**This was something I wrote for our monthly newsletter thingy "The Swazi Sojournal" or more fondly referred to as "the Sojo". Although some of the stories in here are not new news, I thought it might be nice to share.
To begin, I’d like to introduce a few phrases
that sort of sum up my tactics when approaching projects at site.
1. Bloom where you
are planted
2. Keep your heart
open
3. Before the
beginning of great brilliance, there must be chaos
4. That is not my
responsibility
5. Master the art
of Positive Hijacking
6. “Be open to
outcome, not attached to outcome”
7. The more you
put out into the Universe, the more you’ll get in return
In truth, I could talk about my site all day
because I’m not sure I’ve enjoyed working anywhere as much as this. That is not to say that my experience
has been all rainbows and butterflies. I’ve experienced heartache, frustration,
disappointment, resentment, beaming pride, and happiness… often all in the same
day (and I’m sure I’m not alone here). I’ve also struggled with the notion of
sustainability. First, how do I understand it? And second, how do I implement
it? So, I offer you a few anecdotes on my experiences here.
I had arrived a few days before the start of the
third term, and I was anxious to see where things would go. Using the divine
wisdom that people generally love food, I made some chocolate cupcakes and went
door to door. Hi, I’m Bongiwe, please
take pity on me and be my friend. Much like those sitcoms where neighbors
bring over weird jello moulds… minus the weird jello moulds. Unsurprisingly, it worked. So I happily
spent that first week sharing pleasant conversations over cake. Like they say, conversations are the
gateway drug to good working relationships… Yeah,
I know… that’s a stretch. BUT, it led me to an essential conclusion: get to
know my Head Teacher.[1]
When the first week of school rolled around I
approached my Head Teacher and asked if we could have a meeting about
expectations, and if she would suggest a good place for me to start. She didn’t hesitate a moment before
stating, “The volunteer always works in the library.” Cue emergency sirens. Danger! Danger! We have a code 5 violation,
I repeat, a code 5 violation! Abort, abort, abort! The red flags
were waving like it was the Fourth of July and I was thinking to myself ANGIFUNI, as the keys plunked into my
hand. I grinned and bore it for about a week before deciding this was the exact
embodiment of what I didn’t want my Peace Corps service to be like: prancing
around exuberantly like the good little placeholder they thought I was destined
to be. This was not the time for a “When I say jump, you yell ‘How high?!’”
reflex.
While quasi-working in the library was extremely
beneficial in strengthening my SSL skills, and getting to know the students, it
is unproductive to force a person to work where they have a deflated sense of
motivation (and that goes for anyone, not just PCVs). Besides, if life has
taught me anything, the solution for the library is forthcoming.[2]
There’s a gap, but I’m not the person to fill it.
Where were we?... Right, expectations… Having a clear idea of what I absolutely did not want functioned marvelously as a springboard into discovering where I felt passionate, and feel like the handful of skills I actually have could be put to good use. So, I spent integration minding the gap: where were the missing links? What work was already being done, and by whom? What areas interested the teachers and what activities could they commit to? What were the biggest challenges my school faced? What was going well? That’s right folks, I did several needs assessments.
Where were we?... Right, expectations… Having a clear idea of what I absolutely did not want functioned marvelously as a springboard into discovering where I felt passionate, and feel like the handful of skills I actually have could be put to good use. So, I spent integration minding the gap: where were the missing links? What work was already being done, and by whom? What areas interested the teachers and what activities could they commit to? What were the biggest challenges my school faced? What was going well? That’s right folks, I did several needs assessments.
Which brings me to the second best thing I
[accidentally… stumbled upon… unintentionally] did to build rapport within my
school; the Wellness Workshops.
There was this crazy philosophy running victory
laps in my head, but it suited my disinterest in slamming into that wall over
and over again, (because you know, it wasn’t a wall made out of chocolate, or
ice cream, or pizza). So I took out my trusty PC toolkit (aka my brain before
the mefloquin had really sunk in), and decided that the best way to work
sustainably within my community was to meet both groups (teachers and students)
halfway[3].
It seemed counterproductive to throw my focus solely on the students, if the
teachers were not likely to accept the students’ empowerment, or support their
development in the fields I wanted to engage in, i.e. leadership, lifeskills,
place a PC indicator here. So,
my masterplan was to first test the waters, and see what attitudes the teachers
had towards the students, their abilities, and what support they’d be willing
to give.
The topic of mental health came up in an early
meeting during the start of the third term (only two weeks into my
integration), and I timidly mentioned to the head teacher that I knew a bit
about mental health and could post information weekly, on say, Wednesdays and
have “Wellness Wednesdays”, cute, right? Well, before I could complete my
thought process the head teacher exclaimed that posting information wouldn’t
ensure anyone has read it, and “Why
don’t you do a twenty-minute workshop every day.” Well, that escalated quickly. This new me was still an unfamiliar
being… Will the real Bongiwe please stand
up? But I thought it would be a good way to integrate myself, and learn
about the people I was working with. So I ended up leading about twenty-five
“Wellness Workshops” during that term, which despite the stress, were extremely
worthwhile, as they also functioned as daily cross-cultural lessons, as well as
letting me into the minds of the teachers, helped me establish support within
the school, and simultaneously gave me the platform to slowly introduce
ideas. Additionally, it would
later be brought to my attention that the workshops also served as a means
through which teachers could have safe discussions on their thoughts and
address their concerns for the school, while working to generate possible
solutions, which is something I hadn’t even considered. Moreover, it paved the
way for creating a school development plan, which has been a critical piece in
initiating the projects I am working on. The workshops also functioned as a
means through which “volunteer” was redefined. I’ve been struggling with my
role within the community, it’s tiresome to feel objectified, and like the ugly
duckling, feeling like you belong, while everyone else capitalizes on your
differences. So these past few
months, I’ve carved a new meaning for myself through seeing everything as a
potential opportunity for collaboration and movement. If you want people to
place faith in you, and take a risk, you have to be willing to do the
same.
I’ve done a lot of thinking on sustainability
theory, I understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. I think there
are certain Dos & Don’ts, however, I am not going to address those here.
Yes, my goal was, and remains, to work myself out of my job. However, cave hic
dragones… at the core of this ideology is an inherent flaw; we (you, me, cousin
Bob… community members) are irreplacable. We find our niche, and fill that gap,
which was meant just for us. The ideal of 100% sustainability is just that,
ideal. Let’s place sustainability aside for a moment… what do we have left?
People. However transient and temporary, when brought together, people have the
potential to do what we alone cannot; perpetuate large-scale change and
influence this notably unbalanced system.
We each have a role that we play in good faith, and we’re lucky when we
find it. Maybe you’re the person who rocks that clown costume around your
community. Maybe you are a caring listener, or are gifted in saying the right
thing to those who need it most. Maybe you introduced Swaziland to No-bake
cookies… Regardless, I think there are elements of our work that all-to-easily
overshadow the fact that, at the end of the day, we’re people doing what we
love. And the same applies to our counterparts, host families and community
members. The most detrimental thing I can do to impede progress on something is
not taking the time to listen. It’s in those moments that I miss something I
may never have a chance to obtain again, respect, trust and understanding.
One of the most formidible aspects of this whole
experience has been releasing the notion that things will indefinitely
continue, because that’s unrealistic, no matter where you are. So instead, I’ve
spent hours discussing other people’s visions, and working to bring them
together to create cohesive goals and missions. My sustainability is learning
how to fill the gap, to shrink the abyss, limiting the ideas, creativity,
motivation and passion that all to often tumbles down there never to be seen
again, because the gap was too wide, and no one was paying attention or ready
to listen on the other side.
When I look back years from now on my service,
there are several project-related aspects that I know I am going to be proud
of, but more importantly, I can feel satisfied in knowing that I met a need
only Bongiwe could, and worked to help key players in my community do the same.
And now, I challenge all of you to mind the gap.
[1] I took a course in grad
school titled “Leadership, Communities and Coalition Building”. A facet of this
course that stuck with me the most was the notion of locating the “Target”, as
in, understanding who has influence, and who can influence those who have
influence. I’m looking at you, Saul
Alinsky. Essentially, an important part of understanding a community is
being able to identify the key players and assessing who has power and control
over certain events people, and resources. (in PC terms this is best identified
as “Intential Relationship Building”…) I also fervently believe in transparency
and don’t like feeling like I’m sneaking around, unless you know, I’m
pretending to be a ninja.
[2] I would like to happily
announce that literally a day after writing this I serendipitously met our new
librarian. It took some negotiating and maneuvuring, but I’m kind of still in
the “pinch me” state of reality, because I can’t believe life right now.
[3] I’ve since grown to realize
there are many other groups within my community that need equal voice and
inclusion to creating a positive living environment, but this was an excellent
starting place.
