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6/1/10
From Molly:
There have been other projects that we have been working on, mostly having to do with the children and their school. We have been sorting hundreds of school uniforms that were donated from the UK. School uniforms are important here because it easily identifies the school children. Children are desperate to go to school here and might try to slip in. Wearing uniforms also gives the children a lot of pride since some of their clothes are not in great shape. Also, all Zambian children wear school uniforms, so it makes sense that they would at this school as well.
We have been teacher assisants for the various grades of the school as well as the preschool. This involves helping the students with the teachers lesson for the day. All three teachers are Zambian, as well as the head teacher and overseer of the school.
We have helped with various construction projects for the new school building that will officially open in September. Some activities for this include: painting, varnishing, removing grout from tiles, removing paint from windows, helping saw wood for desks, planing desk tops, helping assembling desks, putting on toilet seats, sanding desks, etc.
They also have a group of kids that are underpriveldged that are waiting to be part of the school who are provided with a play time a few days a week. Real toys here are a real treat for kids.
We have also started to work on a few other things that I will be excited to be more involved with. These include home visits to those same underpriveledged kids and to adults with HIV.
Also, hopefully getting more involved with a group of volunteers, mostly who are HIV +, reaching out to others in the community who are HIV +. This group does a lot of health education to clients. I have learned from going to one of their meetings that they educated on topics such as HIV progression to AIDS, HIV and Tuberculosis, HIV medication basics, drug and food interactions, drug side effects, nutrition and drugs, reduction of HIV from mother to child in pregnancy, and stigma of family members when diagnosed with HIV. I am going to help with some of the education of these volunteers.