View from a Volunteer Team Leader: So what do we do now?

View from a Volunteer Team Leader: So what do we do now?: So what do we do now?  In November 2019 I lead a team from Developing World Connections based in Canada to help build a house in Cambodia. W...

So what do we do now?

So what do we do now?  In November 2019 I lead a team from Developing World Connections based in Canada to help build a house in Cambodia. We were working with an in country partner "Volunteer Build Cambodia" Quite an amazing organisation as it turned, but I will talk about them a little later in the Blog.

First of all I have to praise the team members on this project, some of whom had worked with me before. It always amazes me when team members return time and time again. It means I must get something right or maybe I just pick the right countries at the right time. And yes I know I say it every time, but these wonderful human beings were/are amazing. They worked hard and played hard together without the slightest problem. And it has to be said that putting together a team of people from different parts of the world, from different backgrounds, different religions, different expectations and different age groups is not an exact science. 

In fact nowadays I pretty much take whoever I can get. The days of being choosy and turning people away because we had too many applicants is just a distant memory.  The one consolation is that all these volunteers have the same idea in mind, to help a family less fortunate than themselves. Some are seasoned travelers and some are so far outside their comfort zone I can't believe they have actually signed up to do this. And that just proves how amazing these people are, because they are prepared to take themselves away from their creature comforts and rough it a little bit in a far off land getting hot and sweaty, eating different foods, communicating in a strange language and doing things they would never think of doing at home.

     

But that was November/December 2019. So what is different now in June 2020. Well for a start the whole world is in lock-down. Millions are dying from a deadly virus, anyone attempting to travel is going into quarantine. Airlines are going into liquidation, millions of people are unemployed, who a few months ago had their dream job for life. I am not going to bleat on about Covid-19. We all know what it is and the devastation it has caused, and we all know that life will not return to the old normal that we all knew and thought we understood. Not for some years to come in my humble opinion.

Which brings me to the question "So what do we do now?" And please remember these are only my personal thoughts and ramblings. You must make of them whatever you choose and decide for yourself where we go from here.

As I see it, when the world opens for business again, there will be even more need for people such as my wonderful team members to take up the challenge again and support those less fortunate than ourselves. But there will be a change, the need may be closer to home. The cost of flying may well be prohibitive as airlines try to get their operations back on line and seek to recoup some of the monumental losses they have incurred during this pandemic.  But most of all I wonder if people will want to travel, will want to possibly put themselves at risk by using airlines, airports and foreign hotels, where the attention to anti virus precautions may possibly not be as high as in their home country. 

I know that many will decide not to take the chance, not to risk it. All I can say is that for those who do, the world will be waiting and wanting. And organisations like Developing World Connections, would never dream of placing their volunteers at risk. The in country partners they work with are also very aware of the situation and would not put volunteers at risk. But you have to work it out for yourself and make your own decisions.  For me, I will be back as soon as it becomes possible. It breaks my heart that I am not able to be posting new projects for 2020. I love what I do, not just volunteering in country but getting to meet new friends and re-kindle relationships with dear friends from around the world as they return to work on new projects. 

So speaking of projects, Cambodia was my last one in November/December 2020.  It was organised by DWC (Developing World Connections) out of Kamloops, Canada. The partner in Cambodia was VBC (Volunteer Build Cambodia) a charity set up by a local business man to help his fellow countrymen and women live in a safe environment with a roof over their head and bathroom facilities for safe health and hygiene. They also have a school and a vocational college where local people are encouraged to learn a trade that will help them sustain their own future.

We were there to help build a house. To us this sounded like a big task. But to VBC, it was just another home to be constructed and added to their list of happy home owners which grows at the rate of approximately 5 per week. These guys don't hang about.

Because our team was somewhat larger than the guys at VBC where used to, they were a little concerned that we would finish our house to fast. And we were there for two weeks, so we needed to spread this out. The answer was easy, we would help another couple of volunteers from Malaysia who had funded a house build themselves. Sisters Janice and Kylie along with their mother, raised the funds for the house, in Malaysia but could not find enough volunteers to help them build it. So they were there working on their own and with the VBC staff. They were gracious enough to let us join in and help them.

So we worked part of the day on their house and the rest on our own which was situated just across the road from theirs. 

VBC build so many of these homes that it is just like a kit form house. A lot of the timber is already cut to size in their warehouse/vocational college and brought to site. The team then cut, saw and sand it into shape. Building doors and windows. Every house is the same size and design which makes for an easier construction program. 

The old house is cleared out of the way and the concrete base posts are stood into position. When the team have finished building the main frame structures, families from the village arrive and with the promise of a good lunch afterwards the men help raise the frames onto the base stands whilst the women help prepare the food. It doesn't take long and as soon as the frames are secured into place, the lunch begins. Then they are off again, leaving the VBC crew and the volunteers to complete the build.

Over the course of the build we attended two dedications, one for the home Janice & Kylie funded, and the DWC joint project with VBC funded by the volunteers in my team. We also built a toilet and shower facility next to our house. To say the new young home owners were pleased with the results would be an understatement. 

    

 

   

Until you see and experience the way of life these young families endure, it is hard to comprehend. You may have visited Cambodia in the past, and if you have, I would guess you also visited Siem Reap as this is home to Angkor Wat one of, if not the most famous tourist attraction in Cambodia. You may well have been to Pub Street and experienced the tourist bars and restaurants, The Night Market where they sell anything and everything a tourist could want. And yes you will get a feel for the people of Cambodia. But until you have been to the outlying villages, No not the floating villages maintained for the tourist industry, but the real homes of the Cambodian nationals, you will not truly understand the difficulties they have to live with.

Most families farm very small areas which provide just enough for them to live on. The men in the family often travel miles to work in the rice fields of  neighbouring villages to earn less than $1 per day. I am sure you have heard all this before and in many different languages throughout the world. But it still remains a fact that poverty is prevalent in many many countries and without the help of volunteers like the wonderful members of my teams who are prepared to pay for their own travel and expenses along with a donation towards whatever the project may be. And to then work through the heat and humidity, the dirt and the dust and sometimes the Typhoons that roll in whilst we are working to repair the damage from the last Typhoon. 

That's when you can stand back and pat yourself on the back for actually making difference to someone else's life and future.

But alas, that is all on hold at the moment, Covid 19 has made certain of that. Volunteers are unable to travel and the countries we work in are suffering their own lock-downs and travel restrictions. This does not help those who still so desperately need our help. That said, Developing World Connections continue to support their working partners in various parts of the world who are struggling to maintain the health and well-being of their nations underprivileged. VBC in Cambodia is still building to extend its school and vocational training facility. All are short of funds as the volunteers who brought in much needed revenue, are forced to stay away.

I am sure the time will come again when we can venture out into the world and fulfill our dreams of helping others. But I don't think this will be for some time to come. We can hope, but realistically I feel it will be years rather than months before we once again fulfill our hopes and dreams of a better future for so many needy families.

All I can say is watch this space. As soon as it is possible to put another project together, build another team and change the lives of not only the families we work with, but the team members themselves. I will be posting you the details, and that's a promise.

Until next time, take care, stay safe and stay well.

This is the link to the Cambodia picture Gallery.   https://photos.app.goo.gl/JUwajEh6133owY8CA 

This is the link to the full trip Gallery.  https://teamleader.myfreesites.net/gallery 

.

Voluntourism

Voluntourism

To Volunteer for a two week project or not. That is the question.

Another question is, should I actually be volunteering in the first place.

We read so much today about the ethics of volunteering overseas in developing countries and I am certain it has made a big difference in the number of volunteers putting themselves forward for this kind of trip or project. I can testify that the numbers are down, building a team has become a challenge compared to 5 years ago.

I also understand that there are other factors involved here. Some countries drop in and out of favour, and that can be political, safety concerns, or maybe there has been a disaster in another part of the world that pulls at the heart and purse strings. The financial situation has changed dramatically over the past 5 years as well. Maybe the disposable income  of prospective volunteers has changed. And there are probably many more reasons than I can think of.

But lets deal with voluntourism as it has been labeled.  I know from experience that most people who join a volunteer project for a short period of time, be it one week or two really want to make a difference, their heart is in the right place and they are also at a point in their lives when they can afford the time and the expense. Be that 18 or 81

People question what the developing countries local community gain from a voluntourism project. Why not just send the local in-country charitable organisation the cash, volunteers reduce local employment opportunities, they stereotype the community and country. These are just some of the comments made by people who in the main have not taken the risk and joined a reputable NGO's overseas volunteer project.

To address but a few of these comments, I would say that a reputable NGO will never replace local labour with a volunteer. In many cases, if the volunteers had not banded together and paid their fees covering accommodation, food, transport and a donation towards the project in hand, it would not have happened.  

So they are helping to pay the wages of the local masons, carpenters and labourers. They help purchase materials from local businesses. They stay in local accommodation. Local hotels or guest houses benefit. In some instances the team may stay with local families who gain extra income from providing this service. Local restaurants may gain from food purchases. 

Alternatively a local community member may be paid to provide the food for the team. A local transport supplier may be engaged to drive the team to and from the work site and also provide a vehicle in the case of an emergency.  At the end of the day, a family gain a new home or a village gets a sanitation facility affording the women of the community a dignified and safe place to answer the call of nature. Far better than having to wait until dark and slope off to the forest. A village might get a sub-surface dam to retain the monsoon waters and refill their empty well and irrigate their crops. A school could have new classrooms and a rain water retention system for the kids to drink and also grow crops which help feed them during term time. The possibilities are endless. 

Now I am not saying that the voluntourism problems that are described, don't exist, they do.  In fact the worst type of Voluntourism involves orphanages.  There are many scams in that sector and it certainly does not help the children, only the orphanage owners.  But that is another subject for another day.

This is a very good reason as to why most respectable NGO's  no longer include visits to orphanages in their trips. It is certainly disruptive to the children and does not help in any way to give them a better quality of life.

There is a certain type of person who joins volunteering trips for all the wrong reasons. And as a team leader it is sometimes very difficult to asses this before they appear in country. But it is a team leaders responsibility to try and nip it in the bud at an early stage.  Not as easy as it may appear. At times you just have to send them home early.

I could tell you a few stories about team members who do virtually nothing except take pictures and selfies and post them on their Facebook pages. You should read the comments on their  FB pages. "OMG you are so amazing"  "You are doing such a fantastic job helping those poor people" "The world needs more people like you"   I don't think so. To be honest I could count those team members from my projects on one hand and I have been doing this for the last 14 years.

Does the volunteer get anything out of this kind of vacation? You bet they do. They get a fresh perspective on life in a developing country. They get an experience that can change there entire life. They see and experience things that the tourist organisations don't want them to see and experience. I see it first hand on nearly every trip. Does the volunteer feel that they have achieved something that will help or even change the life of the people they work with. And do you think they feel good about that. Of course they do, and they deserve to feel good. They just don't need to brag about and publicise it. And the majority don't.

It is a two way trade. Some people think that we as volunteers exploit the vulnerable status of the people we work with and for, for our own benefit, the feel good factor.  Well maybe they should stop and think about what the local community get from a group of volunteers arriving from other parts of the world, that they may think have abandoned them. 

Yes their own government may have abandoned them. But now they understand that out there in the big wide world, ordinary people actually care about them.  People who actually want to do something in the world to make a difference. However small that difference may be.

We saw what happened after  money was thrown at a problem back in the 80's Given without though about what the local community actually needed. Well nowadays we work with the community and with local partners who know what is required. We don't go blundering in and trying to tell the local people how its done in the west. We work with their materials in a fashion that they know and understand.  I can tell you, I have learnt so much from local masons, carpenters, and local knowledge, that has helped me back in the west. We don't know all the answers even if we think we do.

There are people out in this world who are ready to exploit others for their own gain, be it financial or vanity. for the adoration of their sycophantic so called friends. A few more likes on their Instagram account. These people exist.  But few actually join a recognised NGO project and pay for the privilege.  

So if you don't want to join this outcast band of glory hunters. Sign up to a recognised NGO trip, do your homework, check them out, check out the team leader, Don't assume that because the organisation is purported to be affiliated with one religious sect or another that it is doing what it does for the right reasons. Check it out. 

And yes, post your pictures on Facebook and Instagram, but think about the impact that it will have on the community, the NGO and yourself.  Post pictures with a journalistic slant. Write about your experience, not just a picture of a crying child or a plastic covered dwelling where 8 or more family members live. Your friends know what you look like, maybe they would like to see what you have achieved or where you have been, without you blocking out half the photograph with your own image.

There was a time when team members arrived in a community and the kids would rush up and shout photo  photo, and then charge about the village square laughing their heads off at the resultant image. It doesn't happen that much nowadays.  What does tend to happen is they run up to you, take out their own phone and take a picture of you and post it on their Facebook page.

I have to tell you that I once had a team member who had merrily been taking pictures of everyone she met or spotted across the street.  But when visiting the Taj Mahal, a young man tried to take her picture. She yelled at him "I am not a tourist attraction"  That tells to me that she regarded all the villagers and local community as a tourist attraction. That is the kind of person we can do without.  And thankfully these people are few and far between.

So to conclude. Voluntourism  (A label I dislike) exists. There are people out there who exploit it for their own vanity. But there are so many more who travel with recognised NGO's and do so for the right reasons. So to those, I say, well done and keep up the very worthy work you are doing.

View from a Volunteer Team Leader: Kenya Project, A resounding success. Developing Wo...

View from a Volunteer Team Leader: Kenya Project, A resounding success. Developing Wo...: Yes I know I'm late with this report but life moves at an incredible pace. As soon as I arrived back in the UK life took over and unfor...

Kenya Project, A resounding success. Developing World Connections with Access Kenya

Yes I know I'm late with this report but life moves at an incredible pace. As soon as I arrived back in the UK life took over and unfortunately Kenya got left behind and the planning for Cambodia took over. But I'm here now.

The team and staff at the Lodge

The team arrived safe and sound in Nairobi and settled into the hotel for an overnight stop. The following morning we were met by John. John is the representative for Access Kenya, our in country partner on this project. We then drove to Naro Moru which was to be our base whilst we assisted local parents to renovate 3 classrooms and fix a small problem with a water retention system.

Aguthi Primary School

The school was about a 20 minute drive from our lodgings which were amazing. We had the whole guest house to ourselves and as there was nothing close by except fields and cattle and crops, we made our own fun in the evenings. The fire was lit in the lounge and as there was no WiFi we had to go old school and talk to each other, play games and generally amuse ourselves. Pass the Pigs was a firm favourite causing riots late into the evening.

Classroom at Aguthi Primary School

There is a small Bar down the road that John and I visited to stock up on beer for the team. As we walked in the conversation stopped and all eyes were on me (a stranger). But it took only seconds before I was welcomed into the fold.  I thought it a little strange that everyone was drinking their beer from half pint mugs but using a straw. Big burly guys drinking beer through a straw, I said nothing. That is until after my second visit when I mentioned it to John and he explained that the glasses were not very clean so they use straws. Makes so much sense now.

Team member from Canada sign their work

A fridge was placed in dinning room as a beer store and an honesty system worked well. All our meals were prepared in house and wonderful they were too. 

Play Time

But onto the project. We were working at Aguthi Primary School in Naro Moru.  Previous teams had installed water retention gutters, pipes and tanks to the classrooms on this site. We were there to renovate 3 classrooms. Well it started as one and ended up as three. The team and parents worked so hard to get this completed. We also repaired a damaged section of the water system. This damage was cause by a storm.

Team members and parents plaster the walls

The task entailed digging out the floors, mixing and laying new concrete to form a flat and polished surface. Plastering the walls and constructing a wall to wall blackboard out of plaster at either end of the classroom and then paining it black.We cleaned the windows and doors, moved furniture and children so as to complete the project.

Team member cleaning the windows

During break time the children enjoyed watching us and making mischief. And the team members were having so much fun with them, it was a job to get them back to class on time.

Kids at play time

The work continued over the two week period with a break for the team to get some R&R at the weekend. They headed out on a safari and had a fabulous time according to the conversation when they returned. I had not gone with them as one team member did not wish to go on safari so I stayed behind with her so as not to leave her on her own. I took the opportunity to visit schools where work had been carried out by previous DWC teams and reported back to head office on the impact these projects had had on the school and the community.

Polishing the floor

To see the results first hand was quite amazing. We work on these projects for two weeks, but the impact that has long term is eye opening. To hear the stories of how lives have been changed because a few foreigners turned up and helped in a community, and made a difference.  The fact that there are other people out there in the big wide world that care and want to help, makes such a lasting impression on the local communities.

A team member playing with the children

The pictures tell a far better story than I can tell so go take a look at the following link and be amazed. Kenya Album

I know I always say what a worthwhile project this has been, but I always mean it because Developing World Connections do such a brilliant job in working with and helping communities around the globe who need help. Not just home building but water projects, welfare projects and womens rights. So now its onto Cambodia in November. I have a great team lined up and I will hopefully get my blog completed as soon as I return.

I think they enjoyed us being there. We certainly had a fantastic time with them.

View from a Volunteer Team Leader: Kenya March 2019 It's getting closer by the day

View from a Volunteer Team Leader: Kenya March 2019 It's getting closer by the day: As you know this year (2018) has not been a good year for me due to the fractured spine issue. But I'm getting over that. And now I am f...

Kenya March 2019 It's getting closer by the day

As you know this year (2018) has not been a good year for me due to the fractured spine issue. But I'm getting over that. And now I am full on organising the Kenya trip for March.

I currently have 9 team members signed up and itching to get out there and make a difference. But I could still do with a few more if you are interested.

I thought I would take this opportunity to explain a little about the area and the local inhabitants we will be working with. Kenya is a fascinating country, more diverse than many I have worked in and I am so looking forward to exploring it's culture.

Naro Moru is located on the western side of the country at the base of Mt Kenya, 170 km north of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya.

Naro Moru is a community of various ethnic groups and religions who have lived harmoniously together for many years. The Kikuyu ethnic group is the predominant tribe in this area.  Although every ethnic group has its own dialect, Kiswahili and/or English are widely spoken by all.

The local people in this small and rural town are enthusiastic, very friendly and enjoy meeting other people from all different walks of life.

Naro Moru village is a small town that consists of small shops, houses, basic restaurants, bars, basic lodgings, a post office, a gas station, and a small bank.

An internet cafe can be found in Nanyuki which is a typical small country town 30 km from Naro Moru village. There is regular public transport between Naro Moru village and Nanyuki town. Both of these towns are perfect places for cultural activities and serves as bases for hiking and exploring places like Mt.Kenya National Park , Samburu Game Reserve, Sweet Water Private Game Park and Laikipia Plateau which represents one of Kenya’s most important wildlife areas.

This region in Kenya has the most animal diversity and the highest number of endangered mammals such as the Rothschild giraffe, Jackson’s hartebeest and African wild dog. And is home to over half of Kenya’s Critically Endangered black rhino.

So I guess there will be plenty to keep us busy both on and off the project. Stay tuned for further updates. And dont forget if you want to get involved with this project, just drop me a line at rayfowell@gmail.com