Want a deeper insight into what an ICS placement looks like? Read the amazing blogs written by our past and present volunteers. Enjoy the journey!
Gender inequality is a big problem in Honduras; the conservative, Catholic social structure introduced by Spanish colonialism has created a misogynistic society so women are seen as lower than men, even the work they do is considered to be inferior. Yet in reality women perform a large portion of the work and provide for the family.
Tobias is a young Malawian boy, under 18 years of age. He lost both his parents at a tender age and had no one to take care of him apart from the part-time supervision of his aunt and uncle. Tobias’ young life has been at great risk from a poor peer group, pressurising his behaviour, smoking and drinking alcohol, insisting Tobias join their way of living. They know Tobias is in a relationship with Effie-whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS and have started discouraging him, adding that Tobias should get a good girl, instead of Effie.
Effie is a young Malawian woman. Her mother and father have recently passed away due to HIV & AIDS leaving her alone to care for her younger sister. She pulls herself out of school and is left alone as her aunty wants nothing to do with her because of her mother’s condition. The village chooses to ignore the presence of AIDS saying instead that her mother died of Malaria. Because of this Effie feels isolated and feels like she cannot tell anyone the truth about how her mother died. HIV & AIDS can be a taboo subject. Effie is the victim of real stigma in her village.
Setting the scene: People begin to arrive at Lubimbi primary school as the stakeholders take their place under the canvas.
Opening event: Students of Lubimbi primary and secondary march the grounds.
Snap happy: UK volunteer Kelly spends time with Lubimbi high Media club teaching them how to use a digital camera.
As the car rolled into Tyunga high school after a 136km journey, we learnt the true meaning of the word rural. Situated within a flat valley amongst the mountains, connected to civilisation by one worn dirt road, Tyunga lies at the furthest point north in the Binga district. With only small Mopani trees providing minimal shade for the school (regrettably losing their leaves in the winter months), we brought along 24 fruit trees for planting.
The belated 2012 Binga District WORLD AIDS DAY, Lubimbi, February 28th 2013. Ntengwe, the organisation that we work with here in Binga, Zimbabwe, had a 5 minute slot in the day’s timetable, and it was up to us to fill it. The tent was full of stakeholders and was set up on the edge of the sports field, looking across the running track, where perhaps 1000 people sat, knelt and stood in the trees watching the events.
Every Wednesday, from 11am to 1pm, the Ntengwe volunteers meet with students from Zambezi Technical College here in Binga. Students here range in age from 18-25, following various disciplines and number 11 at present; soon to expand to over 30. We have divided our 8 person team into 4 groups, each of which take a different subject.
Coming to Santa Marta and El Salvador we realised how different it was when it came to humanitarian issues, but when it comes to basics, such as clean water and rubbish collection, we saw how incredibly different it was to the West. Despite being a well-organised and mobilised community, Santa Marta has a very big litter problem. There are no public bins and litter is strewn everywhere; throughout the street, in the schools, on the football pitches and even in the main square.
With Friday the 8th of March being International Women’s Day, we felt it was appropriate to profile a local woman of Marcala who is standing strong in a world of poverty, discrimination and corruption. Her achievements are testament to what can be accomplished, despite the odds, and will hopefully encourage many other women to stand up and be counted for.
PROFILE
Name: Nancy Hernandez
Age: 27
Studied: Escuela de Catadores (Centro de Investigación y Capacitación Jesús Aguilar Paz)
Job Titles: Barista, Tester, Entrepreneur
Zimbabwe, 30 years ago
HIV/AIDS started here, as in many African countries, in the 1980s as a viscous animal that nobody knew what to do with, taking hold of the nation. It scared people, and in turn they panicked. All sorts of practices came into being, rooting from the traditional witch-doctor methods, that are common in this part of rural Africa. In some rural areas it was rumoured that a HIV positive man could cure himself by raping a child - what could be farther from the truth than that?
