Ben & Jerrys Climate Change College

Are you aged 18-30 ?



Ben &
Jerry's have developed the Climate Change College, and are now accepting applications from 18-30's with ideas
on how to tackle climate change. The prize is a business mentoring
programme (worth €21,000 per student) and a €7,000 monetary grant to
launch a unique project. The programme is largely virtual with a 1-1 mentor, except for a 3 day
workshop in Brussels in February and a two week scientific field trip
to the Arctic in April. All travel is covered by Ben & Jerry’s and
is offset through Cool Your Jets which invests in renewable energy
projects.

Read more about it via the "i genius" website


Technorati Tags: climate change, social entrepeneurs

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Thinkmakers - King Justice

Raul Caceres (Facilitator for Menengai project) & UN Volunteer of the Year award winner has been hard at work co-founding the production company www.think-makers.com with best
friend and film-maker Miguel Herrera.

Their latest production of media with a social message, is a short documentary called :



An overview of the life of a disabled musical director who leads a
group of young adults after suffering the consequences of a brutal
civil war in Africa ... now selected for the Miami Short Film Festival &the Yahoo and Telemundo Short Film festival.

Take a look at the piece here (in English but website in Spanish)
If you like the film please support the message & vote for it by clicking the
word “vota” (vote) before November 16.

Press releases are available to send to any media
contact you might know, email Raul or Miguel on contact@think-makers.com.




Technorati Tags: social message sierra leone disability music civil war

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AVIF & STA Travel

Hoping to link with STA for flight discounts (anyone under 26 or student status automatically gets discounted flights) with an easy-to-book link-up planned. Nice to see STA Travel already using Facebook's massive reach.
Hold fire for more details.




Technorati Tags: STA Travel, kenya, AVIF, cheap flights

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RABUOR Self-Help Group, Kisumu, Kenya

The Rabuor Community recently benefitted from a solar cooking demonstration from John Amayo of SHEP and the SCI worldwide initiative. Their new website is another reach for assistance, volunteers and networking.
My best wishes to Tony Odek.





Technorati Tags: self help, kenya, povery, sustainable development, solar cooking

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Promoting Solar Cooking .. AGAIN & AGAIN

The Field Guide is just one of many tools and tips available on the main Solar Cooking Archive website to ensure apathy doesn't cause an introduction project to fail.

Solar Cooking in Kenya ?
Here's a few reasons why :

• Each group of items in the photo costs 30 Kenyan Shillings (£0.21) as does the pile of charcoal shown. By using a CooKit or other solar cooker, people can buy food instead of fuel.

• Can be built from materials as simple as cardboard, glue, aluminum foil, scrap-metal, and non-toxic black spray-paint
• Fun, clean, convenient, economical, non-polluting
• Uses FREE solar energy
• Can bake, steam, roast, simmer even PASTEURIZE
• Slow, gentle cooking retains more nutrients, giving a wonderful fresh flavour.
• For those that must gather firewood instead of purchasing wood or charcoal, women and girls usually, the time saved can now be used to earn money building and re-selling cookers, even baking cakes for example, or simply returning to school for a better education.
• Less firewood is needed so solar cooking is saving the forests - Forests mean rain, crops, livestock… more money.
• Lack of smoke and soot means improved lung health for cooks and children.
• Benefits of improved health by enabling pasteurization of milk and water.
  

Technorati Tags: solar cooking, kenya

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Aidgle .. bad name but fantastic tool

Aidgle is a custom version of the Google Search Engine, so the search results that you see here are the same as those you see if you use Google Search.

Aidgle helps humanitarian organizations via regular searching: anyone who uses a search engine can help those in greatest need across the globe. Search engine's generate revenue when a user clicks on the paid links that are displayed at the top / right of the search results. Aidgle donates the profit made from these clicks to non-profit organizations doing relief work in current disaster locations. For a list of locations to which they provide aid, click here.

Set Aidgle as your homepage.
Every search that you make counts.




Technorati Tags: aidgle, google, search engines, humanitarian

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Lahash International in Kenya

LAHASH run 2 separate projects in Eldoret and in the Kibera slum area of Nairobi. They use a great deal of internet media to tell their story, pictures & videos. AVIF is hoping to partner and assist their work.
In Eldoret they are running a pilot program to assist prostitutes to leave the industry and seek emotional, spiritual, physical & financial stability through education and micro-loans. Lahash are also assisting HIV affected families, providing school uniforms, clothing, food, rent assistance, and counselling to overcome the stigma and horrendous myths that still exist.

In Kibera they help Margaret Wanjiku Nyabuto with 50 kindergarten / primary children. Here Margaret tells you herself the work that is being done.




Technorati Tags: kenya, poverty, hope, AIDS

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Meal Party in the Rhonda Slums, Nakuru, Rift Valley, Kenya

Another meal party has been donated and hosted for the children of LLK International. Offices opened a few weeks ago & 2 acres of land will be purchased for the construction of two orphanages (separate houses for girls and boys), a volunteer house, a Kindergarten building and a schoolhouse with school clinic and library – eventually an abandoned baby orphanage house will be added in due time.

Farewell from Zoe & Marie

[written by Marie]

Hi to all you wonderful people!

Just a quick email, as after 3 hours sleep, a slippery walk through the mud with too much luggage, red teary eyes and a heavy heart we said goodbye to all those beautiful young ladies at Mercy home.
Yesterday they had a public holiday so as they dont celebrate their birthdays, Zoe and I thought we would have a surprise party for them all! we had lollies and balloons, biscuits, and pass the parcel, pin the tail on the donkey, musical chairs and even a treasure hunt organised.......This is Africa, and what did we expect - most of the kids had to attend school - oh only for an hour or three - then they had to go at different times....grrrrrrr - then they had their chores - we tryed to pack and get organised but that wasnt happening either!

The work men were there as well - plastering walls in the new building, others putting up security windows and doors that were also donated. The new aerial also was being looked at for the new colour tv, visitors popping in to bless us and say good bye..... what a day! We finally had lunch at 5pm and our first game at 8.30 pm which they loved....all the girls got a party bag, with lots of goodies for everyone - they were so happy - all dancing till 12.30 so gorgeous - my can these africans move! Zoe and I ended up going to bed at around 1.30am and up again at 4am, in the dark trying to pack those last things - sobbing little ones in our beds - oh dear. I dont think these girls have ever been hugged and kissed - some didnt even know how to kiss - so over the last couple of months we have been hugging them hello, kissing them goodnight - not accepting their hand shakes! We even got technical with eskimo kisses and butterfly kisses! Not to mention many tickle sessions! They all wrote a special note to us in an exercise book and gave it to us this morning - reading though the watering eyes - the thing all commented on was the hugs, the kisses and kind words of encouagement. Also the "notorious laughing and tickling.....

We did take 3 of the girls into Kisumu last Sunday to help us with gifts, and they tryed ice cream for the first time - showed them how the internet works - amazed.....then introduced the flushing toilet - that really got a huge reaction! How lucky are we to give these young ladies their first experience of these few things we take for granted....wow. Little Melisa fell asleep in my arms as soon as we boarded the bus, just delightful.

On the Saturday before, I went into another orphanage/widow community in Rabour, just outside Kisumu, Where I donated 4 solar cookers to the community in the hope that they can bake and cook for some income. We had the demonstration which was great - the food was so tasty. The old ladies didnt believe you could roast meat, boil eggs, bake cakes, stews, vegetables, pasteurize water and milk....cutting down costs for charcoal and wood for fires, decreasing burns, safer water and tastier food! The whole community was so amazed - as were I! It was a very humbleing experience. This is a very new group- not having hardly anything at all. They live in such a dry barren land - hardly rains. Many total orphans - the youngest 7 months (looks like 4 months). They have a building they want to turn into a community place/library/volunteer boarding/orphans home....the shell is there, roof and doors- but no furniture or water. They have a very deep well and a bucket on a rope - but the rope keeps breaking! They are trying to grow seedlings to sell and vegies in the garden but the soil is so very dry. They are a lovely, welcoming, hopeful group - keen to try something that will be income generating for the good of community...I hope this small thing helps! A big thank you to Alison at AVIF for organising the demonstration for free - the guys were fantastic! So many thank you's and blessings! Hopefully with help and a little income, they can furnish the place for next years volunteers - or any sooner? This would be fantastic as these people hardly speak any english, they need help with so many little things. I would also like to return there, when there is a bed!

13 Oct

ok - I had to give up - my eyes were burning.....we have just spent a day in Nakuru - where I got to go to the National Park - Lake Nakuru, where flamigos are abundant,and even saw the elusive rhino's - wow - such a beautiful place! We also did some serious bargaining at the local markets, and sent a box home......good remedy for being sad! Yesterday we arrived in Nairobi- quite a different feeling to the first time! Seem to be very tired, I guess its accumilative......I will stay here for a couple of days before heading into Arusha in Tanzania. There I shall visit my sponsor boy Yusufu, I cant wait! I really wanted to look at getting my camera looked at or a new one -but the shops were shut due to a public holiday - most unfortunate...the ones that were open were so expensive...hmmmmmm - not sure what to do..tomorrow another day!

Zoe leaves for her tour tomorrow- its been an awesome time together- going through so much. Wow I will miss her! Typing on this computer is difficult the space bar is stuck and very difficult to use! I will attempt to write again shortly...take care,and hope all is well with you!

Hugs and smiles Marie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Farewells from Maseno

....this will be my last 'volunteering' update, at least for awhile. I
really hope one day to be back, and I would recommend this to anyone
who has ever wanted to come and help. It's an amazing experience,
really difficult but most definitely worthwhile. Seeing life here just
makes me realise how lucky I am. .... read more from Zoe, after leaving Maseno on her way to South Africa, overland.




Technorati Tags: volunteer, AVIF, Kenya, Africa, orphan, experience

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Help from REACH

We would like to express our thanks and admiration for this wonderful project.



The Reach organisation
was founded in 1979 by businessman Nick Crace, who saw that there were
few opportunities for retired professionals and managers to use the
skills and experience they had built up over many years to help
worthwhile causes. REACH has grown considerably since .. matching some
1,500 volunteers with voluntary roles in at least 900 organisations.
REACH play a valuable role in strengthening the voluntary sector.

Our thanks for all the help Reach has given AVIF this past year.

Technorati Tags: reach online, volunteer, business skills

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Mentoring & help towards social enterprise

Key Fund Yorkshire has offered to provide AVIF with one free delegate entry to the FOOTSEY 100 event, York Racecourse, October 18 2007, and A GRANT OF £200. Here I will be given the unique opportunity to attend one to one surgeries with industry professionals on topics such as Finance, Marketing, Accounting Systems, Legal Advice and Regional Social Enterprise Support. There will also be running a FREE prize draw on the day for the opportunity to win £1000 worth of mentoring and cash support for AVIF.

This comes at a wonderful time for AVIF as we are in the process of building an ambitious but realistic social enterprise "charitable company" to provide sustainable development for both our Kenyan hosts and AVIF too.

Many many thanks to Kerry Chase, Marketing Officer in Sheffield for Key Fund Yorkshire.



Technorati Tags: key fund yorkshire, footsey 100, AVIF

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Harnessing Africa's People & Animal Power

Many thanks to AfriGadget for promoting this.



The HAPV (Advertised as HAPPY) from Pretoria, South Africa-based Wheel & Water is a twist on the ‘horse and buggy’ mode of transportation. Assisted by MACHETE, a buggy is fitted with a solar panel that charges a 12 volt battery under the driver’s seat & the “HAPPY” becomes an independent, sustainable source of energy that powers cell phone connectivity, front and rear emergency lights and a small neon tube at night.

Add a water filtration system, and the “HAPPY” doubles as a multi functional mobile business unit, that can empower an entrepreneurial owner, to generate income from it as a fresh water outlet, a mobile phone kiosk or a spaza shop – even after dark.


Technorati Tags: animal power, sustainable development, solar power

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Christmas Cards from Kenya

Kibera Paper.Com Cards are made by women from the Kibera slums area of Nairobi. Beautifully
crafted, hand-made, using recycled paper & all-natural products.
Buying these cards will allow these women to support their families, they receive 50% of all profits.
Contact AVIF or Rachel Baughen for further information.




Technorati Tags: christmas cards, recycled, poverty

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Geo-engineering worry

As already stated by others, I’m no expert on global warming, but maybe Planktos isn’t either ... "returning our ocean plankton to 1980 levels of health would remove half
of all our man-made emissions each year, or more than five times the
reductions called for in the Kyoto Protocol" so they claim.



Lets hope that's all ocean-seeding does, Planktos, since you've already seeded a 10,000 square kilometer area off the Galápagos, in the South Pacific.

[By adding iron to certain areas of the sea, the company hope to promote
plankton growth which they hope will absorb large amounts of carbon. This will
then sink to the ocean floor, mostly in the form of faeces, where it
will remain for several centuries. It's not a new concept, and has been
trialed before. However, whilst many studies have had success promoting
plankton growth, few have seen an increase in the amount of carbon
transported to the sea bed.]

Whale lovers and turtle conservationists will be wondering what a massive increase in iron will do to these species, not to mention the sensitive marine ecosystem as a whole ?



Technorati Tags: climate change, global warming, ocean seeding

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FREE durable, portable power from metal/air fuel cells

Trevor Jackson & Eric Cailhol of Metalectrique are highlighting the fruits of their labour & obvious skills, on You Tube with an example of one of their fuel cells in action. The battery is made using plastic pipe and standard parts (apart from the cathode).




The fuel is a mixture of crushed beer cans, and other household aluminium
waste. At the time of the video the cell had run for 48hrs non stop, producing
about 10Watts, all for free. Refuelling is simple with more scrap cans.

Though rural communities in Kenya produce more plastic waste than aluminium villagers still use aluminium food cans and many pit holes are dug to bury the waste. Free energy & a cleaner environment has to be good news.


Technorati Tags: free energy, recycling, environment, kenya

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Fundraising ideas for AVIF

You can raise over £400 for AVIF by shopping through www.buy.at/AVIF.

You can raise over £400 for AVIF just by shopping through www.buy.at/AVIF.   Retailer Commission   An ISA from Legal & General £85 Sky HD package £110 A contract phone from Dial-a-phone £60 Home insurance from the CO-OP £70 Powergen dual fuel £35 Free 21 day DVD rental trial from LOVEFiLM £7.50 Egg card £20 National Trust membership £20 £150 on clothes from All Saints £15 Total £422.50

Visit www.buy.at/AVIF for more great offers from over 100 top retailers.

Forward this mail on to help AVIF raise funds. Please forward this mail on if you think that you know people who would like to receive it. Responsible emailing Remember if someone receives this mail from you, then tells you they don't want to receive a similar one again you must not send them future messages. If you are considering forwarding it on you must do so only to people who you consider would like to receive it and to whom the content is relevant. If you have a formally-managed list you must only send it to those who have expressed that they wish to receive such mail from you. Purchases made through www.buy.at/AVIF All purchases are made according to the information and terms provided by the company making the sale to you. Further details on using the buy.at shop are provided on the site.

I have a suggestion.

To support@codetry.com

I'd like to Create a Cause for our charity, AVIF, but we're UK based, UK listed (HMRC XR99385) and operating in Kenya. How can we do this when we have to be US registered ?

We use Facebook for networking, 95% of our volunteers are on here from all over the world, also, but its a real shame we can't register a Cause.

Asante & salamu !

Alison Lowndes

Founder Trustee

www.AVIF.Org.UK

VoIP & IM Skype : avif_volunteers_in_kenya

Member of the NCVO & DEA

New Online Webstore

Bookmark our Blog here

HAVE YOU MENTIONED SOLAR COOKING TO ANYONE ?

AVIF is a UK exempt charity able to claim GiftAid HMRC ref. XR99385

Congratulations to NABUUR (neighbours) online volunteering

Way back in October 2006, James Omollo, contacted me on NABUUR. A year on James has created a virtual village with a host of global "neighbours", all chipping in their free time from the comfort of their homes / offices.



This virtual neighbourhood (an idea from the fabulous Siegfried Woldhek,ex CEO of Netherlands World Wildlife Fund) has now built a website for the project and has found a few sponsors with donations of learning materials by GraceUSA for the children of Nyakach
The project kindly invite you to join them in ensuring a good future for the children of Nyakach.

The NABUUR online volunteering system has similar villages throughout the world, it just doesn't get any easier to help others.



Technorati Tags: online volunteer, kenya, nabuur, poverty, help, global

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Crossing youth activism with the Gorillaz

Junction 49 has arrived; Timebank's new space for getting youngsters interested in making a difference. "Its brand new & being user-generated-content it won't be completely polished until people start using it!" says Madeleine Willis of Timebank, so take a look around & spread the word.





Technorati Tags: youth, volunteer

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OneWorld launches social networking site to tackle climate change

OneWorld, the international network for global justice, is launching a social networking
space for climate change tomorrow that will act as a ‘Climate Facebook’ to
inspire people to take action to protect the planet.

OneClimate.net is a mass collaboration space dedicated to global citizens gathering and
distributing solutions to climate change,” says Anuradha Vittachi, co-founder of OneWorld and instigator of its climate initiative. “It shows what people and organisations all over the world are doing, and offers a response to the question, ‘Why should I go green if no one else is?’” Vittachi points out that climate change is set to be the greatest creator of poverty and suffering the world has ever known, undermining the good work done by development workers for decades.

OneClimate.net links directly through to OneClimate Island, built by OneWorld within the 3D virtual world of Second Life. Since opening to the public in June 2003, Second Life has grown explosively and today includes 100 universities, including Harvard.



OneClimate Island was soft-launched by OneWorld on 16 September 2006. “OneWorld was the first NGO to use Second Life for dealing with serious global justice issues, as well as creating its first space devoted solely to tackling climate change,” says Peter Armstrong, OneWorld co-founder and Innovations Director.
“It will come into its own when the United Nations meets on December 3-14 to hold its Climate Summit. We will be opening a virtual window on events in Bali for anyone in the world who can access Second Life. But unlike its Real Life equivalent - and appropriately for a climate change conference - it will produce no travel-related carbon emissions.”
[info via Anna Cohen, Partnership Coordinator for One World]


Technorati Tags: one world, second life, climate change

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Children's Message

LLK International and the incredible "Mama Brique" have been busy caring for the children, despite the constant struggle to regain control of the Virginia M Buena Centre in Nakuru. The children sent a message to sponsors who organised the meal party.

Donors donate funds to pay for a meal for all of the children, for example as a present for somebody, themselves or for their own sponsored child. When the meal party is celebrated a message to the donor or to the celebrated person is written on the board, the children do the only thing that they can do in thanks – pray for that person - and photos are taken of the children eating and praying and of the board message. This time it was for Inge Bahlmann, the sponsor of the two children at the board (Linus and Sarah).

There are different prices for different things, such as a full meal - about 80 euros, fruit – about 35 euros – milk – about 30 euros. A meal with meat added costs about 100 euros. This is meant in addition to the beans and rice that the children usually were given. The Center were giving at least 4 such meals a week & during the draught last year – for about 2 months – were feeding 2000 children every single day this way.


Technorati Tags: orphanage, sponsors, kenya, AVIF, poverty

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Be a SuperHero

Global Cool and Vodafone have got together to collect used mobile phones. Funds from this are going to help SolarAid, a not for profit organisation which aims to relieve poverty through facilitating the provision of solar energy to those in need.
AVIF are hoping to work with SolarAid teaching groups
in Kenya to build, use & re-sell simple solar energy kits ..
recycling your old mobile phone will help fund this so Simply take your old mobile phone, batteries and accessories to any Vodafone store in the UK.

Technorati Tags: solar power energy poverty kenya aid

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Solar cooking for the Mercy home girls

Texts now sent to John Amayo, supervisor of the Kadibo solar
cooking project close to Mercy Home & Alison Curtis of SHEP (Solar
Health & Education Programme). Hopefully we can arrange for Tetra Pak to donate
the reflective material to make the cookers so the womens group and the girls at Mercy Home also can learn to make / use and sell the cookers and food products baked in them too.




Technorati Tags: solar cooking water pasteurization kenya

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More news from Zoe in Maseno

More photos and updates from Zoe in Mercy Home ...




Technorati Tags: volunteer kenya africa poverty orphan

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Last day of school.......:(

[Update from Marie in Uganda / Kenya]

Hello once again!
 
I've been a little slack in writing, time is just flying by..... a little news on whats been happening-
We arrived back in Kenya last Saturday night, with a new drum for the girls - they usually use water containers, they were so thrilled, not because of the drum, more that we had returned a day early! Zoe and I had a great time- Uganda is a diamond in the rough! wow - I would love to go back there! Awesome to see the source of the Nile river ....lots of naked babies bathing on verandahs, really great shopping in Jinja... Then up to Murchison Falls "the most spectacular place on the river Nile - falls were so powerful - cruised along the croc and hippo infested waters to the bottom, then walked around the top the next morning, the spray creating rainbows all over the place! We also got to go on another safari - seeing the animals with lake Albert in the background, fishermen in rickerty boats - and a great herd of elephant - quite surreal...unfortunatly the Lions were not around, but wow the giraffe were amazing! Buffalos, elephant, wart-hog, antelope many birds and hippo. I heard the grunts of the hippo outside the tent one night - then heard the rangers shouting and trying to get them to move on - hmmmmm I was very restless with a head cold, and a little nervous to get to the bathrooms without running into one by accident!
 
Our last week at school, the chicken shed is being made - the footballs are getting a great workout - and the paints and coloured pencils are still creating fascination! The students are just wonderful, and helping wherever possible.... the last day though was pretty difficult - a fest was put on for us for lunch then after was a school assembly where each class performed a song, poem, an authentic luo dance (amazing!) and 2 soccer matches. Then came the speeches and presents given - I cracked up - ahhh couldnt help the tears, just spilled over! A dream lived. so many beautiful children, so much love and appreciation - I guess I didnt realize we had made such a big impact on this school. I have many photos, thank goodness to be able to share Zoes camera - I really need one!
 
Yesterday we lazed around, gosh the last day took up so many emotions! The workmen were back at the home, the iron roofing was put up - and looks great! A donation came in from AVIF for that and all are so very grateful, looking like real bedrooms! Can just imagine the next lot of new additions to Mercy Home! Still a lot to do - like plastering, furniture and windows and doors! but we will get to have a sleepover before we leave! Yay.
One of the girls, who I have a big soft spot for...was really down the other day, finally we went to talk outside, and she let me know what was up - she had gone to her mum's to say hi, the dinner ready to be served, and she had a taste, yuck - who cooked this? Her mum who is HIV+ and looking after her 2 younger kids, a grandson, a mother in law, an elder daughter with 2 kids & left husband, she is the only one working - trying so desperatly to educate the kids and feed all. If she can find work it is ploughing the fields all day in the sun, for 50 KES a day (60 KES = $1 AUD).  Anyway there was no money for oil, salt and many other things. Even though this young lady and her sister are being looked after at the home, these girls feel so guilty about how well they have it and feel helpless to help the rest of the family. This is only one of the many many stories, all true, that is happening here. Poverty. Harsh realities.
 
We are accompanying the girls to the markets after school today - so I shall leave my news here. Not long till we leave, Zoe on a trip around Africa and me to Tanzania.....will keep you posted!

Best Practice ? Pause for thought !

[from NetworkLearning.Org]

Is building an orphanage Good Practice or Bad?

Traditionally in Africa, orphans were accommodated by the extended family. But in Europe people built orphanages. The characteristics of orphanages for the last two hundred years have been: •
insufficient numbers of staff to meet the physical and psychological needs of the children; •
a failure to teach the children how to relate to adults of both sexes, and in doing so learn how to be a woman or a man; •
a failure to teach them how to build relationships of their own; •
lack of planning of the children’s’ work futures.

In Europe, girl babies are put into orphanages, grow up without relationships with boys and men, come out at sixteen, get pregnant . . . and put their girl baby back into the orphanage.

People seem to love building orphanages.
The idea makes a nice mental picture; – the saintly founders, surrounded by the loving children who are only alive because of them, all in a building that is a concrete proof of their benevolence.
But this picture is about the egos of the builders, not what is best for children.

Today, AIDS has brought a large number of orphans. How should they be cared for?

Consider this :
Perhaps the money that can build an orphanage can also be spent on fostering the babies with
their grannies and paying an allowance. If there are no grannies, aunties or big sisters, they can be fostered with non-related families. If land tenure is closed to outsiders, then older orphans will do better in towns, where they can be found a Master or Mistress and apprenticed to a trade, and ideally fostered with the Mistress’'s or Master’'s family.

Sky diving

Many many thanks to Williams Investment Management and especially Emma Kilburn who is doing a tandem parachute jump to raise money for 2 charities, including AVIF.
All the best for October 28th, Emma.






Technorati Tags: charity parachute, donation, volunteer, kenya, AVIF

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Re: AVIF Evaluation

Thank you for letting me know about this, Angela, I've put this reply on the Blog so everyone can read it. This is one of many issues that need to be addressed but we must tread carefully. This is not our own country and things are far different. You made a good stand in highlighting this.

Kindest regards
Alison

Angela Tanner wrote:

....it's tricky to be in there as a volunteer/outsider and hear some of the stories ... you don't want the children to have to go through what they do ... and yet it's a way of life that is accepted there. 

.....  At the orientation, there was a woman who had volunteered at a school (maybe 10 years ago?) and she suggested to us that we just walk away if it happens in our presence.  This was actually very good advice.  The first day it happened at Glad Toto, we walked away from the school grounds and the teachers came up to us to see why we were leaving.  I think I said something like, "Caning is illegal and we do not want to support it."  The teacher laughed and thought we were joking - because it is so commonplace there.  When he realized we were quite serious about the matter, he apologized and said it would not happen again (while we were there anyway).  .....  I guess the law making it illegal has just come about in the last year and I know things take time to change. ....Again, this is when its gets tricky being a volunteer - figuring out what your place is in the community or school.