6.30.2016

Nepal Part 2

My time in Nepal was full of wonder. There was so much newness: the seamless blend of religions; the survivors of a tragic natural disaster; the ancient, stoic buildings and streets that have seen so much. This country gives off a certain energy. It is hard to explain an energy in a place, but it is a combination of the people, the sights, the smells and an unseen feeling. I did not visit Nepal before the earthquake of April 2015, but I do not believe the energy could have been much different. There is a sense of calm. The people live with the end in mind here. How will they be remembered is at the forefront of their actions.

The students at Lisha school are so eager to learn. They take such pride in every part of their schooling; their uniforms, books, pencils, handwriting... Their homes have been destroyed, but their school and hope stands strong. One day, Karen instructed class 5 to bring flowers in for a science lesson. There was a range of beautiful flowers carefully tucked in bags and boxes. In the back of the classroom sits a small sweet boy named Vibek. I sat next to him and he looked at me shyly. When the teacher asked the students to pull out their flowers, Vibek opened his pencil box and removed a single rose petal. He gently stroked the petal with his finger while eagerly listening to Claire discuss the parts of a flower. In that moment I felt as though my heart was shattering. This sweet boy cared so much about his "homework" and did his absolute best to complete it. He took such pride in his accomplishment, a soft smile beaming on his face as he softly showed me his pale pink petal.

How often to we refuse to attempt something because our fear of not living up to expectations, ours or others? How often to we give up before we even try? We, as Americans, have more resources than the majority of the world, and we also have more excuses. Nepal taught me there is no valid excuse for anything. If you have heart, passion, determination and will, anything is possible. And if you don't then nothing will be possible. Not attempting is the worst of all failures.




Nepal Part 1

(Written June 14th, 2016)
Nepal is not what I expected, but in a good way. It is far more beautiful, cultured and green. The people are so soft and kind. You are always greeted with respect. The buildings are ancient, the temples weathered. The earthquake remnants are still visible, the collapsed buildings still hide around sharp corners, beams hold structures upright oh so gently. Brick walls resemble jenga pieces; holes with parts missing. It is strange to see a place so delapetated and know the reason is outside anyone’s control. The people here are rising out of survival mode, struggling to return to a normal life. This new normal includes collecting rainwater for washing, living with neighbors who are homeless, and sleeping as close to the ground floor as possible, in fear of the next quake. Cracks rise up the sides of otherwise perfect buildings and from the still-standing higher levels, you can see how low the skyline has become. The Nepalese are early risers, days starting around 4:30-5am. They make their way to the nearest Stupa and circle clockwise, softly touching Buddha’s third eye with a vibrant red powder made of a clay and ash mixture. From there, more Stupas and temples are visited. We accompany Laxman, who works at our guesthouse, on his morning ritual. Laxman is somewhat of a local celebrity in Bhaktapur, people wave and say “Namaste” as we walk through the streets. The Nepalese people have a great sense of pride relating to their nation, their education, their culture and their religions. Sharing it all with them will be a great gift. 




6.07.2016

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."- Nelson Mandela


"Nearly 58 million primary school age children are not in school. More than half of these children are girls and 75 percent of them live in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Of all the primary-school age girls globally, 20 percent are not in school, compared to 16 percent of boys in this age group. That’s 1-in-5 eligible girls worldwide who aren’t going to primary school. But education is vital. Though it's hard to prove the impact of girls’ education statistically, over and over it has been shown that this investment can have a ripple effect of opportunity that impacts generations. With primary and secondary school education can come increased job opportunities and higher wages. Girls who pursue secondary education are also at a significantly lower risk of engaging in crime or falling victim to human trafficking. Educated women have also been shown to marry later and have fewer children."  
http://www.halftheskymovement.org/issues/education

I did not like school. I was a good student, but I didn't care a much as I should have. I knew I didn't want to go to college, so getting good grades and applying myself was not a big concern to me. I did what was needed to get by and nothing more. Over the years, I have found subjects I am interested in, and have started to take classes and learn new subjects. My trips with CGA have ignited a passion for schooling that I never had before. Although education is widespread in the US, there are plenty of students who, like me, don't see education as a necessary part of life. 

In certain places of the United States, and in most parts of the world, education is the most important thing in life. Being educated can be the deciding factor between life and death. For women, your quality of life relies even more heavily on your education. Despite the women's rights movements happening all over the world, there is still much inequality in business, education and respect. In every country I have visited, education of women is a driving force. More and more women and girls are becoming passionate about their learning and schooling. They have dreams and desires that go farther than just simply having children and getting married at a young age. The girls we have met in Morocco are prime examples. 

Youssra wants to be a doctor. A pediatrician to be specific. She knows that the better her English is, the better chance she will have to get into a good university. Her brother is equally ambitious, however he is hoping to become a professional footballer. Their mother did not attend school herself and struggles to find work. She has applied to many jobs and is denied, and her husband has inconsistent work. She spends her days at home painting to ease the stress of paying for rent. She supports Youssra's desire for furthering her education. 

Fatimasahra lives with her grandmother and mother. They all three share a room of roughly 8x8. We arrived for our home visit and the table in the center of the small room was covered in food, more food than they can afford to buy to feed themselves. Grandmother never attended school, had seven children and has spent her entire life caring for her husband, children and working to make ends meet. As she sits and tells us about her life, she repeatedly expresses her embarrassment for her lack of knowledge, claiming she cannot leave the house without getting lost. She cannot read a street sign or a bus schedule, she cannot express herself, and she cannot write her own name. 

Rabiee, Fatimasahra's mother left her parents at age 12 to marry a man in Rabat 40 years older than her. When I asked her if the marriage was arranged, she said no, she wanted to leave her parents and this seemed to be her best option. By the age of 18, she had given birth to Fatimasahra. 6 years ago her husband passed away. She works three jobs, 12 hours every day. Her total salary is 150 dirham a month and her rent is 300 dirham a month. (Yes, you read that correctly, when asked how she pays rent, she said she makes it work.) She talks of her desire to learn, and at the young age of 30, I assure her it is not too late. She smiles sadly and states she has no time to go back to school, all her energy must now go into creating a strong future for her daughter. 

Fatimasahra is a small girl of twelve. At school, she is quiet and hardworking. At home she is helpful and fiery. She wants to be an astronaut when she grows up and doesn't plan on getting married or having kids, to her grandmother's dismay. She has a strong sense of family and is fully aware of the sacrifices her mother and grandmother have made for her. Fatimasahra's grandmother repeatedly thanks us and gives her blessings for our being in their home and at the school She says she is sad that Fatimasahra has no one to understand her and she praises God for sending us to them, vehemently saying she does not want her granddaughter to end up like her. Her gratefulness and appreciation brings us to tears, as we feel we are learning so much more from them than they can possibly learn from us. 



6.02.2016

Morocco pt. 1

Marrakech is known for its souks, Casablanca is known for its mosques, Chefchaouen is known for its vibrant blue walls, Fes is known for it’s tanneries and Rabat is known for being the capital and business center of Morocco. Behind the walls of the Rabat medina however, there is a world teeming with life, color and smells that rival the other well known sites of Morocco’s major cities. The morning walk to school is a quiet one. There is no hustle and bustle to start off the day, and when we are headed to work, most locals are still waking. Shop doors are shut and the streets seem larger without all the people and things. Street cleaners sweep up the debris while cats lounge after a long night of activities. There is a spike of energy, however, when we cross the threshold of the school. Our eager students greet us at the gate, ready to learn. In the sports complex next door, a small group of boys practice their penalty shots, while some men have a friendly game of football. The school day begins immediately, these students have been chosen specifically due to their good grades and are coming to learn English on their summer break. 

Touria, the director of the school is as impressive to me today as she was a year ago. She introduces herself to our students and lights up when she sees Lisa Marie and I. She leads us all to the library, which has been organized and redone since our last visit. As we sit together to receive a Touria sermon, the security guard (who wears a smart grey suit) serves us mint tea and a plethora of cookies. Touria is a force. Raised in a middle class family, she was always an exceptional student, so much so that along with a few others, she was invited to the Royal Palace and honored by the King for her brilliance. She has taught History and Geography, and enjoys learning about the world. Throughout Touria’s stories, one theme rings true; Humanity. The idea that we are all ultimately the same, and we have the responsibility to love, help and respect each other; regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or beliefs. Touria explains to our group that we are ambassadors of both American and American culture, and now of Morocco and Muslim culture. In an age of media speculation and assumption of all encompassing extremism, we hold the responsibility of bringing the truth and bridging the gap between two cultures. We all sit silently, listening to her blend her French & Darija, as Ali, our program director, translates her words between breaths. The notion of suppressed Muslim women is not an accurate representation of Moroccan dynamics, and Touria is this in the flesh. She is respected by both men and women as she confidently and proudly leads her students to greatness. 

If only people spread word of the beauty that exists in the world more often than the suffering, what a different outlook we would have.






Begin Again

In October of 2015, we chose 50 students to travel to five different countries with Children’s Global Alliance. They then spent eight months fundraising, planning lessons and practicing language. Our main fundraiser was a huge success, bigger than ever, giving us more funds to work with in Morocco, Nicaragua, Nepal, Cambodia and Tanzania. This year, we had three student’s who have “aged out”, ask to participate again. AJ was unable to travel but assisted as a mentor during the months leading up to the trip. Nicole agreed to come to our first trip to Morocco as a Student Advisor and Kevin agreed to come to Morocco and Tanzania as a Student Advisor. Their years of experience will be so beneficial to the newer students and we are thrilled to travel with them one last time. 

I have been taking classes on teaching ELL and have learned many tricks and processes for helping our students lead their classes in these countries. We are trying to focus on teaching the students practical English, things they can use to communicate with English speaker who come to visit their countries. Jen compiled a huge amount of resources for our volunteers to use and pass along to the teachers at the schools. I feel that we are entering these countries more prepared than ever to teach English and assist the local educators. 


This summer I will be working in four different countries. I will be on our first ever trip to Morocco to work at the Abdasalam Sayah Middle School in Rabat, a school in Bhaktapur Nepal, CPO orphanage in Phnom Penh Cambodia and LOAMO school in Arusha Tanzania. I will be gone for two months and will work with 25 different student volunteers from the Vail Valley (and one from Baltimore!). I hope you enjoy my blog, a glimpse into my experiences. There will be long hours and lots of hard work, but I could not be more excited. I was born to do this.