Hi
You probably know me if you're reading this so I'm going to skip formal introductions. Also, if you're reading this then in all likelihood you probably know that I'm leaving for the Peace Corps soon (surprise!!) This blog will be my attempt to keep family and friends informed of where I am and what I'm doing for the next few years. I'll try to write every few months and provide an update on some of the more interesting things I hope I'm lucky enough to experience :)
So a few of you have been badgering me about what exactly I'll be doing etcetera etcetera. I've outlined the extent of what I know below.
The job tittle: NGO Development and Community Healthcare Provider
The job description: I'll work with a non-governmental organization to assist them with training and systems to strengthen and improve their community health and HIV & AIDS prevention, care and support projects and programs. This will range from organizational development, community development, community health promotion and prevention. I'll likely spend equal amounts of time in the office and in the field. Office work will include developing databases, improving monitoring and reporting systems, assisting with strategic planning and proposal writing, helping the organization with legal registrations, and improving financial management systems. I'll also be mentoring or training staff in computer skills, communications strategies, English language skills, etc. Field work will include community mobilization, needs assessments, activity planning, and monitoring, evaluating and building capacity of the colleagues through training. I'll be working in both formal and informal groups.
Who I will work with: orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) and their caregivers, youth (both in and out of school), women (especially pregnant women, widows, and HIV positive women), health center staff and volunteers, people living with HIV&AIDS (PLWHA), and other vulnerable people in the community (chronically ill, elderly, physically disabled, and children under 5).
Languages spoken: I'll learn the official language Portuguese and most likely a local language (there are a bunch in the country, it depends on where you're stationed.)
Time frame: I'll leave the states at the end of May and spend 3 months in Maputo doing my pre-service training where they'll teach me Portuguese, technical skills, Mozambican culture and the country's history. Technical training will include community mobilization, facilitating needs assessments, developing simple projects and action plans, developing educational and training programs, facilitating group discussions, training community volunteers, and learning about key health and HIV&AIDS issues in Mozambique. Language, cross-cultural training, personal safety and security training will also be covered. During this time I'll be living with a host family. In August, if I pass the pre-service training (generally 9 out of 10 applicants pass) then they will assign each volunteer to their specific organization / village. Up until this point I won't know where exactly I'll be stationed or what specifically I'll be doing.... OK, fast forward to August 31st, 2014 and I'm back! (maybe...) (just kidding mom ;)
The country: MOZAMBIQUE! Size-wise, the country is kind of like putting two Californias one-above-the-other. Geographically you have the coast, the high plateaus, and the mountains. Climate ranges from tropical to sub-tropical regardless. Demographically there's 20 million people; the South is more Tsonga populations of Christian religion (mostly Roman Catholic and Protestant) and a patriarchal society while the North is mostly Swahili populations of Muslim religion and a matriarchal society. For all of you that are a little rusty on your south east African history, the country was colonized by Portugal for about 500 years. Come 1964 the country was pretty fed up with their lot so they revolted and gained independence in 1975. Unfortunately, within the first year of independence civil war broke out and it just continued... and continued... and continued until a pretty horrible drought hit in 1992 and the two sides were forced to collaborate. The two sides stopped fighting, shook hands, in 1994 the country held its first peaceful multi-party elections, and by 1995 almost 6 million refugees were back home. Since then their economy has had the highest economic growth rate on the continent.... but is still one of the poorest countries in the world. There's a lot that can be said here with current statistics, but I need to go to sleep at some point tonight and I'm sure you all are wondering when this post will finally finish, so if anyone is interested in knowing more information please comment on the post or shoot me an email!
OK. I hope this has quelled your fears of the unknown for the time being. I promise, it's really not scary or crazy or long - I'll be back before you know it :)
Here's hoping I see most of you before I leave!
xoxo
Emily
