not a jowler
Haha Jenny - sorry, no jowlers here. (I showed her the pics from Gail's website) I might be able to get them to do that, but it would feel a little inappropriate. I have to be so careful with what I say and do because I'm seen as a role model and holder of great wisdom.
Christine, a volunteer who has been here since April, was very upset because a woman had died of AIDS whom she had worked with closely. (HIV rate here is maybe 4% - quite low) Emmanuel broke the news not very sympathetically and there was some grumbling, so I talked to him. I was just like look, you're a leader, and you've had to harden your heart but it will help you to empathize with us. We had a really good talk and he talked about some of the atrocities he experienced and how he has responded to those. And I cannot ever understand the horrors he lived through but each time we talk I get a better picture. I just want to push him to move beyond - because until he does, he is limited in what he can do as a person, an activist, a leader.
Last night, he apologized to her and I overheard him taking some nuggets from our long conversation. Which is probably good, but I do need to be careful and I never want him to feel he has to do something because I want it. He's just so grateful in so many ways which makes him sometimes too malleable by me. And I am the oldest person around here - both PCO staff and volunteers - and the most educated. So, I try to hold my tongue until necessary.
There's a budget meeting today that I'm going to in a couple minutes. I want to help them find funding sources - with not having much time, and the slow internet connections I haven't been able to search enough. Anybody have time and could help out? In particular, we'd be looking for three areas:
1. The school - need money for construction of a structure (I'll get a budget today - probably about $6,000), for operating costs (teacher salaries), and for start-up materials (books and supplies)
2. The peace work - to pay the current volunteers to continue their great work
3. The women's cooperative - we need $$ to finish the building and then for supplies. 25% of revenue from that project will go to the school, so it all links together.
I would be happy to help them write grants and all (so if anybody has some down time and can troll the web for possibilities and send me links, please let me know), but sometimes I think the money we're talking about isn't that much - a carwash in the US would pay teacher salaries for months. Christine's parents did a fundraiser and started the women's cooperative.
OK, Fred summons me.
Christine, a volunteer who has been here since April, was very upset because a woman had died of AIDS whom she had worked with closely. (HIV rate here is maybe 4% - quite low) Emmanuel broke the news not very sympathetically and there was some grumbling, so I talked to him. I was just like look, you're a leader, and you've had to harden your heart but it will help you to empathize with us. We had a really good talk and he talked about some of the atrocities he experienced and how he has responded to those. And I cannot ever understand the horrors he lived through but each time we talk I get a better picture. I just want to push him to move beyond - because until he does, he is limited in what he can do as a person, an activist, a leader.
Last night, he apologized to her and I overheard him taking some nuggets from our long conversation. Which is probably good, but I do need to be careful and I never want him to feel he has to do something because I want it. He's just so grateful in so many ways which makes him sometimes too malleable by me. And I am the oldest person around here - both PCO staff and volunteers - and the most educated. So, I try to hold my tongue until necessary.
There's a budget meeting today that I'm going to in a couple minutes. I want to help them find funding sources - with not having much time, and the slow internet connections I haven't been able to search enough. Anybody have time and could help out? In particular, we'd be looking for three areas:
1. The school - need money for construction of a structure (I'll get a budget today - probably about $6,000), for operating costs (teacher salaries), and for start-up materials (books and supplies)
2. The peace work - to pay the current volunteers to continue their great work
3. The women's cooperative - we need $$ to finish the building and then for supplies. 25% of revenue from that project will go to the school, so it all links together.
I would be happy to help them write grants and all (so if anybody has some down time and can troll the web for possibilities and send me links, please let me know), but sometimes I think the money we're talking about isn't that much - a carwash in the US would pay teacher salaries for months. Christine's parents did a fundraiser and started the women's cooperative.
OK, Fred summons me.
posted by NOLA at 2:34 AM
2 Comments:
Sure, Heidi, I can tool around the net for funding sources. I'll also brainstorm some fundraising ideas for home.
Jen
Where would we send the money? I think I will hit up the staff for a donation next week. Surely we can come up with something to help.
Lynda
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