16 Days left on Camp

This week flew by, but by comparison was defiantly my hardest yet.Semeh, the founder and CEO of CBW has been in Liberia for the past month and a half, and has to be present for any money to be taken from the bank account in Accra, so no local employee pf CBW has been paid for the month of June. The amount they are paid is already not enough to support a family for one month, so now they are all suffering greatly in attempts to pay bills and buy food. Previous to this we were constantly being asked for money, but this crisis has increased the requests for this much needed resource. Saying no has been hard, but at this point it is even more frustrating, as a large portion of the money we paid to come is supposed to go to paying the stipends. I have helped one of the local workers, as she is the project head of micro-loan and is already treated unfairly by CBW administration and paid much less than any other project head. For the equivalent of CAD$ 25 I was able to buy her enough rice, charcoal and cooking water for her family of 8 for 2 weeks. It is amazing how far such a small amount of money can go here, but at the same time, when everybody needs that small amount, its no longer small. They have not been guaranteed pay until July 26, so I expect many more requests before than, and there is no way to prepare for the look on someones face when you tell them you can not help them.


This week was also very hard, as on Thursday afternoon I was outside talking to one of the kids about paying her school fees, when our neighbours began to beat a young child on our front entry way. I was able to remain relatively calm during this, but then while that child was still screaming they put another face down on the cement step and started whipping her. I couldnt take the sound or image anymore and told them that if they were going to do that to find another place. I have heard children being beaten all over camp several times, but actually seeing it, and having it take place on our step was too much. This resulted in me getting in an arguement with one of the guys, which made my emotional break down even worse. I will never understand how some one who is lucky enough to have children can then treat them as horribly as the children on camp are treated.

HOLY SHIT

Less than a month til we are home, can't believe it! We have done some traveling around, with the latest adventure being Kakum National park. After a night of camping in the rain forest, in nothing more than a mesquito net,Linden, Josie, Chelsea and I did the Canopy Walk. This is a series of rope bridges, about 300 meters up, amongst the canopies of the rain forest. We were unable to see any animals, as they are all nocturnal, but the veiw of the forest was amazing. I was convinced I was going to die about 20 times, but despite my fear, I made it across them all.
This week has been a turn over week for CBW as the new volunteers have arrived and are getting oriented to things.After a month in my projects I have changed my schedule around some, to get a chance to experience some new things. I am still counter-parting with my ABC class three days a week, as well as craft day, story time and micro-loan.
This weekend will be one of the few that we stay on camp for. We are staying for our Volunteer Co-ordinator's wedding. Chelsea, Graham and I will get to go to this traditional Liberian wedding. Chels and I have gotten dresses, and are pretty excited to see what it is like.

First Week

Hey all! I have now been here at the camp for a week, and am loving it. I am teaching at the pre-primary school in the mornings, although that may change this week, as I had a large melt down on Friday when the children just would not listen to me while the main teacher was out for a few days. In the afternoons I have story time twice a week, HIV/AIDS Care and Support once a week, and Micro loan a few days.
Last weekend a group of us headed to Cape Coast, we went to visit the Cape Coast Castle, a UNESCO Heritage site for its once overflowing slave dungeons. That was quite interesting, and also eery.

11 Days

11 Days left til we leave! Tonight's my last night at George street, and I really should be packing, but i dont wanna, haha. 12 days from now we will be arriving in Milan, thats right folks, I am going to the fashion capital of the world, hahahah. Then it is off to Frankfurt, London, Paris, Rome and back to Milan. 4 countries, 13 days, cant wait! Then on May 25th we are off to Accra, Ghana!!!! May 31st we move into the volunteer houses, at Buduburam Liberian Refugee Camp, where we will live and work for two months. I am hoping to teach pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, do AIDS/HIV awareness, sanitation projects, and lots of soccor with the kids! Well my empty boxes are screaming my name, write more later