The last two days went so fast, and I could not believe that very soon I would be gone, no teaching, no bedtime stories, no hearing the kids laugh…I was very sad and I just wanted to take them with me, take care of them, have them by my side. As another volunteer friend well said… ‘Maria, it is so strange to feel so safe when these boys are sitting next to me, I know they would do everything to protect me!’ and she’s right, so true!You could see their respect and appreciation, wanted to make sure you are ok, offer you to eat from their food, what a privilege for me to have met them.
I’m so glad to have taken part as a volunteer at Grandsons of Abraham , it was such a big appreciation lesson about life, feel lucky that I’ve been to Africa and I know that I’m going back to see and learn more, offer my help, and see again the beautiful smile of the children!!!
Peace & love
Maria P
“You want to make them happy? Give them food!” That what I heard after asking the member of staff what we can do to make the boys happy. That is true. Eating rice and beans or ughali and beans most of the days is not a fun.
One day, 3 other volunteers and myself, we bought live chickens in the village and brought them to the Centre. The boys were so excited. They knew how to prepare and cook them. I was so impressed, I did not have a clue what to do with them. We are all used to ready cleaned or packed meat from Tesco or Sainsbury. I felt like typical ignorant and realised how modern western life is making us useless. We had so much fun that day! So….the following week we arranged to do the same thing but this time with a goat. Read the rest of this entry »
The last couple of days at the centre were very emotionally tensed. I wanted to spend more time with the boys, some days I did double shifts ,wanted to stay longer with the children, get as many memories as I could, they were giving so much strength to see life from a different prospective that every day was a different lesson about life. They were thirst to learn too, many questions about how is the rest of the world out there, how are schools in Greece, why my nails are white and clean, what do we eat, and many many more, that were making at times smile…They are normal questions for us that we are no curious to know when we meet someone, very important to them though and it makes you wonder when we lost the importance of sharing simple thoughts with each other…..when??
peace & love
Maria P
Kenya, Mombasa – 17/01/2010
But the nicest day of them all, was a Sunday when myself and another volunteer which is doing an amazing job with the children, when to the village and bought 13kg of sword fish, a couple of kg of potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables to cook for them a fish soup! Their joy was indescribable! Read the rest of this entry »
A special friend shared with me the most wonderful moments in her life, when she volunteered in Costa Rica and Africa helping children. She said it was one of the most rewarding experiences in her life!
Her personal volunteer statement and many others, helped me decide to embark on a life changing trip with one thought on my mind, how to make a difference in the lives of those children who are so much less fortunate than all of us!!
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11/01/2010
I will never forget my first day at the center… I arrived on the assembly time, 48 boys standing there, age 5-17 years old, 3-4 classrooms made of stone, at the back was a yard with mango trees, cashew trees, nothing alike the European schools, but the smells from nature was so strong, the loud laugh of the children was so alive, the colors so vibrant, made me think that although they were having their lessons under poor circumstances , yet it was the perfect environment for a school to be, nature, no cars, no buildings covering the sun, no pollution!
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