ICS blog

Working the field

Tuesday was glorious.

There was a sense of release and catharsis among the team today as the group, finally, were able to swap the tedium and frustration of planning for blisters and sunburn working out in the field.

Like my fellow ICS volunteers, I arrived in Honduras with a set of preconceived notions about both the place and its people. Some have been vindicated and others have not. Three weeks into my placement, what has struck me most is the diversity between different communities.

These differences have become especially evident during our work to promote women´s football. Football represents an important tool by which to empower women in a society where gender inequality is a major issue; Honduras ranks 105th out of 146 countries in the gender inequality index.

The March – June placement is the second team of Progressio’s International Citizen Service (ICS) volunteers to continue to lead on the project in Mulanje district under wildlife and Environmental society of Malawi (WESM) in partnership with Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT).

Tuesday had finally arrived; a concoction of excitement and nerves began to swirl around in my tummy as we strolled along the humid streets of Nkhotakota in the early morning hustle and bustle. Our destination was Chanzi support group. This is where our partner organisation, COWLHA (Coalition of Women Living with HIV and AIDS), hold their meetings and today we were going to join them for the first time.

Youth simply do not want to be associated with the stigma of HIV.

My name is Kenia Belinda Meza and I live in San Nicolás, Intibuca.

It all started suddenly when I and my team were invited, for the first time, to participate in a women’s football tournament in the community of Belén. We did very well and we won the tournament.

I did not know anyone in Jóvenes Liderando Cambios (JLC), a local organisation, but a group of young British volunteers in the community grabbed my attention. I was curious to ask and find out more about JLC, but did not have enough time at that moment, and I did not dare to approach the organisation.

Hello again from boiling hot Nkhotakota!

It’s been a busy few weeks here and the team has been working hard to try and make the most of the placement as time continues to fly by.

To define development is virtually impossible because the notion itself umbrellas such diverse concepts. The work our team are doing with local organisatio Jóvenes Liderando Cambios (JLC) and Progressio focuses on People Powered Development, however the more time I spend here in Honduras volunteering it has become more apparent that we are providing People Powered EMPOWERMENT. By focusing on women and children, the two most marginalised groups, we have provided a means for change by teaching skills and illustrating an alternative approach for the present and possible future.