Ever since my projects have taken off since October, I’ve found myself on an emotional roller coaster ride that doesn’t seem to end - elated at times, bewildered at times, frustrated at times. What I least expected was finding myself in awkward positions when it came to dealing with questionable bureaucracies. Regardless, my projects are all coming along and the communities are all excited!
My first major project, the Nutrition Workshop in October, was nothing short of chaotic. Those were perhaps the 3 of my most tiring days at site. Everything that we had planned out was turned upside down and was not made any easier by my counterparts’ inconvenient demands. But in the end, it was a success. We educated mothers with malnourished children from our Nutrition Clinic in a 3-day workshop about nutrition – from the basic food group lessons to food demonstrations. The most successful lessons were the no-oil scrambled egg and soy milk demonstrations (performed by yours truly :)).
By the way, great news! I had mentioned previously that UN’s World Food Program withdrew their supplementary feeding program from our district. Even though our district has the highest rate of malnutrition, we had absolutely no program to assist and monitor malnourished children or mothers. World Food Program recently just resumed the supplementary feeding program again for the moderately malnourished children and women! (Its chances of becoming a permanent program are nil due to decreases in donations so I’m still a proponent for teaching them self-sustainable skills and knowledge.) I’m hoping to combine my Nutrition Clinic with the feeding program so that we can still provide them porridge flour and cooking oil while teaching them about proper cooking techniques, kitchen gardens, and food preservation! (To make donations to these kind of programs, go to http://www.wfp.org/.)
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to focus much of my attention on the nutrition programs because of the Under-Five and Youth Shelter construction. After USAID and Peace Corps approved my proposal for building a shelter next to my health center, we immediately began buying and building early November. My youths assisted with the bulk of the labor – from hauling 50 tons of quarry stones and sand to 20,000 bricks to 2,500 kgs of cement – with much help from me. :) Aside from the manual labor, I was also the point person for arranging transport and meals, buying all the materials, and corresponding with my health staff, the district officials, and my site’s administrators. The latter has been frustrating, to say the least. Sometimes I feel like I’m pulling teeth just to get a simple task done. Let’s just say that there is “mismanagement” of funds… and priorities.
Our challenge as of now is the lack of funds to complete our project. We have used up all of our funds – due mostly to the local builders’ inaccurate planning and budgeting, improper use of funds, items being stolen on the mission, etc. – and can only finish the structure and the roofing. We may be able to finish most of the flooring but not plastering the walls. While I have considered asking for external donations (aka you haha), I thought against it. The communities I have worked with – the mission, the youths, and the health staff – have failed to contribute their portions to the project, so I insisted that they be responsible for raising the appropriate funds to complete the building. Though this puts a delay in our construction, I felt this was a necessary lesson for the community to learn how to plan and budget properly and to take responsibility for their own mistakes, as well as not take donations for granted as they often do.
While we were still working on the construction, my youth-friendly health club wanted to organize a Youth Open Day. It was a community event, in which several youth clubs were invited to display their performance arts at their best while incorporating the theme: “Youths should attend health facilities for services”. We had 7 youth clubs, in addition to our youth-friendly health club, present their best drama, choir, poem, or traditional dance with 3 judges awarding the best performances. With assistance from the District Youth Officer, we were able to reward all of the participants with footballs, netballs, and solar-powered radios. My greatest regret was not being able to watch the whole event (I left early for the long journey to Mozambique L). It was a such huge success that the assembly hall was packed and overflowing (at least 500 people and more!) and everyone had a great time!
The remaining major projects are the Natural Medicine Workshop in March and Income-generating Activity Workshop in April. Since the schools are now starting, I’m considering if I should teach Life Skills and restart Sisters’ Club again. But with six months left, I’m not sure how much I can really accomplish!
My experiences in working with bureaucracies left me speculating if I really want to pursue a career dabbling in law and policy. It was never really my intention to do so, but from talking to several people who believed my skills and talents are greatest used in law and policy work, I’ve had to reevaluate my future goals. But in all honesty, I don’t know how much I can – or want to – deal with corrupted and inept administrations and policies, much like what I’ve seen in Malawi, and the emotional pressure from the “oppressed” parties. If I’m dealing with a minor form of corruption, then how much worse would the major forms be?
But if it weren’t for the youths and children I work with, I might’ve halted the projects already. Dangling the children on my knees and laughing with the youths have been my greatest joys the past few months. I’ve really enjoyed getting acquainted with the youths while working alongside with them. Even being away for a 2-week holiday seemed like ages (more for them than me haha). They remind me that some things are really worth fighting for.
Well, that’s all my food for thought for now. :)
My first major project, the Nutrition Workshop in October, was nothing short of chaotic. Those were perhaps the 3 of my most tiring days at site. Everything that we had planned out was turned upside down and was not made any easier by my counterparts’ inconvenient demands. But in the end, it was a success. We educated mothers with malnourished children from our Nutrition Clinic in a 3-day workshop about nutrition – from the basic food group lessons to food demonstrations. The most successful lessons were the no-oil scrambled egg and soy milk demonstrations (performed by yours truly :)).
By the way, great news! I had mentioned previously that UN’s World Food Program withdrew their supplementary feeding program from our district. Even though our district has the highest rate of malnutrition, we had absolutely no program to assist and monitor malnourished children or mothers. World Food Program recently just resumed the supplementary feeding program again for the moderately malnourished children and women! (Its chances of becoming a permanent program are nil due to decreases in donations so I’m still a proponent for teaching them self-sustainable skills and knowledge.) I’m hoping to combine my Nutrition Clinic with the feeding program so that we can still provide them porridge flour and cooking oil while teaching them about proper cooking techniques, kitchen gardens, and food preservation! (To make donations to these kind of programs, go to http://www.wfp.org/.)
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to focus much of my attention on the nutrition programs because of the Under-Five and Youth Shelter construction. After USAID and Peace Corps approved my proposal for building a shelter next to my health center, we immediately began buying and building early November. My youths assisted with the bulk of the labor – from hauling 50 tons of quarry stones and sand to 20,000 bricks to 2,500 kgs of cement – with much help from me. :) Aside from the manual labor, I was also the point person for arranging transport and meals, buying all the materials, and corresponding with my health staff, the district officials, and my site’s administrators. The latter has been frustrating, to say the least. Sometimes I feel like I’m pulling teeth just to get a simple task done. Let’s just say that there is “mismanagement” of funds… and priorities.
Our challenge as of now is the lack of funds to complete our project. We have used up all of our funds – due mostly to the local builders’ inaccurate planning and budgeting, improper use of funds, items being stolen on the mission, etc. – and can only finish the structure and the roofing. We may be able to finish most of the flooring but not plastering the walls. While I have considered asking for external donations (aka you haha), I thought against it. The communities I have worked with – the mission, the youths, and the health staff – have failed to contribute their portions to the project, so I insisted that they be responsible for raising the appropriate funds to complete the building. Though this puts a delay in our construction, I felt this was a necessary lesson for the community to learn how to plan and budget properly and to take responsibility for their own mistakes, as well as not take donations for granted as they often do.
While we were still working on the construction, my youth-friendly health club wanted to organize a Youth Open Day. It was a community event, in which several youth clubs were invited to display their performance arts at their best while incorporating the theme: “Youths should attend health facilities for services”. We had 7 youth clubs, in addition to our youth-friendly health club, present their best drama, choir, poem, or traditional dance with 3 judges awarding the best performances. With assistance from the District Youth Officer, we were able to reward all of the participants with footballs, netballs, and solar-powered radios. My greatest regret was not being able to watch the whole event (I left early for the long journey to Mozambique L). It was a such huge success that the assembly hall was packed and overflowing (at least 500 people and more!) and everyone had a great time!
The remaining major projects are the Natural Medicine Workshop in March and Income-generating Activity Workshop in April. Since the schools are now starting, I’m considering if I should teach Life Skills and restart Sisters’ Club again. But with six months left, I’m not sure how much I can really accomplish!
My experiences in working with bureaucracies left me speculating if I really want to pursue a career dabbling in law and policy. It was never really my intention to do so, but from talking to several people who believed my skills and talents are greatest used in law and policy work, I’ve had to reevaluate my future goals. But in all honesty, I don’t know how much I can – or want to – deal with corrupted and inept administrations and policies, much like what I’ve seen in Malawi, and the emotional pressure from the “oppressed” parties. If I’m dealing with a minor form of corruption, then how much worse would the major forms be?
But if it weren’t for the youths and children I work with, I might’ve halted the projects already. Dangling the children on my knees and laughing with the youths have been my greatest joys the past few months. I’ve really enjoyed getting acquainted with the youths while working alongside with them. Even being away for a 2-week holiday seemed like ages (more for them than me haha). They remind me that some things are really worth fighting for.
Well, that’s all my food for thought for now. :)
Youths chucking bricks.JPG)
Unloading 20,000 bricks
The boys drying off by the fire after getting rained on
Before: Building the foundation
During: Building the Structure
After: About to come!
