The Final Chapter...

            With only 4 days left of being a Peace Corps Volunteer I wanted to take time to reflect back on this three-year journey that took me places I would have never imagined. I experienced some highs, some joy, some sadness, some frustration, some anger, some happiness, and all those feelings in-between. When joining the Peace Corps you never know what to expect and just have to go into the adventure with open arms and letting God lead you. It all comes full circle, “All my life I have seen where you’ve taken me. Beyond all I have hoped and there’s more left unseen. There’s not much I can do to repay all you’ve done so I give my hands to use.” I am going into this next chapter of my life the same way I started my Peace Corps journey. Letting God lead and giving him my hands to use because I know he has a purpose and a plan for me, it will not be easy, there will be challenges, struggle, but in the end I trust and enjoy the life God has given to me each and every new day.

Swaziland and Sibebe Rock

            I recently finished my close of service interview with my program manager and one of the questions asked was what am I most proud of from my service. I was thinking backing to my youth clubs, the preschool, libraries, relationships built and my new family here in Swaziland. It is hard to think of just one but one thing does stand out during my time here. I have realized it is not the number of people you reach but the quality and relationships built during your service. There are two people who particularly stand out and have been a blessing to me and seeing them succeed and grow. These are their stories:

            Lindokhule approached me one afternoon when I was home washing clothes on a hot Swazi afternoon. Those over 40 degree days when your fan isn’t working, there is not water and you want to wear as little clothes as possible. She was a friend of my make from the community; a young woman aged 24 who was living at home taking care of her brothers and sisters. At the time she was living with her uncle as her mother was passed and her father was away unable to contact much. She completed her Form5 (Grade 12) studies but was unable to continue on with her studies due to grades and financial struggle. For the last five years she has been trying to provide enough money to take care of her siblings. We started talking and she wanted to return to school to upgrade her marks so she could get a scholarship and go to university. The problem was exam and school fees to retake Form5. It always seems to be an issue with money here in Swaziland for education purposes. We are very lucky in the US to have free education and many opportunities for scholarships to attend University. School should not be taken for granted, as there are millions of girls and children around the world who do not have the opportunity to go to school. After talking more we came up with a plan.

            I was able to create an online fundraiser to help her with the exam fees. I thank everyone who supported that cause and how much you helped change a life. We were able to raise the fees required in just a few short weeks and then went to register her for the exams. She still was unable to attend school so we worked with a few other students after school and had tutor sessions on English, Biology and Math. The high school was very generous in allowing us to use a classroom after school and to work with some other students as well. Finally she was able to start attending classes there and complete her Form5. We also got some of the past exams for her so she was able to review those and practice taking the exams.

Lindo on the far right with her brothers and sisters and uncle's family

            She worked extremely hard and was motivated to improve her marks and get into university. She was always the first one to show up and last one to leave the classroom and focused on her studies. While all the others were out at the soccer pitch or hanging out at the shops, she was in the classroom focusing on her studies. We made flash cards for some of her subjects, which she would review on her walks home or the bus rides to town. I could tell how much she wanted to succeed. I moved from my community in July 2016 to Mbabane to start my new position with Young Heroes and working in the Peace Corps office. She would be taking her exams in November of 2016 and would not receive her results until February of 2017. It was a long wait and was praying for her success.

            I started work, went back to the US for the holidays and then returned to Swaziland and got even busier at Young Heroes. My life in my community seemed so long ago and the next short chapter of my Peace Corps journey was underway. It wasn’t until April that I receive a text message from Lindo saying that she got accepted to continue her studies and will be starting them in March of 2018. Lindo got accepted into Bradford school for a teaching diploma, which is a private college in one of the main towns in Swaziland. It was so great to hear from her and learn that she is pursuing her dreams.

            The other story is about one of my closest friends and most motivated counterparts from my community. Without her the preschool would not be where it is today, continuing to service the community and now having graduated almost 100 children from grade0. The project started at the beginning of my first year in my community with the idea of creating a library for the Primary School. We looked at an old teacher’s house to renovate and make a library to serve both the High School and Primary School. As a Peace Corps Volunteer you have to be flexible and willing and open to work on projects that may not be your desire or expertise but is desired from your community. The library idea was not going well with the schools as many of the community members expressed concern over education and the need for a preschool.

The teacher and my beard at our new latrine being constructed

            Early childhood education is new for Swaziland and curriculum is still being developed for schools. Most of the preschools in Swaziland are privately funded or operated through NGOs or other organizations. This was going to be a challenge but one I was excited for. We started meeting at the schools with the parent committee and introducing the idea to them. Our first step was to start cleaning the building and work on funds for renovation. I had no idea how to start a preschool or what is needed so I set up a meeting with an organization here in Swaziland who focused on establishing and supporting preschools in my region of Swaziland. They agreed to help in any way they could and provide some training for our teachers. This was great news and excited to go back to my community to tell them and begin the work.

            The process of renovations started with cleaning the building, getting all the dirt out of the rooms, repairing cracks and clearing all the bushes from around the building. During this process we began to ask for volunteers or those with experience in teaching to help out and be teachers at the school. Few came forward to help out and of the few; one young woman has been there from the beginning. She was the one who organized the community members, lead the renovations, called the kids to come and made the first preschool my community has had succeed. Through the struggle or organizing parents, trying to get renovations and improvements done, feed the children, educate them and be a teacher she always has a smile on her face and never gave up.

The start of the Preschool Building

            We were able to take an empty old building and give it life and make it a safe and friendly place for the community to gather and mold young minds. The school now has a garden to supplement the food for the children, water harvesting system and holding tanks, toilets and hygiene station to wash hands, school supplies, desks and chairs, books and fencing around to keep the children safe from the road and animals. It is hard to put into words how much Lungile, the preschool teacher, invested and how important she is to the success of the school. Spending evenings preparing lessons, working on the weekends to clean the school or improve it and cooking for the children early in the morning so they had food at lunch time. I was able to work with her the last 2 years and see the growth in not only the school but also her as an individual. I was happy to find out that she was recently accepted into Ngwane Teachers College to finish her education and obtain her degree in teaching. This will be huge in her future allowing her to support her children and provide better education services to the kids around her and her students at the preschool. I am so happy to hear these stories and proud to have worked with someone so dedicated to life and the growth of young children.

The Preschool Today!

          There are so many others stories I could tell about my time in Swaziland and the people I have worked and interacted with. Eventually I would like to write more of these stories down and share them with others to realize what an impact an individual can have. Even if you think you are one person and that you don’t have the power, that is a lie and affecting the life of just one individual is worth it. It is the small things that will create change in the world today and it needs to start with that one person. I want to thank all who have supported me these last 3 years with your prayers, thoughts, care packages, monetary support, letters, messages and encouragement. You have made a difference and I would not be where I am today without all of you.

Siyabonga Kakhulu (We all thank you very much!)

PS: 7 days left in Swaziland. I will continue to write about my experiences in Peace Corps even when I get home and the memories and friends that have touched my life from Swaziland.

The next 3 years!

            I know this is long and overdue and maybe a long read but please take the time to go over it all and see what all your support, prayers and thoughts have accomplished here in Swaziland.  This could not have been possible without my family and friends behind me…

So…Swazi Time: Where you believe that if something can get done today at a certain time then it most certainly can get done at the same time the next day, or even the next day.

            That is what I have been on when sending out updates and letting all my friends and family know how appreciated their support is.  Along with Swazi time, the limited access to Internet, transportation never coming, and the ever-busy life of a Peace Corps Volunteer does not help get this accomplished.  What does help is all the support that everyone has given me over the past almost 2 years here in Swaziland.  In just under a month I will have been here in Swaziland for 2 years, and August 28^th will be the end of my Peace Corps Swaziland service.  A lot has happened over the last 2 years here in Swaziland, in Southern Africa and in my small community in southern Swaziland.  I would like to try and express my gratitude and a brief update of all that has been accomplished here and where I will be going come August 2016.

GLOW Camp 2016 at the Flash Mob with my counterpart and the girls from the high school

            In March I was blessed with a visit from my family here in South Africa and Swaziland that I will never forget and will be one of the best family vacations we have been able to spend together.  When they arrived we got to spend 4 days in Cape Town, South Africa enjoying some real coffee, great food, flushing toilets and a washer and dryer.  Yep that was my favorite thing!  We went to the wine country, the penguins of South Africa, Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain.  After leaving Cape Town we got to spend the rest of the trip in Swaziland traveling around and enjoying a great meal with my host family.  I took them on game drives in Hlane Royal Game Reserve, went zip lining through Malolotja Park, watched traditional Swazi dances and a visit to the cultural village, lots of shopping and great food, and finally a visit to the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg before they left.  It was such a great trip and the highlight was my family getting to meet my host family here in Swaziland and them getting to see my community I have spent the last 2 years in.  We visited many of my projects, had an amazing home cooked meal from my “make”, met some of my students and teachers I work with and experienced “real” Swaziland.

My Swazi family meeting my family for the first time

            The preschool is moving forward with new projects being completed all the time and kids being able to attend school for the first time.  All of this could not be accomplished without all your support through prayers, letters and financial contributions.  We recently completed a garden at the school to provide nutritional food for the kids and their families.  There are tomatoes, butternut squash, spinach, cabbage, carrots, beetroot, and onions planted.  A new veranda was built to provide shade for the kids and provide a place for morning meetings.  New tables along with cubbies and bookshelves were built and the kids love being able to have a place to put their bags every morning when they arrive.  We also put in a tippy-tap which is a hand washing station near the toilets to promote good hygiene and sanitation practices.  In December we graduated the first class of 22 students and in our second year there is almost 40 kids in attendance.  I was blessed to hear from one of the parents how her child who graduated from the preschool was able to attend a good primary school because of his education he received.  The small success stories like those and people coming up to me expressing how they have changed and benefited are what keep me going in the hard times and why I love what I am doing currently.  The next stages for the school will be to build a kitchen and playground for the kids once we are able to collect enough funds and donations.  This will allow the school to eventually be recognized by the Ministry of Education here in Swaziland and have them support the school for sustainability.  It will provide a salary for our teacher and hopefully hire another teacher, provide food for the kids and allow them to attend the school for free.  Currently the parents pay E50 a month or E150 a term, which is about $10.00 or $30.00 for the entire year.  Many parents cannot afford this so they volunteer at the school with projects like gardening, cleaning up the yard, cooking or any other help needed around the school.  I am looking forward to seeing the development and future of the preschool and so proud of my teacher, the parents and community for all they have accomplished.

Preschool graduation in December 2015 with our teacher and Pasture Valley

            Another project nearing completion is the new library at the Primary School.  This month we will be receiving 1000 books from Books for Africa to put in the library and give the kids their first opportunity to explore the culture of reading.  Books for Africa could not have happened without your donations and now 30 new libraries in Swaziland will be opening at various primary schools, high schools, preschools and communities with 1000 new books each.  The primary school I work with is very excited for the new books and to see the children immerse themselves in a new world.  We have recently completed the painting in the new room all Dr. Seuss themed.  The new tables and chairs look amazing in the room allowing seating for 45 students.  We also purchased a new computer for the library as well as a television for movies and presentations in the library.  All of the material and renovations were done from a grant that myself and my counterpart at the school proposed with Peace Corps Swaziland.  The new library will serve over 350 students from ages 6 up to 15 at the primary school.  It will be the first time most of them have had access to books and been able to experience and see oceans, planes, Dr. Seuss, Harry Potter and all the World has to offer using the television and computer.  This will be the first library my community has had access to and will help the youth of my community gain a better education, progress their English and have a chance to see a brighter future.

Primary School Library painting before the shelves are installed

            The final projects I have been able to work on are developing BRO (Boys Reaching Out) and GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) clubs at the high school in my community.  Currently the boys club has around 20 members attending, while the girls have almost 30 girls in attendance.  We meet every few weeks and discuss topics such as HIV/AIDS, SRH (Sexual Reproductive Health), Self-Esteem, and other various life skills relevant to the youth of Swaziland.  One of the main goals of the clubs is to promote gender equality and educate the youth to make healthy life choices for their future.  Some of the things we do at clubs are grassroots soccer games, art and crafts, skits, drama, songs and other hands on activities to teach them.  Recently 3 girls from the GLOW club attended the annual GLOW camp in the capital city of Mbabane.  They spent a week over their school break along with 60 other girls from various clubs and communities in Swaziland learning more about how to be a leader in their communities and Swaziland and what it means to be an empowered women in today’s society.  A flash mob was organized promoting female empowerment and taking a stand by the girls, skits were done and guest speakers were brought to the camp as well as college and career support and advice for the girls.  It is an annual camp similar to the BRO camp each year that is organized and put on by Peace Corps Volunteers here in Swaziland.  My boys club has been able to send 6 boys so far to the BRO camps, which address similar issues and teach the boys how to be strong supportive men here in Swaziland.  The GLOW and BRO camps have been highly successful camps since they started here in Swaziland.  I have had the privilege to see the inauguration of the first ever BRO camp here in Swaziland in May of 2015 and helped put together a manual for all the BRO clubs around Swaziland to use as an aid for their clubs.  The boys and girls I work with in the clubs have become very important to me and seeing their future success is very rewarding.  I have been blessed with seeing a few of the older members in the clubs take leadership positions, improve in their schooling and be able to work towards a brighter future.

BRO Camp in December 2016, the 2nd annual camp in Swaziland

            Finally, the big announcement is that I am privileged to be extending my stay here in Swaziland for another year of service.  When I started the Peace Corps process I couldn’t imagine being away for 2 years in a developing country and if I could even accomplish it.  When I arrived in Swaziland and moved to my community I was ready to be done and was thinking 2 years is way to long, I will not make it.  Time passed slowly at first and before I knew it I was having my parents visit Africa, projects coming to a completion and thinking about our COS (Close of Service).  So, I will be working with a NGO here in Swaziland in the capital city of Mbabane called Young Heroes.  I will also be taking a PCVL (Peace Corps Volunteer Leader) position in Communications for Peace Corps Swaziland.  This opportunity came about from the relationships I have been able to form, my passion for working here and seeing all that is still yet undone.  I studied International Relations in college in the hopes of one day working with a NGO (Non-governmental organization) and international development including non-profit work.  This opportunity is huge in helping me see my goals and continue doing what I love.  A little about Young Heroes is that it is a small NGO started by a former Peace Corps volunteer here in Swaziland.  They focus on providing sponsors for OVCs and Child headed households including food, clothes and schools fees.  They also do leadership and life skills camps for youth and provide technical training for out of school youth and children who are between high school and college who cannot afford university but have skills in demand.  My position with them will be marketing, fundraising and social media presence as well as program development.  MTN Bushfire is one of the largest music festivals here in Africa and is put on by House on Fire here in Swaziland.  It is a major fundraiser each year for Young Heroes so I will be working with them as well on developing more of their presence at Bushfire.  I am looking forward to this new opportunity and seeing how we can improve and develop more of Young Heroes programs.  My position with Peace Corps will be to serve as a Communications liaison with volunteers, staff and improve our online presence.  I will work with Peace Corps Swaziland on managing the new website and other social media.  It will also allow me to help with updating trainings for volunteers and improve the working relationships with volunteers and staff.  All of these opportunities will allow me to continue to improve programs and success here in Swaziland on our goal to eliminate HIV/AIDS and give the children a brighter future.  I don’t know my next step and what will happen after this year but I do know that I am where I am supposed to be and doing what God has in store for me.  In the words of JFK, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”  I want to thank you again for all your support through prayers, letters, care packages, messages, monetary and most of all just showing your care.

“All my life I have seen where you’ve taken me.  Beyond all I have hoped and there’s more left unseen.  There’s not much I can do to repay all you’ve done so I give my hands to use.” –Jeremy Camp

Family together at Mantenga Falls in Swaziland

Here are some links and resources to help with donations and future projects here in Swaziland as well as learn more about my work and Swaziland.  We continue to need support with library projects, boys and girls camps, various education funds and just overall Peace Corps work here in Swaziland.

 http://swaziland.peacecorps.gov/

https://www.gofundme.com/cjkamhb8 (Help fund a friend in my community attend university)

https://www.gofundme.com/swazilandpreschool (Support the preschool project here in my community)

http://www.youngheroes.org.sz/index_home.php

The Last 500 Days

Sawubona “Greetings” from Swaziland.  I hope all is well back state side and just wanted to give all my wonderful friends and family and update on how the last 500 days have gone in one email.  That is going to be hard to do but I wanted to highlight some of the things I have been able to experiences, places I have seen, projects I am doing and just try and capture a little bit of what it is like to be serving as a US Peace Corps volunteer here in the small Kingdom of Swaziland.

One of the first projects I started when I arrived was starting a boys club, BRO (Boys Reaching Out) and a girls club, GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) at the high school.  We would meet about every 2 weeks during school terms at the end of the day.  The main focus of these clubs is to educate the young men and women here in Swaziland about HIV/AIDS and how to make a difference and avoid the virus.  In order to do that we have to address other issues surround the culture here and some of that is gender equality, women empowerment, fatherhood, sexual and reproductive health, self-esteem and building a future.  My boys club has around 12 boys who attend regularly and the girls club is upwards of 25 girls who attend.  I have been able to build a relationship with many of the members in both clubs and have been able to see an improvement in many of there lives in the short year and a half I have been here already.  Some of the things we do are games, dramas, play sports, arts and various crafts, music and movies and lessons teaching various life skills.  Each year there is a camp for BRO and GLOW where the clubs around Swaziland bring 2 to 3 members plus their local Swazi counterpart to a weeklong camp.  At the camp the kids get to interact with other kids from around Swaziland and discuss some of these issues more in-depth, have guest speakers, play sports and activities with each other and enjoy a camp like environment.  Not to mention many of them it is there first time leaving their communities, seeing the larger cities, riding in a bus, and getting all the food they could want, plus showers.  As Peace Corps volunteers we organize this camp each year for all the clubs to come together and it is one of the highlights of our service seeing the kids grow and learn together.

Another project I began was to develop libraries at both the primary and high school in my community.  The primary school has around 350 students from grade 1 up to grade 7.  The high school has just over 200 students from Form 1 up to From 5, ranging in ages from 14 years old to 24 years old.  The school systems are all managed under the ministry of education here in Swaziland allowing students to attend school for free with fees being paid by the government up to grade 7.  A fund has been set up to allow OVC (Orphaned and Vulnerable Children) to attend high school and the government will pay those children’s school fees for them at a set rate.  The high school I work at is comprised of over 90% of the students are OVC, meaning they have lost 1 or both parents.  Most have died from the HIV/AIDS epidemic that hit Swaziland hard leaving 33% of the population living with HIV and 100% of the 1.2 million people living in Swaziland affected in some way or another by HIV/AIDS.  The library projects will allow the kids access to 1000s of new books in the schools enabling them with a greater future.  It will allow students to escape this world and get lost in a good book and discover the joy and culture of reading.  In Swaziland, English is a pass/fail subject and kids need to pass English with a good proficiency if they even want to consider furthering their education here in Swaziland.  All high schools are English mediums but in the rural schools the students lack motivation and the drive to pursue their studies.  They continue to see their fellow peers and community members drop out of school, get in trouble, make poor choices, and they believe this is their only option as well.  The libraries at the schools will give students a place to go where it is safe and help give them a brighter future.  As Peace Corps volunteers we have a program we organize every year called Books for Africa/Swaziland where we are able to provide 1000 new books to 30 school libraries each year.  We also provide training for the teachers and librarians of these new libraries and continue to monitor and help sustain these school libraries long after we depart.  Through grants, donations, community contributions and volunteer work one library at the primary school is coming to completion and a library at the high school is waiting on a grant approval through the US Embassy here in Swaziland.  It is very exciting to see the teachers and students get involved in this project and the joy on their faces when they open a new book.

One of my last big projects here has been the development of a preschool in my community.  There was no preschool when I arrived and many parents expressed the need and importance of a preschool for their children here.  We were able to secure an old building near the schools to renovate and turn into a school.  I was lucky enough to get partnered with a group of individuals from Canada and the United States to help with this project.  They have been a huge support with funding and donating material needed for the school to succeed.  We started with 4 walls and a leaky roof and now are able to provide schooling for over 40 students.  It has been a huge project and one I am very proud of here for my community.  Some work we have done is put a new roof on, build a 3 stall latrine, provide tables and chairs for the students, school supplies and toys, new glass in the windows, fresh paint and artwork on the school, and new fencing.  The parents and community have come together to help with the labor and making this school function.  I have also been working with Megan’s preschool that she currently works at in Vancouver, WA doing cultural exchange with their students and they have also been able to provide financial support for further renovations and needs for the school.  We are still working on getting a water tank and rain gutters for rain water harvesting, building a kitchen so the children can have food at the school, and building a playground for the children.  The school has already made a huge impact in the children and their education.  It will help them be prepared for primary school and help with their English.  We will be having our first graduation ceremony for the school on December 3^rd where 22 students will move on to Grade 1 in January.  It will be an exciting event and the community will come out to celebrate this achievement of the students and community for all their hard work.

All of these projects would also not be possible without the support of friends and family back home.  There are some links you can look at to learn more about these projects and support them financially if able.  Other ways you can support is just to pray for these projects and their success and share them with other friends and family.  The Kingdom of Swaziland is a beautiful place with people who care and love one another; it is the hidden gem of Africa as many like to call it.

I have also been able to do a little traveling while here and get to enjoy all that Swaziland has to offer during my free time and holidays.  I was able to go to Durban, South Africa for New Years last year and recently was in St. Lucia in South Africa for a week.  I am planning to go to Lesotho for New Years this year with another volunteer and do some hiking and camping.  Another trip in the works is visiting Mozambique and the beaches there.  My girlfriend Megan is going to be here in February for a few weeks then shortly after her visit my family will be arriving in March.  I am looking forward to my last 8 months here and getting to see my projects come to a completion and the success of them, some more beautiful places that Africa has to offer, and being able to share my experience with Megan and my family when they visit.  In Swaziland I went on a game drive at one of the largest game reserves here called Hlalne Royal Game Park and we saw Lions, Elephants, Rhinos, Giraffes, Hippos, Impala, Water Buffalo, Warthogs, pretty much The Lion King.  Have dome some great hikes around Swaziland, attended the Marula Festival, went to Bushfire Festival and been able to visit other volunteers around Swaziland.  In my community I have been to traditional weddings, all night church services, school cultural days with traditional dancing, and helped slaughter chickens, pigs and cows.  It is hard to explain all that I have been able to experience and put into words some of the things but it has been a life changing experience already.  They say the Peace Corps is the toughest job you will ever love and they are correct in so many different ways.  I want to thank you all for the support and prayers during this time and I cannot wait to share this experience with you more through my photos, blogs and stories.

Here are some links to our fundraising efforts and please take some time to read through them and pray for all our work here in Swaziland.

GLOW Camp 2015

https://donate.peacecorps.gov/donate/project/glow-swaziland/

BFA (Books for Africa)

https://donate.peacecorps.gov/donate/project/books-for-africa/

Preschool

https://www.gofundme.com/swazilandpreschool

My Blog

http://peacecorpsswaziland.blogspot.com/

The children at the preschool

Why We Do What We Do

           I get onto my computer everyday and I always see the Blog icon on my desktop and say to myself that today I will write a new blog.  Then I make my coffee and sit down to do my morning devotions and reading. After that it turns into making some breakfast, which includes one or two episodes of “Friends” (which I am currently binge watching).  By that time I realize I need to make my bed, clean up the hut and complete a workout.  Once that is all complete it is time to wash up, heat the water, set up the shower, and complete the whole process of PCV bucket baths.  So, 3 hours later I am finally done, but then I look at the time and have to be at the school for either a boys club meeting, girls club meeting, library meeting, preschool meeting or some other event that I always forget is going on.  So I prepare for those and then it’s out the door.  So you see why I have not got around to the new blog.

         When I return home you think evening time is a good time to write a blog.  Well, once I get home I usually lay in my hammock to relax and this includes another one or two episodes of some show, play a little Gameboy Super Mario, or continue my conquest of Game of Thrones book series (Finally on book 4 and only started a year ago). It slowly begins to get dark and the sun is setting so I start some dinner and another quick clean up of my hut cause it gets dirty here! Sitting down to eat a nice home cooked meal, which I have to say I am getting very creative and the fresh fruit and veggies here are amazing to get in the market each week.  Dinner is complete and time to wash dishes from the day and empty all the wastewater.  Whenever I go to throw the dirty water outside in the dark I walk behind my hut and toss the bucket and think one day someone is going to be standing there and will throw all my water all over my sisi, make or babe.  That will be the day. Time to filter some water, brush the teeth, get warm clothes on and crawl into my sleeping bag in the hammock to slowly fall asleep to one of the two-hundred movies I have on my hard drive.  So there you go again, you see why blogging always gets pushed back, the long version.

         These last few months I have been learning a lot more about the country of Swaziland the relationship between their culture and certain behaviors.  I also continue to learn more about myself pertaining to God, friends, my actions, and what has shaped me to be who I am today.  When you travel and experience various cultures you realize there is multiple layers to culture and foreigners tend to only experience and observe that outer layer.  The crust and what people want others to see.  It is the first impressions, the cover of a book, or the outside of a cake.  It all looks good on the outside, to some, but what is underneath is the genuine experience of something.  I have experienced this with Swaziland and myself.

         We just completed the first ever BRO (Boys Reaching Out) Camp in Swaziland and had 28 boys from all over Swaziland attend.  It was an amazing 5-day experience run by PCVs and local Swazi counterparts.  The boys learned about gender equality, relationships, communication, HIV/AIDS education, and how to be helpers and leaders in their communities and schools when they go back home.  It was a rewarding experience to see the boys grow throughout the week and come together as friends and a support system to one another.  There is an issue of gender inequality here in Swaziland and gender norms and stereotypes that create an unequal balance in many areas of Swaziland.  To be a man you own cattle, build things, the main provider of the family and protect your family.  You also have multiple wives or girlfriends, make the rules and have the final say in decisions, and can do whatever you like.  Some women are oppressed because of this and lack power and decision making in relationships, especially when it comes to sexual relationships.  Women are objectified and you can see this when you walk through the bus rank and some men are “cat calling” or grabbing hands or just giving that second glance as a girl walks by.  Peace Corps currently has GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) camps and clubs all over Swaziland that is teaching women to be empowered, an individual, leadership skills and self-esteem building.  It is an amazing club and I currently have a GLOW and BRO club at my high school and the students are all amazing with their own unique story.  Our goal with these clubs is to bridge this gap of inequality between genders and create an empowered nation to realize the full potential of both men and women working together.  There is nothing wrong with a man staying home to take care of the children while the wife goes to work.  A relationship is a partnership and good communication is necessary if you want anything to grow, especially a country.

         This is only scratching the surface of what I have experienced here in Swaziland under that top layer of vibrant colors, traditional dance, the food and spectacular scenery.  I have also learned more about that inner layer of myself while serving here in Swaziland with the Peace Corps.  This experience is coming up to the halfway mark of service and in 2 short weeks I will have been living in Swaziland Africa for a whole year.  A group of new volunteers arrives here at the end of June right before our awesome 4^th of July party.  Get ready for a ride of a lifetime.  There have been ups and downs, and more downs, with a small up, and down again but then that moment where you are back on top and it was all worth it.  Emotions of sadness, homesick, lost, happy, ecstatic, overwhelmed, in awe, scared, worried, ashamed, embarrassed, joyful, breathtaking, shall I go on?  I think every emotion in the world you can experience being a PCV in two short years wherever you go.  I sure have felt a lot of them already.  My crust has been leading me around Swaziland sometimes and it just shows people what they want to see, or what we want people to see.  It has worked sometimes but as an individual we need to not be worried about showing that broken, unpleasing crust to people.  We need to be letting them experience that goodness and joy that comes from inside us.  Not everyone likes the coconut filling and it is not for them, but others it is exactly what they are looking for or need.  That is how we need to be and make decisions based on what comes from inside us, not what people want to see.  We are all made up of layers and it is choosing the right layer to show to people and experience.  It is also not being worried of your own inner layer and what people think of it.  Being here in Swaziland I have failed at this, we all have at some point in our lives, but the important thing is to check your self and ask why am I really doing this.  I believe that it is something God does for us and puts events, people or situations in our lives to stop and look inside and question ourselves.

         You can look on the outside and see an amazing country and beautiful individual but sometimes we all need to stop and look inside and really study ourselves.  What matters is how we react and change to these things and show people who and what we are and believe in.  Not everyone will like it, not everyone will like change, change is hard, but in the end this is what matters.  Swaziland will always have a place inside me, all the good, the bad and the ugly and beautiful.  Bring on the 2^nd and final year of Peace Corps Swaziland.

Top of Sibebe Rock in Swaziland

Work Hard, Play Hard

        It really has been Swazi time since I last posted on my blog.  Lots have been happening with school being in session, and they are actually coming to a close of the first term already.  The schools are run quite differently than back in the states and working on community projects is much more challenging than anticipated.  Peace Corps is a demanding job sometimes however extremely rewarding in the end.  We have to have some time to play as well and our motto seems to be work hard and play hard here.  It is all about enjoying life; enjoying work and enjoying the people we come in contact with.  I have learned more about patience, understanding, forgiveness, self-control and love while being here in Swaziland, not only with Swazi people but even interacting with other Peace Corps Volunteers.  We as volunteers are from all different backgrounds, walks of life, cultures, beliefs, and all have our own baggage as well.  40 volunteers placed in a foreign land to work and make a change while staying sane with one another.  We are one another’s new family whether we like it or not for the next 2 years.  Let the journey begin.

         The school system is run by the government here in Swaziland and includes a Ministry of Education to oversee pretty much all aspects of the schools from Primary school up to Secondary and High Schools.  They are starting to even take more control over Preschools and support them as well.  The Primary School starts at Grade 1 and goes up to Grade 7 before they can move on the secondary school.  It is pretty similar to schools in the states.  Most kids start at age 6, some 5 if they don’t have a preschool they are able to attend.  Currently at the primary school I work at there are about 300 students.  I am working with a few of the teachers to develop a library for the school.  We have a small room with shelving already put up but that is about all.  Our goal is to have over 1000 books, at least 1 computer, and tables and chairs for students to study and read in.  Our dream is to have more than 1 computer for other students and teachers to do work and even research on if we can obtain internet, have a television for students to view, and have all classes visiting the library once a week.  We would like to have it open by the beginning of next year and have books arriving from Books for Africa in May right before I will be closing my service here.  Our tasks consist of organizing a committee, setting up rules and guidelines for the library, writing a grant for the renovation, supplies and furniture, and finally training teachers and introducing the library into the school.

         At the high school I work with a boys club and girls club once a week.  We call them BRO (Boys reaching out) and GLOW (Girls leading our world).  There is an annual camp for a few of the boys and girls from each club to attend in Swaziland where they get to meet other students from all over Swaziland and discuss issues to bring back to their own clubs.  It is a great thing for the students as many of them have never been able to leave their community and get to interact with other students.  It is such a rewarding thing for them and to see the students slowly open up more and see the smiles grow larger each day.  We are gearing up for our BRO camp here in Swaziland in April for about 30 boys from all over Swaziland to attend.  I will be bringing 3 boys from my club to attend this weeklong camp.  The BRO camp is being hosted at our favorite backpackers here in Swaziland called Sundowners.  (I like to call it “downers”, some call it “sunnies”, but than again I like to be different)  In both of these clubs at the school we address issues such as gender equality, self-esteem, and leadership while touching on HIV/AIDS and how they can prevent the spread of the disease.

         The high schools can be somewhat different from our perception of high school back in the states.  Once you complete grade 7 you can continue on to secondary school, which is form 1 to 3.  The High Schools have form 1 up to form 5.  In order to get into a university in Swaziland you have to have completed form 5 and have passing marks in English.  You can repeat forms in order to obtain higher marks but each school requires school fees for the students.  They can be as high as E3500 per term if you do not qualify for OVC (Orphaned and Vulnerable Child) stipend.  Students will travel many kilometers each day to attend a school or even move in order to get into better schools.  The age range I work with is 14-years-old in form 1 up to 24-years-old in form 5 at my high school.  The form 1 class has almost 60 students while form 5 has only 9 students.  Students will drop out because they cannot afford school anymore; have to take care of their families or just loose interest and motivation to continue.  The OVC stipend allows students to attend school and the government will pay a certain amount to the school for them to attend.  (Orphaned and Vulnerable Child – A child who has lost 1 or both parents)  The difficult situation for these students can be that they have to take care of their family and can be as young as 14 years old, trying to provide food and shelter for their brothers and sisters.  The school can struggle since the OVC stipend they receive is not sufficient to cover the full amount for the student and what the school has budgeted for fees per student.  It then has trouble providing high quality education, materials and programs for the students.  If the student body is made up of 50% OVC children the school budget will suffer since they don’t have enough money to cover the remaining fees.  It is against the law for the school to ask these children to pay the difference because they are under the OVC fund and most cannot afford to pay the remaining fees.  It becomes a catch-22 for many schools.

         As if these things don’t keep me busy enough I am also working on developing a Preschool for the community.  We started with 4 walls and somewhat of a roof.  The building is located across from the primary school and has been there for over 20 years being used as teacher’s quarters at first and tried to be a preschool once.  We have been blessed to be working closely with a Christian Organization in the town of Nhlangano, my shopping town for me, although it still takes me about 2.5 hours by bus to travel there.  They have brought multiple groups in to help us with the development of the school and training teachers.  The building currently has fresh paint, some murals inside and out, and new doors and windows being put in.  We are working on getting a new roof and some repairs in the next few weeks.  The preschool also has small tables and chairs for the students, toys, art supplies, cleaning supplies and a great ABC board on the wall.  The community has been hard at work with forming a committee and providing labor for clean-up projects and repairs needed.  The remaining things to be done is to build a latrine, finish the fencing around the school, clear the yard of those thorny bushes, and obtain a water tank and food for the children.  Lots of work still to be done yet we have come a long way from where we started.  The community and parents are extremely excited about the school and the benefit it can provide.  There were over 40 kids who registered for the preschool the first time.  It will be an enormous asset to the community and the schools since the younger children will be able to start schooling at age 3 before heading to the primary school.  Our goal is to have students able to attend in May when term 2 starts and have it fully functioning and sustainable by the beginning of next year.

         Playing hard in the meantime.  Planning a trip up to Hlalne Big Game Park here in Swaziland next weekend to hopefully see 4 of the big 5.  (The African Lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, White/Black rhinoceros, and the African leopard)  A group of 9 volunteers will be camping for one night and taking an early morning game drive through Hlalne Game Park.  After the boys camp in April I will be planning a trip to St. Lucia in South Africa which is on the coast of the Indian Ocean about 2 hours north of Durban.  It is a small coastal town on the edge of a large wetland park home to crocs, hippos, dolphins and whales.  Finally at the end of May is the weekend long music and art festival in Swaziland called Bushfire.  There are thousands of people who attend to see handmade local art and crafts with musical artists performing all weekend coming from as far away as Europe to local South African and Swazi musicians.  A few short weeks after Bushfire the new group of volunteers will be arriving to the Kingdom of Swaziland. (G13)  We all look forward to that since it is always nice to see new faces, especially Americans…and get the new season of Game of Thrones, Walking Dead and Orange is the New Black.

         Everyday I continue to thank God for how blessed I am to have this opportunity.  Even the hard days when I am missing friends and family back home, my power is out, haven’t had a shower for over a week, and the bats will not shut up in my hut.  It is such a blessing to be able to experience another culture and see the joy on their faces when your Make (host mom) laughs at you when you still are washing your clothes wrong and brings you food after a long day of traveling back to site.  The younger children’s smile when they see you at the school cause your white and hearing the debate going on in the high school between students about HIV/AIDS and taking up leadership positions.  Even those community members yelling your name across the field when you’re outside just to say hi and how are you.  It has only been 6 months, and sometimes I feel like I have been here a year, other times like I just arrived.  It will be such a mix of emotions when this journey is over and I will have to say goodbye to my family and friends in Swaziland who have made this an amazing experience already.