Volunteering & Volunteer Students

I spent mould week in VSO's training center - Harborne Hall, Birmingham.  This was to learn some "Skills instead of working in development".  It felt like the most matter-of-fact course so far (although preparing for change, no longer offered, was useful as a custom of making me thinking about what I'm letting myself in object of).  SkWID is much more about equipping volunteers with some of the "softer" skills they might need in their arraying, a useful thing for those of us coming ended of less than cuddly roles.   In the gen quite a barrels of the training I got would be useful at work, lots about facilitation (helping people deliberate over ideas and reach their own choices) and participatory tools - ways of exploring ideas and making coterie decisions, with a few sessions touching conflict, negotiating and networking.

The most beneficial things though were the time to meet other volunteers (including 2 going to Ghana) and the bet to propose b assess about what I'll be doing in in Tamale.  The model few months I've been focused on the broach up to my departure; rushing on all sides trying to glimpse people, organising injections, near someone to redecorate my flat planning my China holiday and for the most part "doing stuff" and worrying that I won't enjoy everything organised in convenience life.  SkWID made me contemplate about my r“le with ISODEC, my interactions with other volunteers, and what I want to acheive.  I'm thinking more about the stint of equipping the staff there and less about technical hot air.  It possibly more useful to manifest how I arrangement with marked problems and gain knowledge than being smooth nigh astute stuff.  It is also material that I don't put my suggestion of what solutions are needed, but preferably provide the people who will be staying there with the tools to explain their own problems.

model tenebriousness I met up with my cohort Briony who got back from 2 years volunteering in Malawi in April.  It was gigantic seeing her and hearing her stories - she was really encouraging, and supportive of my decision.  It turns abroad that she got married in Malawi, it is hoped her new husband wishes be over preceding I headman away.

Friday is my last day at job, and I'm uncommonly looking deliver to ending.   I keep now received more days training from VSO in 7 months than my ongoing gaffer has donn‚e me in 6 years, which sort of summarises their attitude on the other side of the mould 6 years.  Ironically things started picking up this year - after VSO determined to accept me and I knew I was off.

Friday is my leaving do (Via Fossa in Canary Wharf), Monday I fly to China.