Hello again,
I have now completed 16mths of my placement and only have 10 more to go. It has been the best experience on my life and at times I have queried the point of me being here but that is the nature of development and things take time.
The biggest thing that I have come to realise is that I am indeed a very privilledged individual to have had access to health services and education all my life....I do believe we take this for granted and continually expect more than the basics. Also I have noticed how much material seems to rule the lives of so many of us....must have this car, this phone, this dress but do we really need!
I've been working as a maternal health advisor in the province of Kratie, here you see hard working men, women and unfortunately children making money to put food on the table every day. A very privledged family has the money to get there kids a high school education, a very lucky and rich family has the money to send there kids to university. Health is the roler coaster that determines all this. The cost of health is that one persons treatment can effect the whole families abilty to get ahead - services that cost, means delays at seeking help, denial of severity of situation and very often death.
Often I see tourist visiting and complaining about the 75p dinner not tasting good or they will complain for paying a dollar for a can of coke when they know they can get it for 50c.........you just gave 50c to a family possibly who's kids aren't going to school and who has no access to resources to make a descent livlyhood..........50c and that was all - while you sleep in your lovely soft beds when you get home and spend good money on your favourite wine. ( I probably am writing this out of guilt being one of the offenders of always wanting a good deal ).
I guess what I am saying is that this account for fundraising closes in Novemeber so please donate. VSO is one of the few organisations who has skilled volunteers at grass roots level, volunteers making sure donors money is well spent. The volunteers educate their colleagues and supporting their colleagues in how to get the most from the little resources they have. I personally am very proud that I am working for VSO because they don't just throw money at a problem - they use human resources and capacity to help make the less privilledged have better access to the things we take for granted. Please help them place more volunteers in developing countries and the best thing you can do is volunteer your self!
Thank you to all the people who have donated already - I really appreciate it
Please check out my blog on www.suzenewson.wordpress.com for photo's and how my time here has been spent.
