead of going all over the place talking about a random detail. I hope you enjoy reading them. :)
Os brazos do Irmao (A Brother’s Arms)
Problem Addressed:The reality here is that due to various factors (HIV and AIDS being a huge part of it) many parents have been dying one after the other and leaving children on their own to take care of themselves and their siblings. Some children are lucky enough to have family to take them in, but others instead end up running their own households and trying to make ends meet to provide for their younger brothers and sisters.
Resources Already Available: There are a few organizations in Maxixe, but Mahlahle (‘Ma’-guttural ‘k’- ‘lah’- guttural ‘k’-‘leh’) stands out from the rest with its steady supply of resources as well as effectiveness within the community. Mahlahle (the meaning in Bitonga I forget) provides basic support for orphans medically and educationally with their funding. From time to time, there is also enough to provide food.
What my Project Hopes To Accomplish:
In my mind, the role of the parent includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the following… She or he:
1) provides food, shelter and clothing, 2) provides emotional support 3) instills values and 4) passes on knowledge and experience that children can use in order to create successful futures for themselves
The way I see it, if a child does not have parents or a responsible guardian, there is much more than just healthcare and education that he or she will need. While Mahlahle provides the first role to an extent, there is still lacking in the other three. Therefore, my hope is to create a new program which addresses a few of these points to the best of our ability. The idea is that while we can never hope to replace the parents, we can provide mentoring, friendship, and role models for them to aspire to… kind of like a big sister or brother.
How:My hope, which is actually pinnacle if something like this is going to work, is to get the local university involved. Sagrada Familia is a Catholic University with a campus ministry program that is just itching to broaden its horizons. I have already talked to the Deacon, who works within Campus Ministry, as well as the head Campus Minister himself, and they seem to be quite interested in the idea.
My thought is that if I were to go through them, they can assist my projects in a number of ways. First, the can provide space in the gym and the classroom for games, short lessons, and activities that we do in large group sessions. Second, they can provide students who would work for no money and would do the job well because they would actually want to be there. Third, it would be sustainable as the more I get the University office involved and the more I get competent and caring students involved, the less that they would need me there to delegate.
Funding: Peace Corps Vast Grant (TBD)
Specific Roles of Volunteers and the Outline of the Program:
1. Individual Visits to the Child headed households once a week
• Helping with Homework
• Playing for a while
• Help monitor Cooking habits and diet
• Getting to know the youth
2. Assist in Group Activities (Weekly Social Events in a Youth Group-esque format)
• Sporting Matches- Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball
• Basic Games and Activities
• Short sessions on whatever topic for the leaders of household and others kids interested: gender, self respect, professionalism, cooking healthily, HIV prevention etc.
What I Am Doing to Start/ Possible Hiccups:
Familiarizing myself with Mahlahle as well as the children they work with is key. Since I have to work in various neighborhoods with the permission of local leaders and since I am hoping to work with children, face recognition is especially important in order to gain their trust. If I show up with Mahlahle on a few day to day visits, then I can legitimize my presence in this side of the community.
One issue with this is that my office and Mahlahle are apparently… ahem… ‘professional rivals.’ They generally do not like to intermingle on projects for some reason, which has the potential to complicate things. So… worse case scenario I can either a) utilize the Catholic Church and visit local leaders to share my intentions directly and/or b) go through another less effective, but generally respected association on the other side of town. Time will tell...
Resources Already Available: There are a few organizations in Maxixe, but Mahlahle (‘Ma’-guttural ‘k’- ‘lah’- guttural ‘k’-‘leh’) stands out from the rest with its steady supply of resources as well as effectiveness within the community. Mahlahle (the meaning in Bitonga I forget) provides basic support for orphans medically and educationally with their funding. From time to time, there is also enough to provide food.
What my Project Hopes To Accomplish:
In my mind, the role of the parent includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the following… She or he:
1) provides food, shelter and clothing, 2) provides emotional support 3) instills values and 4) passes on knowledge and experience that children can use in order to create successful futures for themselves
The way I see it, if a child does not have parents or a responsible guardian, there is much more than just healthcare and education that he or she will need. While Mahlahle provides the first role to an extent, there is still lacking in the other three. Therefore, my hope is to create a new program which addresses a few of these points to the best of our ability. The idea is that while we can never hope to replace the parents, we can provide mentoring, friendship, and role models for them to aspire to… kind of like a big sister or brother.
How:My hope, which is actually pinnacle if something like this is going to work, is to get the local university involved. Sagrada Familia is a Catholic University with a campus ministry program that is just itching to broaden its horizons. I have already talked to the Deacon, who works within Campus Ministry, as well as the head Campus Minister himself, and they seem to be quite interested in the idea.
My thought is that if I were to go through them, they can assist my projects in a number of ways. First, the can provide space in the gym and the classroom for games, short lessons, and activities that we do in large group sessions. Second, they can provide students who would work for no money and would do the job well because they would actually want to be there. Third, it would be sustainable as the more I get the University office involved and the more I get competent and caring students involved, the less that they would need me there to delegate.
Funding: Peace Corps Vast Grant (TBD)
Specific Roles of Volunteers and the Outline of the Program:
1. Individual Visits to the Child headed households once a week
• Helping with Homework
• Playing for a while
• Help monitor Cooking habits and diet
• Getting to know the youth
2. Assist in Group Activities (Weekly Social Events in a Youth Group-esque format)
• Sporting Matches- Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball
• Basic Games and Activities
• Short sessions on whatever topic for the leaders of household and others kids interested: gender, self respect, professionalism, cooking healthily, HIV prevention etc.
What I Am Doing to Start/ Possible Hiccups:
Familiarizing myself with Mahlahle as well as the children they work with is key. Since I have to work in various neighborhoods with the permission of local leaders and since I am hoping to work with children, face recognition is especially important in order to gain their trust. If I show up with Mahlahle on a few day to day visits, then I can legitimize my presence in this side of the community.
One issue with this is that my office and Mahlahle are apparently… ahem… ‘professional rivals.’ They generally do not like to intermingle on projects for some reason, which has the potential to complicate things. So… worse case scenario I can either a) utilize the Catholic Church and visit local leaders to share my intentions directly and/or b) go through another less effective, but generally respected association on the other side of town. Time will tell...
Future Business Leaders of Mozambique
Problem Addressed: Even for those fortunate enough to receive an education up to the University level, many Mozambicans often find themselves struggling to provide for themselves and their families with stable, decent paying jobs.
What the Project Hopes To Accomplish: While the leaders of this project do not make any promises of drastic change, they do aim to teach professionalism as well as the basic rules of business, thereby giving involved Mozambicans the tools necessary to succeed.
How: The Future Business Leaders of Mozambique (FBLM), which was created a few years back by Peace Corps volunteers, is in its simplest form an 8 week crash course in business. The 8 weeks course, which is comprised of one two hour class and one two hour workshop a week, brings in local businesspeople to speak about various topics ranging from HIV in the workplace to demographics to basic rules of advertising. Meanwhile, the students themselves are formed into groups and fashion their own business, utilizing the ideas that they have learned in class. At the end of the 8 weeks, the projects are presented to a panel of judges (most likely made up of past speakers and teachers from the school) with the winning group receiving 15,000MT (or about $500) to start their business.
Funding: The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, provides our program with all of the funding it needs for supplies, business finance money, compensation for speakers, etc.
My Role: I manage the class budget, purchase the supplies, and organize the classes (aka monitoring workshops and attendance as well as who’s speaking and when) for the group I form here in my city. I will work alongside a Mozambican counterpart (TBD right now) to help mediate between myself and the school system I know so little about.
What I Am Doing to Start/ Possible Hiccups: I have already talked to the director of the school and he seems very excited about the prospect. One pleasant surprise that came out of our discussion was his desire to have students of FBLM not be the older students who are about to graduate, but the ones that have already left and still do not have work. The way he figures it, this program can at least give some of them a direction to go towards.
What the Project Hopes To Accomplish: While the leaders of this project do not make any promises of drastic change, they do aim to teach professionalism as well as the basic rules of business, thereby giving involved Mozambicans the tools necessary to succeed.
How: The Future Business Leaders of Mozambique (FBLM), which was created a few years back by Peace Corps volunteers, is in its simplest form an 8 week crash course in business. The 8 weeks course, which is comprised of one two hour class and one two hour workshop a week, brings in local businesspeople to speak about various topics ranging from HIV in the workplace to demographics to basic rules of advertising. Meanwhile, the students themselves are formed into groups and fashion their own business, utilizing the ideas that they have learned in class. At the end of the 8 weeks, the projects are presented to a panel of judges (most likely made up of past speakers and teachers from the school) with the winning group receiving 15,000MT (or about $500) to start their business.
Funding: The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, provides our program with all of the funding it needs for supplies, business finance money, compensation for speakers, etc.
My Role: I manage the class budget, purchase the supplies, and organize the classes (aka monitoring workshops and attendance as well as who’s speaking and when) for the group I form here in my city. I will work alongside a Mozambican counterpart (TBD right now) to help mediate between myself and the school system I know so little about.
What I Am Doing to Start/ Possible Hiccups: I have already talked to the director of the school and he seems very excited about the prospect. One pleasant surprise that came out of our discussion was his desire to have students of FBLM not be the older students who are about to graduate, but the ones that have already left and still do not have work. The way he figures it, this program can at least give some of them a direction to go towards.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)