My second day at work
I am working at an organisation called Youth Action North Ireland. I am working with Bruce who is a volunteer from Durban, South Africa. i am excited to work with him because like me he is really big on the arts.
Our organisation has many different projects happening and fortunately buce and I have come in just at the right time. Most projects will be starting in a week from now and others will start beginning of February.
Today I sat with the assitant director of my organization and learned a bit of the history of Youth Action.
Youth Action has been up and running for 65 years. It was created by two women who seen the need to create a space for youth to get together and have a safe place to come to. This started in 1944 during world war 2. In 1971 a building called Hampton in the east of Belfast Ireland was purchsed and served as the location for youth action for 35 years. at this time Y.A. was called Northern Ireland Association of Youth clubs. This was all happening around the time N. Ireland was suffering from the Troubles era. So it seemed that the need for this type of organisation was in great need. Then in 1990 Youth Action was launched as the new brand as a voluntary organisation.
They have a few different departments including the rural team, gender equality team, the training team, the reach project, the youth arts team, and the area based and resource center.
i have a basic idea of what each department does and i am sure i will learn more about each department since i am looking to get in volved in each dept and many projects they have happening.
I am excited and i know i will be gaining lots of experience here.
Youth Action<3
First few days in Ireland
So i finally arrived to Belfast, North Ireland. The first few days we spent in the Mourne Mountains in New castle. We stood in a gorgeous very warm cottage with an elderly lady named Mari. We spent three days here for our in country orientation. The GX team met Jess and Keeva who work for VSO. Jess and Keeva facilitated the in country orientation, which was great. The GX team got lectured on health and safety tips, which most were about making sure we are staying warm since the weather out here is extremely cold, especially for those volunteers who are coming from hot countries. The weather out here is 34 degrees to be exact.
Mario and Bruce from South Africa led a writing poetry session for two hours which was great. at the end of the poetry writing mario held a session called seeking peace which brought the group to a real emotional state. Although mario’s exercise brought some people to a ver emotional and personal state, it is good to know and feel that the group has created such a strong bond with each other that we all feel comfortable speaking with each other when and if there is anything wrong.
Belfast city bus tour
Today GX met at Belfast City Hall. We all took a bus tour around Belfast city center to West Belfast. In the tour I got to see and learn a lot about this beautiful city. If it was not for the old police stations, the peace wall, the memorials in dedication to the Protestant and Catholics that have passed, you would not believe the History this city holds. In the bus tour I learned that…
One of the peace walls was signed by Bill Clinton.
I learned that you can be in a Catholic area and then you take a right turn and literally just on the other side of the wall you have the Protestant community.
I noticed that when you are in a catholic area you can see the irish flag and many signs written in gaelic, signs of people showing their pride of N. Ireland.
I noticed that in the Protestant area you can find the british flag hanging high in some of the flats or light posts.
I learned that many Catholics and Protestants died during the troubles era.
I learned that N. Ireland is the second safest place for travelers.
I learned that Titanic has a sister :)
I seen the amazing Albert Clock
Overall i seen and learned so many new things. Belfast is a beautiful city and i am looking forward to my three months here and also to learning more of this cities history.
First month in South Africa
i have been living in South Africa for a month now. It is great!! The weather is a bit strange, one day it is sunny and the next it is raining. The 16 other volunteers are also great and we are all getting along just fine. We have contributed to alot of community activities: childrens festival, kwa mashu parade, interviews in radio stations, sat dance classes.
I have also been learning alot of the zulu traditions and religions. I attended a traditional zulu wedding and learned alot of their traditions for the wedding and the significance of their traditions. I have witnessed the traditional dances and food.
I am living in the town of Pheonix which is a one of the biggest indian communities here in Durban. I am living with a beutiful african family. In my house hold i am living with four younger siblings and my home counterpart, my sister charlotte who comes from Paris, France. She is not fluent in English which makes the communication a bit difficult. but as time has passed we can understand each other alot more than the first few days. I am helping her with her English and she in return is helping me with my french, while i also am trying to learn zulu since it is the language mostly spoken here in S.A.
I am volunteering at Siwela Sonke Dance Studio. It is great and I could not be more greatful to have been placed with Siwela Sonke. I am receiving dance lessons in Indian African contemporary dance. It is a challenge… physically.. but i love it. the studio also does alot of work at The Playhouse located next to our building. I am gaining great experience. With the connections I have created through Siwela Sonke and the dance experience i am receiving i will be able to start my project of providing dance workshops on Saturdays for the BAT center for kids between the ages of 6-16.
I am not home sick yet but i do miss my family and friends.
