Friday, August 17, 2007

the short of it all

Hello world!

Here's my deal - I'm making plans to move to Liberia in late fall (Oct./Nov. '07). I'll be volunteering full-time with a local NGO (non-governmental organization) and working tirelessly to assist them with their improvement efforts for this war-torn country. I'm creating this blog to spread awareness on the issues that Liberians are currently struggling with, keep family and friends updated throughout my journey and as an initial fundraising tool (check out the Make a Donation button).

Please read my stories, throw me some comments so I know you're out there, and check out the links to the organizations that I'm connected with.

the initial notion

For probably 7 years I've known that I want to go to Africa. For maybe 6 years I've talked about doing it. For 4 years I've imagined what the trip would look like, what I'd do while I was there, how long I would go for, and when I would accept the adventure that was calling to me. But beginning February '07 I starting moving on it. And it turns out, it's not really looking like anything I could have imagined!

So here I am now and this is my rough idea of how Africa and I will finally meet. I really want to do something with purpose and meaning. I want to create something sustainable and not of my desire but using my design input. There's no point in going to another place, land or country to make changes that reflect my assumption of need. Or worse, with the idea that you're going to fix it yourself. The only way to be successful when volunteering and reaching out across cultural boundaries is to work side by side with the community and develop based on the unique needs and interests that exist. With this in mind I decided to not pursue the more typical commercialized routes for international volunteerism. Ideally I want to work with locals for local causes, not impose an outsider perspective and inevitably create more unnecessary work and stress for the community.

I agree with this quote...
"If you've come here to help me, you're wasting your time. But if you've come here because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together." Lilla Watson

With this echoing in the back of my mind, I'm super excited about this adventure and can't wait to see what the world throws at me!

my volunteering 'details'

I am using the term 'details' very lightly at this time! Things are still coming together, these details are developing and shifting and being reinvented at this very moment...so I ask that you bear with the tentative nature of this 'job description'. I am simulataneously using this phrase very lightly because some people don't consider what I'll be doing to be a job - since there is no financial compensation involved! haha (this is where I remind you of the Make a Donation button on the homepage of my site!)

I'm going to work for Hands On Liberia/AYDAP (African Youth Development Action Project). The organization was recently established as an affiliate of the Hands On Network (HON) and many things are starting to come together to expand the impact that the organization has in Monrovia (Liberia's capital city). I will be involved with more of the administrative set up, applying the experience that I've gained working for Chicago Cares, Inc. (a top-notch affiliate of HON, if I do say so myself!). I'll be working directly with the national coordinator in Liberia to represent AYDAP as a knock-out team for promoting, marketing, fundraising and developing the organization of the upcoming Liberian Peace Festival (last week of February) and its activities. I will also be working to raise awareness of the organization and further networking efforts locally and internationally. So although there's not a pay check involved, it shouldn't be a leisurely trip! haha

Hands On Liberia/AYDAP has been working to provide options for the many Liberians that have returned to Monrovia or persevered through the 14 years of civil wars and now have a lack of education, training and job opportunities. With the idea of using the arts, film and sports to energize young people in a place where civil society was blown apart, AYDAP certainly has its work cut out.

To better paint the picture, here's info from their website (www.aydap.org)
Who is AYDAP?
African Youth Development Action Project is a registered Scottish Charity (SC034993)

We provide training in many avenues of interest and valuable support and guidance services for Young people in Scotland and Africa.

Aim
Our aim is to ease the many problems experienced by genuine refugees and asylum seekers, as well as local youth, in developing a multicultural community through cultural understanding and tolerance. Through building a better community, a better future can be explored.

Objectives:

To advance education on young African through provisions of information, guidance and services in relation to health, environment and culture.

To alleviate poverty by enabling people to access education and career opportunities through employment guidance, advice and information.

To advance education and knowledge on young people outside Africa by increasing their awareness of health, employment, environment and cultural issues affecting their community and African youth.