EIL Intercultural Learning - EIL Volunteer Abroad Programme

There are no innocent victims of HIV and AIDS.

emily_pemily7 — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:22:42 +0000

I once read that "there are no innocent victims of HIV and AIDS because there are no guilty ones"(Personally Speaking, 2007). I have safely returned to Ireland- despite being heartbroken leaving the beautiful Nigeria. HIV and AIDS was at the heart of all of my experiences in Nigeria, in terms of the focus of my work for the NGO, Living Hope Care and most of my discussions with friends. However, as I reflect on these experiences I am struck by the vulnerability of certain groups in our society. From my limited experience in Nigeria and my upbringing in Ireland, I believe that women and young girls are most susceptible to discrimination, violence and poverty. I feel that this is as a result of gender stereotyping, expectation and discrimination which favours neither sex.

It is only while reflecting on some of my experiences with friends and family that I am struck by some of the harsh realties of the detrimental effects of poverty, abuse and gender based discrimination. On examination of the core of many global issues I believe that we can always find common issues which we need to tackle together.

Each person living with HIV also has to cope with the harshness of the stigma associated with this virus. I believe that HIV related stigma emerges from a fear and lack of education regarding HIV/AIDS. I feel that whoever has access to information should use and access it wisely, in order to learn how people can protect themselves and live positively. Through education fear and consequently stigmatization will be reduced. It is vital that we recognize our position of privilege in an unequal world and become informed about this devastating epidemic and that we learn our HIV status. In the global community there are over 39.5 million people living with HIV.

I recognise that HIV related stigma is manifested in different ways, such as rejection by family members, difficulties developing and maintaining relationships, maintaining employment, managing health or financial services, and also gender based violence. I accept as true, the argument that stigmatization and discrimination emerge from the fear of individuals. To quote the powerful words of Father Michael Kelly, the former Professor of Education of the University of Zambia, ‘HIV and AIDS do not stigmatize. People do. It is an assault on human dignity and worth.’

From my amazing, life-changing experiences in Nigeria I am eager to become involved in the struggle to break the silence on HIV related stigma. I urge anyone who takes the times to read this to please take the time to further your understanding of HIV/AIDS in order to protect yourself and those around you.

I will always be grateful to EIL and the wonderful people I met throughout my stay in Nigeria, for enriching my life experience. I was so privileged to have been welcomed and allowed to share laughter and the challenge of the work with some of the most committed people I have ever met.

Staff and children of Wadem, Nigeria

Caterina Totaro — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:00:10 +0000

Jack Hamilton, from co. Down, together with the staff and the children of WADEM, the centre where he volunteered in Nigeria

Six week volunteering in Ghana: the time of my life

Caterina Totaro — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:51:16 +0000

Katie Doyle, from Co. Wexford, is just back from Ghana where she volunteered for 6 weeks. She just wrote to share her experience with us.

I spent six weeks volunteering in Ghana. It was the time of my life. A lot happened during this short time. Only I and a few others will only ever truely understand what this experience entailed and what we went through.

The six weeks started off with a five-day orientation in the capital, Accra. It was during this time where I met eleven other volunteers from all over the world. I made some great friends from this week. We had drumming and dancing workshops, cooking lessons and general volunteer lessons during this time which would aid us in our whole experience.

I then went to the village where I would be staying for the duration of my time in Africa. This was where I experienced major culture shock. I remember thinking to myself what had I gotten myself in for. I really didn’t know how I was going to last the next few weeks. The food was different, the facilities were not as good as home and the heat was intense at first.

I worked in a primary school in the morning and then in the orphanage beside it in the afternoons. The school day started at eight in the morning. For me, this wasn’t a problem because I usually woke up at half five due to the cockrels and the Muslim call to prayer over a speaker outside my window. I would walk twenty minutes to school and stay there until lunchtime. I would then walk back for lunch and return to an orphanage in the afternoon. I taught Maths and English to a kindergarten class. There were twenty eight children aged from five to seven years old. There was also a Ghanaian teacher in the classroom which was needed as the children can be a little hyper at times. Due to the language barrier, the Ghanaian teacher would translate something I was teaching if the children did not understand. I really enjoyed the teaching, even if it was a little frustrating at times. One of the problems I saw was that there was no special help for children who are dyslexic or have language disorders. There were just not the resources to help these children. It was sometimes sad to think about the futures of these children, but they are all doing the best they can out of what they have.

I would go to the orphanage beside the school in the afternoons and help out or just hang out with the children. There are seventeen orphans, only four of which actually have no parents. The rest of the children were taken to the children’s home after their parents couldn’t afford to feed and educate them. The seventeen of them are all like a big family, the older ones look after the younger ones. They are always so happy to see the volunteers, they are very used to them at this stage. The orphanage was basic but not as poor as others that I saw around the country. The orphans all attended the school I taught in.

At the weekends I would travel with other volunteers, usually the ones I met on my orientation. These weekends were a nice break from the week spent working. It didn’t cost much to travel and it was lovely to see the culture and history of Ghana.

I stayed with a host family in their home. The house was basic, it had electricity but no running water. There was no real toilet, it was basically a pit in the ground. To wash yourself, you use two buckets and pour the cold water over yourself. The food was very different to what I am used to and it took me quite some time to get used to it. The whole experience humbled me somewhat and I feel very lucky for my life in Ireland.

My family consisted of six children and a grandmother. They were such nice people, very welcoming. At times I got on better with my family than I did with the volunteers in my area. I truely think of them as my own family, just in another country. I still keep in contact with them, through phone and email. I hope to go back and visit them in the near future.

I have made life-long friends, both from Ghana and from all around the world. It was one of the best experiences of my life that I believe you need to go and do yourself to ever begin to understand what it is like.

Volunteer Pre-departure workshop June 2010

Caterina Totaro — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:27:13 +0000

EIL Volunteers at the pre-departure workshop in June 2010

Global Awareness volunteers 2010: Emily, Gill, Maeve and Paul during their training

Diana Reis Serrano — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:47:12 +0000

Global Awareness volunteers during their training

Volunteer House , Hanoi Vietnam

Caterina Totaro — Fri, 28 May 2010 09:28:36 +0000

Volunteer House , Hanoi Vietnam

Gil Carter, Global Awareness Volunteer 2010 in South Africa

Caterina Totaro — Wed, 26 May 2010 11:47:11 +0000

Gil Carter, Global Awareness Volunteer 2010 in South Africa

Emily Price, Global Awareness Volunteer 2010 in Nigeria

Caterina Totaro — Wed, 26 May 2010 11:40:41 +0000

Emily Price, Global Awareness Volunteer 2010 in Nigeria

Pre-departure Workshop, December 2009

Caterina Totaro — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:10:24 +0000

On the 12th of December, outgoing volunteers attended a workshop aimed to prepare them for their volunteer experience.

Community Work

Gary Finnerty — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:20:47 +0000

Host Family

Gary Finnerty — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:12:31 +0000

View from Nariz del Diablo

Gary Finnerty — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:06:27 +0000

Group signature; Community Work.

Gary Finnerty — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:03:25 +0000

Painting on the wall of the school

American Group #1

Gary Finnerty — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:52:12 +0000

Me and my new friends

Biking down Chimborazo

Gary Finnerty — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:32:06 +0000

Bicycles on the mountain

Playing with the liana in the jungla

Gary Finnerty — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:10:29 +0000

Playing with the liana in the jungla

Chimborazo

Gary Finnerty — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:36:15 +0000

Vue on the mountain with a red house on the right