follow the QHO/YESS Kenya Project 2010 at:
http://qhokenya2010.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
the last asante sana.
the last asante sana.
(written at the end of project)
in between compiling and formatting the final project reports, i began writing my thank you cards to each member of the QHO/YESS team. while these are personal thank yous, i felt it was appropriate to make these thank yous my final blog post, as each one of these individuals has contributed significantly to project over these past eight weeks. none of my experiences would be or mean anything without them, so in no particular order...
asante sana.
leah and nicole.
aka lizzle and nizzle.
you girls have been amazing project directors. i feel so grateful to have been chosen by you for the project and to have had the opportunity to work with both of you. the amount of time and energy you have spent planning and organizing the project is apparent in our many successes and continual expansion of the project. i admire your ability to remain calm, cool and collected through whatever was thrown at you this year. i’ve learned a lot from you, and you have definitely left big shoes for courtney and me to fill next year. thank you for directing the project the way you have this year, as both confident and passionate leaders, as well as great friends. asante sana.
courtney.
aka courtini.
i feel so fortunate and excited that we are able to experience this all again next year, together. next year is going to need a lot of planning and organization, and i am excited to begin working with you. we seem to always be on the same page with whatever issues arise, and our complimentary personality types will allow us to handle any situation we are faced with. next year there will be many meetings, and the challenges we face will be dealt with over digestives. thank you for everything we have shared so far and thank you in advance for all that is to come next year. remember, we will be like baby shampoo next year. no tears. asante sana.
sentait.
formerly known as senait.
i think i can speak on behalf of all the girls when i firstly apologize and secondly thank you for the numerous braids you did for us. i also think i can speak on behalf of the entire project when i thank you slash apologize again for all the name tags we made you write for us. although to repay you, we’re going to nominate your writing as a microsoft 2010 font. as well, sorry that i couldn’t refrain from using one of your hundreds of nicknames. regardless of what people choose to call you, no one would ever guess tat you are the youngest person on project, as your maturity far exceeds your age. i’ve learned so much from you both in the classroom and at home. you’re never afraid to voice your opinion and i admire you for that. since our initial thank you appreciation dinner, you have continued to impress and amaze me, and further reinforce why i chose you as the person to give my mars bar. thank you still and again. asante sana.
deirdre.
aka dr.dre.
the doctor. students addressing you as dr.dre in the anonymous questions may have been one of my favourite memories of teaching. oh anonymous questions. one hundred and fifty eight pages of anonymous questions typed by the dynamic training trio, with help from others of course. working as part of the training department with you allowed me to witness many of your priceless reactions, and i am grateful for that. your ability to multi-task at the cyber and the variety of strange topics that you chose to research will never cease to impress and amaze me. and your chai loving personality will continue to pain me. teaching with you for the second half of project was fantastic and our ability to bounce ideas off of each other only enhanced our teaching. thank you for adding an energetic and hilarious factors to all aspects of my overall project experience. asante sana.
bryan.
aka photo dad.
your version of nyama nyama nyama will permanently be ingrained in my mind and i thank you for that. i also love that if i ever do forget, we have it caught on video, multiple times. on a more serious note, your dedication to project was expressed in all things you did, ranging from psyc games to departmental work to building a slip and slide or any other task you were given. the monitoring and evaluation would not have been the same without your colour coded spreadsheets and your ability to crack the ‘MnE whip’. your focus and organization make you a huge asset to the project and i can only hope that next year we have peer educators as dedicated and willing to work as you. thank you for everything you put into this project. asante sana.
dave.
aka bedoh.
self proclaimed chef. oddly enough that name failed to catch on in Kenya, as it didn’t catch on in Canada. coincidence? i think no. so instead i will refer to you bedou, with my spelling version. your openness and willingness to participate in and help anyone and everyone did not go unnoticed on project. thank you for pulling yourself away from the numerous tasks of logistics, and always being the first person to offer to help with typing questions. through working with you on various outreach activities, i witnessed your ability to remain flexible and optimistic with whatever situation was thrown at you. your patience and ability to laugh at any situation helped me remain patient and positive, and i thank you for that. asante sana.
reuben.
aka master of the lions.
i have learnt so much from you over the past two months. throughout project you have been able to make me try new things, laugh and even cry. by teaching with you, despite our minimal practice teaching, i learned so much. not only were you my partner in the classroom, but you were also my sudoku and dishes partner. together, we have made jokes that no one will ever understand or laugh about, like leer osinthia. you have added an immeasurable amount to my experience in kenya and you have greatly shaped my life. i will miss you so much and will be counting down the days until you greet me at the airport next year. thank you for everything. someone once told me that it is a blessing and a privilege to have friends all across the world in other countries. that person was you, and i do feel both blessed and privileged to have met you and become such good friends. from the bottom of my heart asante sana.
tony.
aka mr.zamboni.
i have shared more laughs with you than anyone else on this project. whether it be something that is actually funny or you just saying ‘swats’, you never failed to make me smile. we’ve also had many hilarious encounters in the classroom, you helping demonstrate the female reproductive system being one of my favourites. your singing in the matatu made the drives even more enjoyable, especially your rendition of “say what” to the hotel song. your graduation speech touch my heart and i’ve already counted you a survivor. i can’t wait to work more with you over the next year as part of the dream team, (“say what”). asante sana.
ibra.
aka shenibra.
from the moment i met you and started practice teaching with you, i knew there was a special quality you had as a teacher. even when we look back to my first blog post and description of you, i said you had a presence in the classroom that demanded attention. over the past two months, i’ve learned that this quality carries from the classroom to home and wherever else project takes us. everyone on the team was able to look to you for both guidance and advice, whether it be a project or personal problem. regardless of the situation, you always managed to be on the same level of both the canadians and the kenyans, and were able to bring everyone else to that same level. i trust you and respect you as a team leader and just want to thank you as my experiences wouldn’t have been the same without you. asante sana.
rono.
aka crany.
the student turned trainer. i think that everyone is in agreement that you have grown and developed the most on project. from practice teaching to outreach week, your teaching and leadership skills have continued to improve. your ability to energize a crowd is unmatched by anyone on our team and i thank you for that. i will never forget che che cholai, nor any of your other songs and raps, even though i only understood some of the swahili. seeing you in action with your sparks group was truly inspiring, and i admire the dedication you have to spreading awareness about the topic of HIV/AIDS through all mediums for all ages. i hope you can continue that for the rest of your life. asante sana.
mercy.
aka ma-c.
i cannot even tell you how excited i am for you to come to Canada. it makes this thank you card slash goodbye note so much easier to write. i’m going to have to look for a rooster ring tone so i can be reminded of you. your volunteer experience was such an asset to our project. and your dedication to this project became apparent with the respect and admiration the students showed you. thank you for giving everything you had to this project over the past year. as weird as this is to say, see you soon. asante sana.
vanice.
aka vanilla ice.
unfortunately you weren’t on project for as long as we would have liked. but fortunately, your family and yourself are doing much better now. for the time you were here you brought a smile to everyone’s faces. asante sana.
and last but not least...
ng’ok.
aka mr.gazelle.
this project would not be the same without you and i feel a thank you does not do all the work and effort you put into this project any justice. i’ve learned so much from you this year and am so excited to expand and improve the project with you next year. asante sana.
the sheer success of project in terms of the numbers that people have already mentioned, numbers of schools trained at and number of students and community members tested, as well as the positive feedback from each of the schools, and more importantly the students, is a direct reflection of the hard work and commitment that each of the people i have just acknowledged and thanked above.
i want to congratulate all of you, as this project is literally placed in the hands of the peer educators and directors. we work and act as a group of youth for youth, a group of youth to trying to be the change we want to see in the world. as margaret meed has said ‘never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’ i believe that we have done our own version of just that.
finally, our project would not be possible without the emotional and financial support from our friends, families and donors. so i would like to take the time to thank each and every person who has contributed in any way. and thank you to you, the readers, for following the blog. this is my last blog post as a peer educator for this year’s kenya project. kwaheri until next year, when i will be back as a co-director.
thank you.
asante sana.
(written at the end of project)
in between compiling and formatting the final project reports, i began writing my thank you cards to each member of the QHO/YESS team. while these are personal thank yous, i felt it was appropriate to make these thank yous my final blog post, as each one of these individuals has contributed significantly to project over these past eight weeks. none of my experiences would be or mean anything without them, so in no particular order...
asante sana.
leah and nicole.
aka lizzle and nizzle.
you girls have been amazing project directors. i feel so grateful to have been chosen by you for the project and to have had the opportunity to work with both of you. the amount of time and energy you have spent planning and organizing the project is apparent in our many successes and continual expansion of the project. i admire your ability to remain calm, cool and collected through whatever was thrown at you this year. i’ve learned a lot from you, and you have definitely left big shoes for courtney and me to fill next year. thank you for directing the project the way you have this year, as both confident and passionate leaders, as well as great friends. asante sana.
courtney.
aka courtini.
i feel so fortunate and excited that we are able to experience this all again next year, together. next year is going to need a lot of planning and organization, and i am excited to begin working with you. we seem to always be on the same page with whatever issues arise, and our complimentary personality types will allow us to handle any situation we are faced with. next year there will be many meetings, and the challenges we face will be dealt with over digestives. thank you for everything we have shared so far and thank you in advance for all that is to come next year. remember, we will be like baby shampoo next year. no tears. asante sana.
sentait.
formerly known as senait.
i think i can speak on behalf of all the girls when i firstly apologize and secondly thank you for the numerous braids you did for us. i also think i can speak on behalf of the entire project when i thank you slash apologize again for all the name tags we made you write for us. although to repay you, we’re going to nominate your writing as a microsoft 2010 font. as well, sorry that i couldn’t refrain from using one of your hundreds of nicknames. regardless of what people choose to call you, no one would ever guess tat you are the youngest person on project, as your maturity far exceeds your age. i’ve learned so much from you both in the classroom and at home. you’re never afraid to voice your opinion and i admire you for that. since our initial thank you appreciation dinner, you have continued to impress and amaze me, and further reinforce why i chose you as the person to give my mars bar. thank you still and again. asante sana.
deirdre.
aka dr.dre.
the doctor. students addressing you as dr.dre in the anonymous questions may have been one of my favourite memories of teaching. oh anonymous questions. one hundred and fifty eight pages of anonymous questions typed by the dynamic training trio, with help from others of course. working as part of the training department with you allowed me to witness many of your priceless reactions, and i am grateful for that. your ability to multi-task at the cyber and the variety of strange topics that you chose to research will never cease to impress and amaze me. and your chai loving personality will continue to pain me. teaching with you for the second half of project was fantastic and our ability to bounce ideas off of each other only enhanced our teaching. thank you for adding an energetic and hilarious factors to all aspects of my overall project experience. asante sana.
bryan.
aka photo dad.
your version of nyama nyama nyama will permanently be ingrained in my mind and i thank you for that. i also love that if i ever do forget, we have it caught on video, multiple times. on a more serious note, your dedication to project was expressed in all things you did, ranging from psyc games to departmental work to building a slip and slide or any other task you were given. the monitoring and evaluation would not have been the same without your colour coded spreadsheets and your ability to crack the ‘MnE whip’. your focus and organization make you a huge asset to the project and i can only hope that next year we have peer educators as dedicated and willing to work as you. thank you for everything you put into this project. asante sana.
dave.
aka bedoh.
self proclaimed chef. oddly enough that name failed to catch on in Kenya, as it didn’t catch on in Canada. coincidence? i think no. so instead i will refer to you bedou, with my spelling version. your openness and willingness to participate in and help anyone and everyone did not go unnoticed on project. thank you for pulling yourself away from the numerous tasks of logistics, and always being the first person to offer to help with typing questions. through working with you on various outreach activities, i witnessed your ability to remain flexible and optimistic with whatever situation was thrown at you. your patience and ability to laugh at any situation helped me remain patient and positive, and i thank you for that. asante sana.
reuben.
aka master of the lions.
i have learnt so much from you over the past two months. throughout project you have been able to make me try new things, laugh and even cry. by teaching with you, despite our minimal practice teaching, i learned so much. not only were you my partner in the classroom, but you were also my sudoku and dishes partner. together, we have made jokes that no one will ever understand or laugh about, like leer osinthia. you have added an immeasurable amount to my experience in kenya and you have greatly shaped my life. i will miss you so much and will be counting down the days until you greet me at the airport next year. thank you for everything. someone once told me that it is a blessing and a privilege to have friends all across the world in other countries. that person was you, and i do feel both blessed and privileged to have met you and become such good friends. from the bottom of my heart asante sana.
tony.
aka mr.zamboni.
i have shared more laughs with you than anyone else on this project. whether it be something that is actually funny or you just saying ‘swats’, you never failed to make me smile. we’ve also had many hilarious encounters in the classroom, you helping demonstrate the female reproductive system being one of my favourites. your singing in the matatu made the drives even more enjoyable, especially your rendition of “say what” to the hotel song. your graduation speech touch my heart and i’ve already counted you a survivor. i can’t wait to work more with you over the next year as part of the dream team, (“say what”). asante sana.
ibra.
aka shenibra.
from the moment i met you and started practice teaching with you, i knew there was a special quality you had as a teacher. even when we look back to my first blog post and description of you, i said you had a presence in the classroom that demanded attention. over the past two months, i’ve learned that this quality carries from the classroom to home and wherever else project takes us. everyone on the team was able to look to you for both guidance and advice, whether it be a project or personal problem. regardless of the situation, you always managed to be on the same level of both the canadians and the kenyans, and were able to bring everyone else to that same level. i trust you and respect you as a team leader and just want to thank you as my experiences wouldn’t have been the same without you. asante sana.
rono.
aka crany.
the student turned trainer. i think that everyone is in agreement that you have grown and developed the most on project. from practice teaching to outreach week, your teaching and leadership skills have continued to improve. your ability to energize a crowd is unmatched by anyone on our team and i thank you for that. i will never forget che che cholai, nor any of your other songs and raps, even though i only understood some of the swahili. seeing you in action with your sparks group was truly inspiring, and i admire the dedication you have to spreading awareness about the topic of HIV/AIDS through all mediums for all ages. i hope you can continue that for the rest of your life. asante sana.
mercy.
aka ma-c.
i cannot even tell you how excited i am for you to come to Canada. it makes this thank you card slash goodbye note so much easier to write. i’m going to have to look for a rooster ring tone so i can be reminded of you. your volunteer experience was such an asset to our project. and your dedication to this project became apparent with the respect and admiration the students showed you. thank you for giving everything you had to this project over the past year. as weird as this is to say, see you soon. asante sana.
vanice.
aka vanilla ice.
unfortunately you weren’t on project for as long as we would have liked. but fortunately, your family and yourself are doing much better now. for the time you were here you brought a smile to everyone’s faces. asante sana.
and last but not least...
ng’ok.
aka mr.gazelle.
this project would not be the same without you and i feel a thank you does not do all the work and effort you put into this project any justice. i’ve learned so much from you this year and am so excited to expand and improve the project with you next year. asante sana.
the sheer success of project in terms of the numbers that people have already mentioned, numbers of schools trained at and number of students and community members tested, as well as the positive feedback from each of the schools, and more importantly the students, is a direct reflection of the hard work and commitment that each of the people i have just acknowledged and thanked above.
i want to congratulate all of you, as this project is literally placed in the hands of the peer educators and directors. we work and act as a group of youth for youth, a group of youth to trying to be the change we want to see in the world. as margaret meed has said ‘never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’ i believe that we have done our own version of just that.
finally, our project would not be possible without the emotional and financial support from our friends, families and donors. so i would like to take the time to thank each and every person who has contributed in any way. and thank you to you, the readers, for following the blog. this is my last blog post as a peer educator for this year’s kenya project. kwaheri until next year, when i will be back as a co-director.
thank you.
asante sana.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
THE END (written June 29, 2009)
Reflecting on the past eight weeks, I find it very difficult to summarize my experiences and emotions and then squeeze them into two paragraphs to be posted on the web. There is no doubt in my mind that the 2009 YESS/QHO Kenya Project has been overwhelmingly successful and in order to compartmentalize my thoughts, I’ve compiled a list of accomplishments and challenges that we’ve faced throughout our journey.
Highlights of the 2009 YESS/QHO Team
-We educated and empowered over 1200 secondary school students with knowledge on HIV/AIDS at five secondary schools in rural and urban Kenya.
-We contributed our unique abilities and cultural differences as Kenyans and Canadians respectively to the YESS/QHO project.
-We organized two simultaneous HIV testing days at Lake Solai and Seet Kobor Schools in which 233 students volunteered to be tested.
-We developed a workshop for prefects and peer-counselors on strategies to deal with abuse at Kiamunyi Secondary School
-We developed and distributed a resource manual of the YESS/QHO curriculum for students at each school we taught at.
-We coordinated a HIV testing and tree-planting outreach event at Mawe Secondary School in which around 200 students volunteered to be tested.
-We facilitated two community clean-up events with students.
-We successfully organized an inter-school football and VCT testing day in which 219 students and community members volunteered to be tested.
Lowlights of the 2009 YESS/QHO Project
-A YESS trainer named Roba never arrived for project for various reasons.
-Vanice was absent for three weeks to look after her mother in the hospital.
-We had to bribe corrupt police officers daily on route to schools.
-Two schools went on strike after teaching at them.
-Rono contracted malaria, but was back teaching the same day.
-Vanice fell sick with a case of typhoid fever but has since recovered fully.
-We experienced 6 flat tires, 1 engine breakdown, 2 wheels falling off the matatu and 1 head-on collision on route to schools.
It is because of these accomplishments and in light of the setback incurred that the 2009 YESS/QHO Kenya Project has been so successful. The goals set in previous years have been eclipsed thanks to the tremendous efforts of everyone involved with YESS and QHO at every level and I am eternally grateful for the support from the family, friends and donors who have helped make this project come into fruition.
Cheers,
Bryan
Highlights of the 2009 YESS/QHO Team
-We educated and empowered over 1200 secondary school students with knowledge on HIV/AIDS at five secondary schools in rural and urban Kenya.
-We contributed our unique abilities and cultural differences as Kenyans and Canadians respectively to the YESS/QHO project.
-We organized two simultaneous HIV testing days at Lake Solai and Seet Kobor Schools in which 233 students volunteered to be tested.
-We developed a workshop for prefects and peer-counselors on strategies to deal with abuse at Kiamunyi Secondary School
-We developed and distributed a resource manual of the YESS/QHO curriculum for students at each school we taught at.
-We coordinated a HIV testing and tree-planting outreach event at Mawe Secondary School in which around 200 students volunteered to be tested.
-We facilitated two community clean-up events with students.
-We successfully organized an inter-school football and VCT testing day in which 219 students and community members volunteered to be tested.
Lowlights of the 2009 YESS/QHO Project
-A YESS trainer named Roba never arrived for project for various reasons.
-Vanice was absent for three weeks to look after her mother in the hospital.
-We had to bribe corrupt police officers daily on route to schools.
-Two schools went on strike after teaching at them.
-Rono contracted malaria, but was back teaching the same day.
-Vanice fell sick with a case of typhoid fever but has since recovered fully.
-We experienced 6 flat tires, 1 engine breakdown, 2 wheels falling off the matatu and 1 head-on collision on route to schools.
It is because of these accomplishments and in light of the setback incurred that the 2009 YESS/QHO Kenya Project has been so successful. The goals set in previous years have been eclipsed thanks to the tremendous efforts of everyone involved with YESS and QHO at every level and I am eternally grateful for the support from the family, friends and donors who have helped make this project come into fruition.
Cheers,
Bryan
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Asanti
Today is the last day of project. I can’t believe it’s been two months since I stepped off the plane into the Nairobi night and started one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences of my life. All I can say is that I feel so lucky, and so thankful to have been able to take part in all of the amazing things we have done. I thought I would take the time in my last post to thank some of the people in my life who have made this trip what it is to me.
Mom and Dad,
Thank you for your support and encouragement while preparing for this trip and for always sending me love while in Kenya. Thank you for always believing in me, trusting me and being proud. Thanks.
Friends, Family and Donors,
You helped me make this trip a reality. Thank you so much for reaching out and supporting me in this cause. I am so lucky to have so many generous and loving friends in my life. Thanks.
The YESS Team,
I am so lucky to know and be apart of an organization that is so special, so unique in it’s own way. It’s been so amazing getting to know each and every one of you and thank you for always welcoming us, and being patient with us. You have all become such close friends of mine, and I can’t wait to see you next year. Thanks.
The QHO Team,
Thank you so much for just being amazing people! Each and everyone one of you are unique, driven and loving people. Thank you for always being there. Thank you for the hilarious antics, the long conversations and the amazing memories. I’m so lucky to have shared this experience with all of you. Thanks.
Finally, thank you to the readers who followed this blog all summer. I really enjoyed having an outlet to channel my experiences and feelings. All I can say is that this adventure, this experience has been eye-opening and something I will never forget.
I am so thankful for that.
-Courtney
Mom and Dad,
Thank you for your support and encouragement while preparing for this trip and for always sending me love while in Kenya. Thank you for always believing in me, trusting me and being proud. Thanks.
Friends, Family and Donors,
You helped me make this trip a reality. Thank you so much for reaching out and supporting me in this cause. I am so lucky to have so many generous and loving friends in my life. Thanks.
The YESS Team,
I am so lucky to know and be apart of an organization that is so special, so unique in it’s own way. It’s been so amazing getting to know each and every one of you and thank you for always welcoming us, and being patient with us. You have all become such close friends of mine, and I can’t wait to see you next year. Thanks.
The QHO Team,
Thank you so much for just being amazing people! Each and everyone one of you are unique, driven and loving people. Thank you for always being there. Thank you for the hilarious antics, the long conversations and the amazing memories. I’m so lucky to have shared this experience with all of you. Thanks.
Finally, thank you to the readers who followed this blog all summer. I really enjoyed having an outlet to channel my experiences and feelings. All I can say is that this adventure, this experience has been eye-opening and something I will never forget.
I am so thankful for that.
-Courtney
the breakdown.
1. blackboard painted at seet kobor secondary school.
3. passionate, hard working and driven project directors.
5. schools trained.
8. football teams that participated in YESS/QHO sports & testing day.
13. unique and inspiring YESS/QHO peer- educators.
still to be confirmed. students and community members tested at mawe HIV testing day.
219. students and community members tested at YESS/QHO sports & testing day.
233. students and community members tested at lake solai + seet kobor HIV testing days.
250. trees planted at lake solai secondary school.
300. trees planted at mawe secondary school.
1206. students trained.
According to the numbers, this year’s project appears to be a success. But I can assure you that the numbers do not lie. The 2009 YESS/QHO Kenya Project has surpassed previous years in terms of the numbers of schools and students trained as well as more students and community members have been tested than previous years.
It wasn’t always easy at times. There were certainly challenges along the way. But we pulled together as a team and are all stronger individuals because of the challenges faced. I can honestly say that being a member of this project is one of the accomplishments in my life that I am most proud of. I am proud to say that I am a YESS/QHO peer-educator and I am proud of our accomplishments as a team. I am grateful for this opportunity and I will not forget the lessons I have learned.
Thinking about the end of project brings tears to my eyes. I have learned more about myself as an individual, I have developed a passion for education, and I learned more about the world that we live in. What I think I will miss most is inspiring. My favourite aspect of teaching is empowering the students to make positive change in their community. If we want the number of people infected worldwide with HIV/AIDS to be reduced for future generations it has to start with us, the youth. What I can do to stop the spread of AIDS is to get tested and to share my knowledge about HIV/AIDS with others. The students we train can and are encouraged to do the same. Hopefully after we leave, when looking back at the whole week, students feel empowered to educated others in their communities and make positive change.
Thank you to family, friends and donors for your support of this project. I hope through this blog different perspectives of the struggles and success that the 2009 YESS/QHO team has experienced have been shared with all of you. None of this would be possible without your support. And for that, I say asante sana.
I would like to share one final positive anonymous comment from a form 2 students at Kiamunyi High School:
“My comment is that I really like the counseling and I know that you’ve changed lives of youth cause you’ve really changed mine…”
kwaheri.
the d.r.e
3. passionate, hard working and driven project directors.
5. schools trained.
8. football teams that participated in YESS/QHO sports & testing day.
13. unique and inspiring YESS/QHO peer- educators.
still to be confirmed. students and community members tested at mawe HIV testing day.
219. students and community members tested at YESS/QHO sports & testing day.
233. students and community members tested at lake solai + seet kobor HIV testing days.
250. trees planted at lake solai secondary school.
300. trees planted at mawe secondary school.
1206. students trained.
According to the numbers, this year’s project appears to be a success. But I can assure you that the numbers do not lie. The 2009 YESS/QHO Kenya Project has surpassed previous years in terms of the numbers of schools and students trained as well as more students and community members have been tested than previous years.
It wasn’t always easy at times. There were certainly challenges along the way. But we pulled together as a team and are all stronger individuals because of the challenges faced. I can honestly say that being a member of this project is one of the accomplishments in my life that I am most proud of. I am proud to say that I am a YESS/QHO peer-educator and I am proud of our accomplishments as a team. I am grateful for this opportunity and I will not forget the lessons I have learned.
Thinking about the end of project brings tears to my eyes. I have learned more about myself as an individual, I have developed a passion for education, and I learned more about the world that we live in. What I think I will miss most is inspiring. My favourite aspect of teaching is empowering the students to make positive change in their community. If we want the number of people infected worldwide with HIV/AIDS to be reduced for future generations it has to start with us, the youth. What I can do to stop the spread of AIDS is to get tested and to share my knowledge about HIV/AIDS with others. The students we train can and are encouraged to do the same. Hopefully after we leave, when looking back at the whole week, students feel empowered to educated others in their communities and make positive change.
Thank you to family, friends and donors for your support of this project. I hope through this blog different perspectives of the struggles and success that the 2009 YESS/QHO team has experienced have been shared with all of you. None of this would be possible without your support. And for that, I say asante sana.
I would like to share one final positive anonymous comment from a form 2 students at Kiamunyi High School:
“My comment is that I really like the counseling and I know that you’ve changed lives of youth cause you’ve really changed mine…”
kwaheri.
the d.r.e
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Final Thoughts
As I reflect upon all of the events of this past week one moment sticks out in my mind - a conversation with my Form 4 student from Mawe Secondary School. After our exceptionally successful VCT Testing and tree-planting day at Mawe on Tuesday, one of my Form 4 Students, Miriam, joined Ibra, Bryan, Dre, and myself for a chat before the YESS team left for the day. Miriam is one of those students who you’ll always remember as a trainer. She always sat in the front row, was the first one to volunteer for an activity and wasn’t afraid to answer any of the questions.
She began by telling us how much she had enjoyed the tree-planting activities and having the opportunity for the whole school to get tested. She then went on to say, “I am so thankful that our school was lucky enough to have the YESS team come and work with us. Your training was so useful and has really helped us a lot. The entire time you were up at the front of the class all I could think about was how much I wish I could be up there with you giving this information to my peers. I am going to follow your organization and when I get to University I am going to join YESS and become a peer educator so that I can work with you to empower others. I love your program and I wish it could be in every high school in Kenya; thank you very much for coming to our school.”
The quote above does not do justice to Miriam’s words. Her passion and the effect that it had on us was however very evident as the tears welled in our eyes when we climbed back into the matatu to go home. The moment that the four of us shared with her was priceless because it was a confirmation that all of the hard work put into this project has been well worth it. It has been an inspiration throughout the remainder of this week as well because there is nothing more rewarding than hearing from one of your students that the team has been effective and has made a difference.
The YESS/QHO team has held themselves together and worked endlessly to make this year’s project a success. It was a wonderful experience to work with such a dedicated and passionate team. I am really grateful to have had the chance to meet everyone and work towards a common goal together. The passion and enthusiasm displayed by the team during the past eight weeks will continue to be an inspiration to us all for many years to come.
Miriam said that she wishes the YESS program could be in every high school in Kenya. That wish is our dream, and after the events of the past eight weeks we are one step closer to making this dream a reality.
Nicole
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
asante sana.
a version of the final empowerment speech given at the end of our training.
Firstly, we would like to thank all of the teachers and administration for allowing us to come to your school for the past week. Without their openness and co-operation, we would not have been able to meet and interact with all of you, so can we clap for them,
karabunda (clap x 4)
karabunda (clap x 4)
senorita (clap x 10)
Secondly, I think we should thank the QHO/YESS team. Did you enjoy the team being here this week? Can we thank each person from our team? I’ll point to them and you can tell me their name and give them a big riap clap. Sindio?
...the QHO/YESS members are given celebrity status
as they are introduced by the students screaming their names...
Who are the last people that we need to thank? Do you guys know? The last people we need to thank are all of the people standing in front of us. We need to thank each and every one of you, the students. I think that I can speak on behalf of all of QHO and YESS when I say asante sana to you. You have all been amazing students and your energy both in and outside the classroom has been unreal. At the beginning of the week, when we came to this school, you were all the students. Now when we look out at you, we don’t see students, we see teachers. And as teachers, we want to encourage you to share what you have learned with your brothers and sisters, your friends and family and the surrounding community.
I have one last thank you. I want to thank you again, specifically for all of your questions this week. Each class had so, so many questions, and I want to encourage you to keep asking questions. Keep asking questions for the rest of your lives, because ‘knowledge is power’. Can you repeat after me,
knowledge is power
knowledge is power
knowledge is power.
and by asking questions, you gain knowledge. You all have the relevant knowledge and information to make informed, responsible decisions in your lives. Responsible decisions in the many different relationships in your lives. Responsible decisions related to the transmission, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Responsible decisions regarding your sexuality. With knowledge, we are capable of making informed, responsible decisions in our lives, to live in the most positive way possible.
Finally, we as a generation of youth have the power to effect change. I am going to share a favourite quote of ours,
“you must be the change you want to see in the world”.
We need to be the change we want to see in the future. We cannot wait for other people to make this change for us. When we recognize an unmet need in our community, we can’t wait for someone else to take on that responsibility. We can be, and we are the people to change the world. Along these lines, some of our classes have learned a little rap about the future, so I’m going to ask you a question,
‘Are you somewhere, in the future, do you look much better than you look right now?’
I’m somewhere, in the future,
and I look much better than I look right now.
...the energy level is contagious and
the chorus is repeated until it is echoed by the entire student body...
thank you.
lake solai. seet kobor. mawe. athinai. kiamunyi.
asante sana.
a version of the final empowerment speech given at the end of our training.
Firstly, we would like to thank all of the teachers and administration for allowing us to come to your school for the past week. Without their openness and co-operation, we would not have been able to meet and interact with all of you, so can we clap for them,
karabunda (clap x 4)
karabunda (clap x 4)
senorita (clap x 10)
Secondly, I think we should thank the QHO/YESS team. Did you enjoy the team being here this week? Can we thank each person from our team? I’ll point to them and you can tell me their name and give them a big riap clap. Sindio?
...the QHO/YESS members are given celebrity status
as they are introduced by the students screaming their names...
Who are the last people that we need to thank? Do you guys know? The last people we need to thank are all of the people standing in front of us. We need to thank each and every one of you, the students. I think that I can speak on behalf of all of QHO and YESS when I say asante sana to you. You have all been amazing students and your energy both in and outside the classroom has been unreal. At the beginning of the week, when we came to this school, you were all the students. Now when we look out at you, we don’t see students, we see teachers. And as teachers, we want to encourage you to share what you have learned with your brothers and sisters, your friends and family and the surrounding community.
I have one last thank you. I want to thank you again, specifically for all of your questions this week. Each class had so, so many questions, and I want to encourage you to keep asking questions. Keep asking questions for the rest of your lives, because ‘knowledge is power’. Can you repeat after me,
knowledge is power
knowledge is power
knowledge is power.
and by asking questions, you gain knowledge. You all have the relevant knowledge and information to make informed, responsible decisions in your lives. Responsible decisions in the many different relationships in your lives. Responsible decisions related to the transmission, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Responsible decisions regarding your sexuality. With knowledge, we are capable of making informed, responsible decisions in our lives, to live in the most positive way possible.
Finally, we as a generation of youth have the power to effect change. I am going to share a favourite quote of ours,
“you must be the change you want to see in the world”.
We need to be the change we want to see in the future. We cannot wait for other people to make this change for us. When we recognize an unmet need in our community, we can’t wait for someone else to take on that responsibility. We can be, and we are the people to change the world. Along these lines, some of our classes have learned a little rap about the future, so I’m going to ask you a question,
‘Are you somewhere, in the future, do you look much better than you look right now?’
I’m somewhere, in the future,
and I look much better than I look right now.
...the energy level is contagious and
the chorus is repeated until it is echoed by the entire student body...
thank you.
lake solai. seet kobor. mawe. athinai. kiamunyi.
asante sana.
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