By Anna Sydor | HATW Volunteer
HATW volunteer, Anna, writes about her trip to the DCC…
I went to Maua to the DCC in January. I had been asked if I wanted to go on a short visit to meet people and see the projects working with hands around the world there.
I was filled with anxiety, not about travelling, discomfort or experiencing a different culture, but about my own ability to contribute. I was worried that I had nothing to bring and no skills that could benefit others. Without realising, I had started to focus solely on myself. When I arrived, this completely changed.
Life in Maua is different from mine, and yet I found things in common with people. Everyone welcomed us.
I was delighted to meet and listen to student nurses at the school in the Methodist hospital – they talked about job prospects and how hard their course was; complained about exams and hoped that when qualified they would finally have more money. I was really struck by how similar they sounded to my students; their problems, although different, were very similar. This made me think about how much we have in common with people everywhere. Findings these commonalities not only helps us to forge lasting relationships but also helps us to understand other people’s points of view.
We spent a day visiting people who had disabilities in their homes. It was humbling to be welcomed by and to meet children whose need was so great. The children though were delighted that we had come and really wanted to pose for photos, which made them giggle. We also went to visit some of the special schools that Hands Around The World is involved with. The children were overjoyed with the footballs that we gave them.
My experience of volunteering has given me more to think about and a strong desire to develop the relationships and links that I made, but it has also changed me. In the end, I benefitted more than I could have contributed. I feel privileged to have met so many inspiring people and hope that I will see them again.
By Heidi Sydor | Project Co-ordinator
By Oliver Kirimi | DCC Manager
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