Briefing

Just back from a pre departure briefing in SPW's London offices for the weekend. Its all getting very real now. I'm actually going. I less than two months! There was LOADS of stuff covered, kit to take (bring lots of malaria tablets), a health talk (you will probably get malaria) and what to do in a crisis situation (when you get malaria…lie down).

Some of the sessions also encouraged me to think about HIV and AIDS and the way it affects entire communities and infrastructures. Its not just the human suffering, which is of course appalling, but the stigma, rumours, miss information, loss of potential and skills, economic stagnation, lack of role models, apathy, hopelessness. All of these things must be the result of the generations that have been lost

There is no quick fix. If there was it would have been done by now and I'm not expecting to save the world in 8 months. But hearing from previous volunteers that health and livelihood clubs that were put in place two years ago by them are still running and expanding in some communities makes me really hopeful. My attitude is that the job is only done when we are no longer needed and that any changes must be gradual and sustainable. Even if I am working myself out of a job.

---

New! Receive and respond to mail from other email accounts from within Hotmail Find out how.