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!
The journey started with a pre-placement training in Salima at Mpatsa Lodge for the In-Country volunteers (ICVs). Among other things, the ICVs were taught about what ICS Progressio, how it works and what is expected from them. A successful three day training in Salima lead to a week's orientation in Lilongwe at Crescent Guest House, where the UK Volunteers’ journey started. We spent a week here forming friendships with our new arrivals.
Mi grupo y yo vivimos en la comunidad de Santa Marta. Llevamos aquí cinco semanas y hemos experimentado la solidaridad de la gente. Trabajamos con un grupo de voluntarios nacionales, los cuales nos consideran parte de la comunidad y nos hacen sentir que Santa Marta es nuestra segunda casa.
En nuestro país se celebra el 2 de Noviembre como día de los difuntos y en nuestra comunidad todos los años las familias van enflorar a sus seres queridos que han muerto y también a las personas que fueron asesinadas en el conflicto armado.
Pero para muchas personas de la comunidad es mucho más doloroso el no saber donde quedaron los cuerpos de sus familiares asesinados por la guerra y sienten un gran dolor al no poder enflorarlos en su día, y ahí personas que les toca ir muy lejos para poder enflorar a sus familiares.
The air was splitting and the sky was glowing without effort as we were rushing to the conference room to make it in time for the programme to commence at eight o’clock on a Friday morning. We were all tired from either the long hours of travelling on buses or because of the jet lag, the long hours on flights and having to calm nerves high above in the skies.
Spending six weeks in Guayape, where neither restaurants nor internet exists, and the few shops that do are limited to basic amenieties, has been a real test for a group of volunteers accustomed to living in some of the world’s most developed cities. It was therefore with great excitement that in the early hours of Saturday morning we boarded a bus bound for Catecamas, a dusty town set against the base of the Sierra de Agalta, to visit the famous Cuevas de Talgua. We were about to leave Guayape!
Throughout my placement my knowledge of how development works on the ground has vastly improved. I have learnt the importance of people powered development; I now understand that in order for people’s lives to improve they need to be empowered with the tools for them to improve their own lives. In particular I have found the use of drama and the arts as an effective way of empowering people thus leading to their own development.
Team Umoza is formed of six UK volunteers and seven in-country volunteers. We are located in Mzuzu, North Malawi. Progressio Malawi has been working with Ungweru, a local organisation that targets the communities around Mzuzu city. Ungweru has had five cycles of Progressio volunteers. The first two cycles were June-December 2012, the last three were January-September 2014. As the sixth cycle and the last cycle of 2014, team Umoza are fortunate enough to work with a well administered and experienced organisation.
The town of Guayape, in which the six of us UK volunteers are spending our 10 week in-country placement, is situated in what is known locally as the Honduran ‘Wild West’ of Olancho. So called for the cowboys – complete with cowboy hats – that roam its landscape, this small town is nestled in a meandering river valley and protected by a range of lush, green hills in all directions. Needless to say, upon arrival we were somewhat overwhelmed by the natural beauty of the place we would be calling home.
Firstly I must confess that prior to my arrival I knew little of the small Latin American country known as El Salvador. I could no more point out its existence on a map than regale you with facts about the country´s rich history and culture. Since landing here, however, I have learnt so much and have come to love and respect the country and community I am calling home for these ten short weeks.
An important part of the traditional Salvadoran diet is beans (frijoles). They are eaten in every household across the country. Occasionally I have found myself eating a meal at home, in a restaurant or, in this particular case, in a comedor in Santa Marta and wondering how the food got from where it was grown or produced to my plate. I think that many people, including myself, take food for granted when there is a lot of starvation going on in the world.
