What I am doing as Mentor

I have atended two session on last two saturday's so far. 1st session was about Getting to know each other – introduction & ice breakers. Grils are age 12-13 years old and they are studying in TCF's school n Pangali which is slum area in surroundings of Lahore. It takes me one and half an hour and makes me feel tired but when I see girls bright smillng faces waiting for me for a week, it gves me energy and I forgot every thing about long way to travel and wake up very early on weekend. In our group we are two mentors and six girls who are students of TCf. To be familiarize with each other we build a web of support.

We all sat in a circle. Give one girl a ball of yarn. That girl introduce herself and give basic details about her. We asked her to hold on to the end of yarn and throw the rest of the ball to another girl in the circle. The girl who catches the ball of yarn then did the same. They then threw it to another girl who repeats the exercise. The activity continued until a web is formed and then we mentors directed the discussion towards the importance of working together as a team. Threw the balloon into the web and encourage the group to move it around without letting it slip through the gaps. And ballon remain in air couple of minutes untill we did not let it slip out of the yarn.

Group decided name of "Barbie Doll Group" as an identification.

With help of mentors group come up with guidelines of conduct and come up with rules acceptable to all of them. We encourage students to have a record of their Rahbar experience and to give them an opportunity to express themselves. Through mentoring we encourage their good habits and discourage bad habits.

My second session was about Understanding individual’s past, present & future. We make them realized that despite ones background, one may find something in common with a person least expected. We discovered ther future aspirations and encourage them to write success journal as well.

RV Weekend

Wow, so now GX is officially all over...we had our RV weekend in Birmingham the weekend just gone...was interesting! It was great to see everyone again although Zaake, Mike and Laura couldn't make it. It was weird to be with the UK volunteers and not have our Pakistani family with us, too! On the Saturday night we had a halloween party, and I must say, I don't think we've ever looked so good! Haha.

We did sessions on how we've coped leaving the exchange, what we can do next, who we can get in touch with and we've started to plan events that we'll be doing now we're home. A few of us northeners have decided to have an entertainment night with music, comedy and general entertainment to raise awareness on the issue of problems facing asylum seekers and refugees within the UK (see, look what Cranhill has done to me!) in Manchester, hopefully around Valentines Day so we can have a lurveeee themed event! Anyone who wants to come would be most welcome, more details to follow no doubt.

As for me, I'm settling in pretty well to uni life, still loving it! I seem to be pretty busy all the time doing something or another, not always working! (Although I do seem to have a lot more work than a lot of people here...haha). I'm about halfway through my first semester, which is very odd, doesn't seem like I've been here long at all! But life's pretty good right now.

So I'm going to sign off just by saying that I'd kind of put GX thoughts into a little box in the back of my mind, and the RV weekend has definitely brought them all to the forefront again. And it made me realise how much I miss everyone and how much of an amazing and rewarding experience I had...so again, I'd like to thank EVERYONE from Team 85 and indeed the whole of GX for making it what it is. Love you all guys =]

Sabina xxx

LOOKING FORWARD

I am excited to share with every one that I am going to start volunteering at school on saturdays, starting from coming saturday. It's THE CITIZEN FOUNDATION's Rahbar Project. And my role will be like a MENTOR.

This Mentorship Program is aimed at the development of youth as individuals and as responsible members of the community in which they live.

'Rahbar' in the traditional concept means 'a person who enlightens, illumines, guides, paves the path of light for the duteous disciple leaving his lively foot prints on the sands of time'.

In line with this, the role of a mentor in Rahbar is to guide the mentee in his journey of self-discovery to help develop a sense of self, a vision for his/her future, the ability to develop and implement a plan to realize this vision and the capacity to deal with the occasional failure that he/she will inadvertently confront on this journey.

So nice of Raheel, that he told me about this interesting piece of work. Unfortunately it's only in Lahore & Karachi, so rest of our team fellows except me and Raheel amy not be able to join.

Looking forward to this volunteering.

I hope I will share my amazing eperiences working with children with you soon.

I wish Peace so that children can come to school.

A Note to Say Shukria/Thank You/Asantesana

I'm pleased to say thank you to all
contributors from Pakistan, UK & Krnya to provide us a good opportunity to learn, enjoy and experience new things, especially for all three host communities for making us feel like home.

I'm especially very grateful to all host homes because living with host homes was incredible worthwile experience and we take back useful and practical lessons.

Volunteer placements were remarkable source of encouragement, learning opportunities and good information sharing platforms.

I would like to mention about GX team 85, PSs, voluntarily kind and supportive Dr Azra, Mr Peter, Ms. Fatima & her husband, Mr. Shahrukh, Mr. Asim and donors for such kind, lovely, welcoming, supportive, and helpful approach.

I really miss every one and wish BEST OF LUCK to all.

My journey on GX

(Najeeba Syed)

I joined GX with a keen desire to learn cultural differences,know global issues and its mitigation strategies in global perspective. I really appreciate the designing of the program. Its beauty is in the form of engaging a volunteer in a very different way providing them the opportunity to live with a host home counterpart from a different background,religion and territory and working with a different counterpart,collecting and absorbing new knowledge from the national charities engaging great people and working for the welfare of their own community.

Working in a large group taught me to respect other's believes. GCD's helped me to deepen my knowledge learning on issues developing countries are facing together.

It was also very beneficial to enhance my presentation and facilitation skills,build confidence and the ability t work both as an individual and as part of the group.

Working on the CA D's enabled me to familiar myself and learn from people working in charitable organization throughout the Glasgow. I definitely fell that I have gained knowledge on different issues that effect the city.

The opportunity to work voluntary with other volunteers taught me different aspect of volunteering which I had never considered ,and has strengthened my commitment working in the voluntary sector.

Meeting members of Scottish parliament from the East End helped me to understand the local government structure and how do they address their issues. My work placement in Glasgow at east end provided me the opportunity to know more about the communities,their current issues and preferences while addressing these issues. I have discovered that many youth issues are shared between UK AND Pakistan. In my perspective the Glasgow community was more concerned about the issues faced by their youth and they were making more of an effort towards the resolution.

Many people showed interest and wanted to know about the causes and effects of issues faced by young people which are the same for youth of many other developing countries such as lack of opportunities in terms of lively hood,decision making ,exclusion which in tern can lead other problem such as a lack of practical based qualification schemes for young people which mean that it can be diffiicult to learn more trades,ergo difficulties to obtain a good wage.

The opportunity to participate in different social event in UK I.e Calidh,a trip to West End theater broaden my mind and gave me scope to experience new things of which had I had no chance. It also helped me to understand the social habits of the Glasgow community. Global Exchange has been a rich exposure which contributed lot in my life helping me to build up towards my life goals enhancing the spirit of volunteering to work for my community to engage young people in the such process where they can contribute for positive change.

Significant Change Story (Raheel Ahmed)

Hi, I am Raheel. I am from Lahore, city of Pakistan. After getting master’s degree in Psychology I have taken some of my major life decisions and dropped everything and took a decision of reinventing myself and self-searching. So I applied for Global Exchange to gain life experience, to learn about different cultures and people and to better myself. My exchange was in Pakistan, Scotland and Kenya.

Before GX I did not have any professional experience, but working with PEEK organisation in Glasgow for the children, and with Visions Magnet Theatre organisation gave me work experience. Now I am very much aware of the overall structure of the organisations. Now I have a more practical approach towards life and UK people inspired me a lot in terms of practicality.

I am the youngest one in my family and did not take much responsibility before in my life. But now after this exchange I am ready to take every kind of responsibility. I had always been interested in contributing for community, but I did not have the proper direction and clear vision. Now I am much aware of my direction and have a lot of ideas to implement in the community.

Before GX I was much disorganised and had lost some of very good opportunities in my life because of it. But now I am quite organised and manage time well. Working at PEEK has taught me how to deal with children and youth. It also taught me about child psychology. Working at Visions Magnet Theatre in Malindi has overcome my lots of inhibitions like stage fear, media skills, publicly speaking, and has improved skills in delivery of workshops, communication and creativity.

I have never ever cooked in my life before and neither washed washroom, which I both learned in this wonderful exchange programme. Now I am more self-sufficient that before. This experience has boosted my confidence and I feel more open to others.

Living in two host homes has provided me very good understanding of lives of developed nations and also about pros and cons of individual and family lifestyles. I always avoided politics in my life, but living with Joyce and Andy provided me a source of information regarding politics. I have learned a lot about international politics and have decided to remain more aware of world politics as it is deeply rooted in our lives and with every person of this world.

I am now much better at informed decision making and taking initiatives.

This exchange has given me a new approach and direction in life and helped me discovering and achieving the progressive and permanent milestones along the path of my own unfolding higher, deeper and wider potentials.

I have also learned about group dynamics, how to participate in group decision making and how to maintain good relationships within the group. I have become more adaptable and I think I can adjust myself wherever I go in the world. I am more globally aware and feeling more connected with this world and more responsible for the world. My approach has developed from Ethnocentric to World centric. The interaction with different people, from different parts of the world, with different attitudes, belief systems and lifestyles has taught me a lot. My attitude towards people has become more accepting and unbiased which is a very good development as a student of psychology.

My role in life is getting clearer to me and also feeling freer, independent, lighter and more ambitious. And I hope my family would be surprised to see such changes in me. I have decided not only to bring gifts for my family and friends but I will also bring some of the learning’s and principles to Pakistan, to implement in my life. In the end I would like to say in order to see the beauty of life, you have to be a volunteer in some part of your life.

Deborah Harward (UK) Significant Change Story

I applied for Global Xchange at a time when I was unsure what I wanted out of life, especially my career. I felt I was lacking purpose or direction-my limited knowledge of global issues made me vaguely aware I’d like to do something to help others but I didn’t know where to start!

Thanks to all the wonderful people I’ve met on GX, I’ve learned so much from a personal and a global perspective! The biggest learning for me is to be able to differentiate between culture, tradition, religion, faith and spirituality an area I had very little knowledge of before. I’m developing an understanding of how these issues affect the social cohesion of communities and relate to wider issues of conflict around the world, and it has motivated me to want to work for inter-faith understanding and peace.

On a personal level being able to better understand what people mean by faith has helped me to explore my own beliefs and begin to feel more spiritual awareness. I’m also much more aware of how culture affects the interpretation of these things in society and so I’m able to see the influences that I’ve grown up with and realise I have a choice about the way I want to live.

I feel more centred and confident as a person now, and definitely have more determination and direction for my life. I am more aware of how I can make a positive contribution to my community in terms of my career but also as an individual. I’m motivated to be informed about the issues affecting my country and the world in order to be able to raise awareness and participate in how they are dealt with.

I now feel like there’s so much to learn and so many interesting things to be a part of, I’m really happy to have rediscovered the sense of enthusiasm and ambition which I had lost! I’m also eternally glad for the wonderful people I’ve spent time with over these four months, my new friends and family from countries I’m going to admit I couldn’t have located on a map before this started. I feel more connected to the world now and part of a wider family of people who mean so much to me and I’ll never forget. Thank you to all who have made this special, I wish you all the very best for the future and look forward to how our lives will continue to be connected!

------

Now we've been back two weeks, and I'm really enjoying telling all my family and friends what we did on the programme. I'm finding out about lots of organisations working for interaction between people of different faiths, initiatives to help young people develop their skills of reasoning, self confidence and self awareness, and projects to promote global awareness... I'm so excited to find that there is so much going on, its easy to keep up the level of enthusiasm! I'm making contact with different people, and volunteering to get training and experience within these new areas of work - its all going well so far. Hope the rest of the team are having the same good luck : ) miss you all!

The Next Step...

Hey Everyone!

So this is me calling in from LEEDS BABY! I've been at uni for just under a week and I can safely say that it's awesome. My flatmates are James, Julian, Amy and Lisa, and they're all really good fun and lovely people. It's nice to be living with people my age - it was weird living with just my parents after 4 months of living with the team! I'm living in halls called Montague Burton which is really close to uni and the city centre...if I have a lecture at 10am I only have to leave at 9.50am! So I'm really happy with where I am. Leeds is an awesome city too, comparable to Glasgow (Yes, I went there...). I officially start uni, like lectures and stuff, as from Monday...wish me luck! Met a few people from on my course and they seem to be pretty cool.

I talk constantly about Kenya and GX and I think people are getting sick about it already! I have all my pictures as my screensaver on my computer and I have a little reminisce everytime I see them. It seems like a lifetime away though, it's crazy.

Missing everyone a lot. I'd like to echo Kiki in saying thankyou for being such amazing teammates and pleaseee endeavour to keep in touch - I know I've been a bit crap the last week or so cos I've been mega mega busy, but I'll try harder! Also haven't put my significant change story up cos Peppy only sent half of mine...don't worry, it'll be up ASAP when I have it! =]

Massive love

Sabina xxxxxxxxx

Thankyou /Assan ta sana Team 85 !

It is the support , love and understanding of my all friends that made my journey very special in its own way.I just want to say Super Thank you to Debz,Suz,Sabz,Zakee,Alex,Najeeba,Maria,Salma,Rabail,Sarmad and Raheel for being such a nice and loving friend through out the programme. Thank you for giving me shoulder when i needed in tough days and thank you for always there to listen to me and for celebrating my joys. I ll never forget these 5 and half months.I wish you all the best for your future. May you all have all the sparkles of your life.Love you all.Miss you.

Best wishes Kiki

Significant change story

Kiran Anwar- Significant Change Story

“Is this Osama Bin Laden’s home?” one of the children asked me when I was showing different styles of houses in Pakistan. I was mute for a while; I was not sure what to reply. Then I, with a smile on my face, replied politely that it’s not a house of Osama Bin Laden.
The realities are far more away from what media portrays. I couldn’t believe that a child from Glasgow could ever asked me this kind of question. When he asked me such a question there was one thing on my mind that I have to challenge his myth and I did it and I’m very happy about it.
Before joining the GX I always thought that “non-muslims” cannot be your good friends. But through GX I have made new friends who are very supportive, friendly and empathetic. I have grown very close to them. I share all my happy and sad moments with them. I am going to miss them a lot. But me and my friends from the UK have planned to visit each other’s homes in the future and will keep our friendship long lasting.
I thought people in Glasgow and Kenya will stigmatise us as being terrorists, I was tense about it before coming to Glasgow and Kenya. But to my astonishment the people turned out to be very helpful and friendly. I remember one day when a man on a bus started chatting with me. He was so glad to meet me and when he learnt that I am from Pakistan he sympathised with the current situation Pakistan is facing.
I took drawing classes at Nusra Technical Institute in Kenya. The drawings of children were amazing. One of the girls made textile designs but she was too shy to paint on the wall with me, she thought her drawing was not good. I couldn’t see any fault in it. I wanted to make her confident and motivated her to try drawing, I used to encourage her. She was reluctant to paint on the wall but now one can see a beautiful skirt painted on a wall of the clothing department by her. I am proud of her.
I have learned a lot from GX, more than I expected. I enjoyed the whole GX programme as being a volunteer. As the programme is coming to its end but for me it’s a beginning of a change within myself. I realised that my life was confined to myself and to my country alone. My thinking approach is broader now. I can elaborate it with an example like before GX I was unaware of global issues, if there was any issue I thought that “its an issue of X city in Pakistan” but now I compare with other countries as well. I consider myself to be globally aware. I want to learn more and more about different cultures, norms, traditions, issues, languages and histories of different countries. I am thankful to British Council and VSO for providing me this opportunity and I will continue to work voluntarily as I go back to Pakistan.

Enjoy Life Not Drugs!

One of our Community Action Days was to march against drug abuse - we walked through lots of villages to mobilise the community, with banners and puppets, singing and dancing all the way!

When we reached the venue there were performances throughout the day by the different volunteer groups - it was a great event, 1200 people were reached with the anti drug abuse messages, 33 people donated blood and 121 used the Voluntary Counselling and Testing services for HIV.

The photographic evidence of us singing an anti drugs song in Swahili... capturing on camera the reaction to our pronounciation!

Lets meet at MEDA

Najeeba and I worked for the two months at MEDA - Malindi Education Development Association - http://www.medakenya.org/ - who run lots of different programmes to promote, support and encourage education for children, youth and adults. The office always has different people coming in, meeting, working on different things; early childhood development, community outreaches, peer education, youth groups… never a dull moment! They were also the implementing partner for VSO in Malindi, so this was the teams main base and meeting point… the new Central Station! ; )

MEDA have a network youth volunteers who work for free to educate their community, raising awareness of issues affecting youth like HIV/AIDS and drug abuse, helping people access services, supporting and encouraging responsible decisions and behaviour. They have 300 peer educators, and over 100 who work as ‘Ambassadors of Change’ who have a talent like music, acting, or acrobatics and use that to mobilise the community at outreaches, where they then give information and educational performances.

One of our main roles at MEDA was going with Anisa to different girls schools and groups, and sharing experiences of how culture affects women in our countries, which provoked some interesting discussions comparing the equality in education and employment opportunities in UK, Pakistan and Kenya, and debating whether women can do anything a man can do, including be president!

We had so much fun with the girls, who were also keen to ask us questions about ‘girly’ subjects and dilemmas we can all relate to - appearance, self confidence, healthy diets and relationships! On request we also helped with some revision tips, although I don’t think they needed them - I was so impressed by how focussed and determined the girls are in their studies, and how confident and strong they are in their visions for their future! We also did peer counselling, taught life skills classes, and started work on a girls’ magazine, and I’d like to finish with a brilliant piece one of the girls wrote for the magazine;

Fail Forward Fast
We learn by making mistakes
So if we want to learn at a faster pace
The key is that you must learn from mistakes you make so you don’t repeat them.
Although we all make mistakes fear of failure doesn’t have to cripple you. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Have fearless life!

By Jamila Mwang

My new extended family

My and Rabail's host home was with Saumu, a wonderful, fun, strong and independent woman who I loved getting to know and really admired! She's a nurse at the local health centre, and as well as working full time and overtime to support her family, she volunteers for MEDA, sells beauty products as a sideline, is a great friend (to it seems everyone in Malindi), cooks amazing pakora, bajia, pili pili, and makes delicious fruit juice! : ) And I thought my life was hectic... yet somehow none of this makes her hurried or stressed, which I find incredible - and she always found time to talk to me (although sometimes Swahili time' helped out there, the way its acceptable and even expected that people are late for things a LOT!)

She has two beautiful kids, my sister Mulhat and little brother, Boss - aka Abdul Aziz, but called Boss becuase he's the man of the house! I loved having a brother and sister, eating dinner all together around the big shared plate, and playing lots of noughts and crosses, cards, hangman, and my all time favourite, pictionary! They saved me from what would otherwise have been long dark evenings with a tv boasting dodgier soaps even than in the UK, if you can believe it! (Sabina can give you the detailed account of who was dating who's sister and mother at the same time, I'm outing her as the soap addict!)

I will never forget Mulhat's incredulous expression every time I did something 'weird' - which was often! From eating raw tomatoes, to my choice of socks, to drawing doodles, nothing I did went unquestioned and I loved that about her! And Boss with his cheeky smile and babbled stories when he forgot to be shy... and most of all, the massive hugs I always received as soon as I got in the door! Saumu has assured me the house is too quiet now we've left, and the feeling is mutual, I miss them all heaps! So thank you so much to my little family, I had a wonderful time with you and please keep your promises to stay in touch!

4 Days 4 Activities In Muzaffargarh Community,Pakistan!

Hi, After coming back to Pakistan, The GX team 85 Pakistani Volunteers has organized four Consecutive activies on daily basis. The High temperature is a big challenge for them but We all remained steadfast and persevere. Instead of having low energy levels in such a hot weather we ultimately managed to organize our activities and they went well. Now today is our last day in Muzaffargarh Community. The activities we have organized 4 activities in the last 4 days are:
1. SIGN IN Petitions for High Schools In the Vilages,
2.Walk for the Promotion of Volunteerism.
3. Drawing class and Wall Painting in school and session with Parents of Children regarding Health and Hygiene (In theSunakki School where children even don't have enough books and copies),
4. A session on Poverty ,Inequalty and people's Responsibilities in Host Homes Villages.

Tomorrow we will travel to Multan which is about 35kms from Muzaffargarh...there we,ll have one free day for sight seeing and then on tuesdaywe will have Debrief and on wednesday 16th Sept,2009 is our Final Farewell. On Thursday we,ll move to our cities. Our Journey is going to end But i would like to say that Its not the ending but Beginning of Global Active Citizens! WE will miss our UK as well as Pakistani Counterparts and team members a lot and the moments we had together.
Thank You Team 85 You all are Great!

Smile you're in Kenya

As the days in our final phase are drawing to an end time is again slipping swiflty away, I have loved every minute living in Malindi and in a land of hakuna matata adn the friendliest of people warmed by the shimmering sun how could you not. My host family have welcomed Kiki and I into their home unreservedly showering us with love and support. Our host mum Priscilla has been nothing but patient with me as I pestered her each and everynight for the recipes of such tasty tropical delights; choclate has long been replaced by cubes of heaven in the form of vichete. We have provided our host siblings with some right laughs as I tried to learn not only kiswahili but giriama too, hinde!In to this cross cultural experience I have undertaken fasting for Ramazan, and yes this does include no water. No easy challenge in such sweltering temperatures and with a four o'clock alarm buzz but the rewards of Iftar are certainly deliciuous. Salma and I have loved our time at the health centre. We started our day early in the morning awaiting the onslaught of matatu conductors to hurl Watamu Watamu gede in our sleeping faces, before we hopped into a van to hurtle down rainbow flowered roads; sending cyclists wobbling as we bopped and bounced to banging beats. We were even privilaged enough to once board one with a flat screen tv. At the health centre we worked alongside such inspirational people who were deveoted to the betterment of their community. We undertook a plethora of tasks from taking blood pressure, sitting in on councelling sessions, encouraging others to test for HIV and encourage those midwives to continue doing the fantastic voluntary work that the community need compelled them to undertake initially. We ventured to distant villages for outreaches where we witnessed the shocking reality of a developing country and the health implications triggered by something as small as not having a pair of shoes. Again our fellow volunteers and workers at the health centre provided only the best of support especially in unexplored territory. They took us out to lunch to ensure we dined on only the finest African cuisine (and even provided mchicha seeds so I can continue to feast so back in the mother land), climbed coconut trees so that we drank only the sweetest madafu juice and took us on mini adventures allowing us to see the dazzling beauty of the marine park without paying muzungu prices. It has been the most incredible experience so a huge THANK YOU to all those who made it possible and made the experience what it is!!

GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP DAYS
The team has covered its global citizenship days in following key areas keeping in mind the theme of the Global Exchange programme which is the
poverty and inequality and youth participation and the needs of the community, the activities were well planned and the involvement of the community was satisfactory. The discussions were interesting and rich in information. The spirit and the enthusiasm of the team were high and exemplary of team work.

Deborah, Sarmad and Rabail on
Tourism IN MALINDI
The positive and negative impacts of tourism
Approach of people towards tourism
What can we do to improve the negative impacts and enhance the positive ones.

Raheel, Zaake and Alex on
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
How poverty is responsible for crime and punishment
The work of Red Cross for prisoners
Visit to prison
The shared stories of prisoners

Kiran, Suzanne and Salma on
SEXUAL HEALTH AND POVERTY
How poverty affects the sexual health
What are STI’s, its effects and precautions
What is HIV, HIV in Pakistan, and in Kenya?
How to live HIV positive, the stigma, and use of drugs

Najiba, Maria and Sabina on
POVERTY AND INEQUALITY
What is poverty?
The impacts of poverty
The role of youth in eradicating poverty
===============================================================

COMMUNITY ACTION DAY

Community Action Day Building school in Mgoni Village

The team has finished their community action days by building a school at Mgoni village. It was a community demand. A primary school was already there but it was not enough for the children. It had very little capacity to accommodate all the children and the location was very remote so it was hard for the children to walk for such long distance .With the help of MEDA Centre, community people and the global exchange volunteers build a school for the community children. the community was very thankful for their help. The volunteer enjoyed working in the mud and with wooden sticks it was a new experience for them .

Building the school

COMMUNITY WELCOME IN MALINDI

On 11th of July we did our community welcome in Malindi. As we arrived on late evening on 9th so we had only one day to prepare for community welcome. So we divided the work among the volunteers, some volunteers did the flip charts for volunteer placements, some for GCD's CAD's that we did in Glasgow while some decided to decorate the community hall for community welcome, everything was sorted out & everyone worked as a group & that helped us a lot doing lots of work in short time. The flipcharts & other stationary was provided by Malindi Education & Development Association ( MEDA ).

On the morning of 11 every volunteer headed for community welcome, we had posted all flipcharts i the c0mmunity hall for people to see what v did in Glasgow. The community welcome was started with recitation of verses from Quran which followed by speech done by Mr.Baruwa CEO of MEDA, also there were speeches done by different chair persons from different organizations working in Malindi. After speeches there was brief introduction of Global Xchange was done Programme supervisors as well as volunteers, the audience in the community hall were really excited to hear about GX & they were looking forward to work wit us, the audience consisted of people from MEDA ,host homes, people from volunteer placements & people from all walks of life. At 1 in noon there was lunch provided for everyone, which followed by cultural plays & dancing.

Overall we received a very warm welcome ( karibu ) by people of Malindi and everyone is very excited to live & work in Malindi & INSHALLAH we all had a very good time being here.

ASANTAE :)

MY 2 MONTHS IN GLASGOW

Our UK volunteering phase were consisted of two months & we had to do volunteering work in
Scotland's largest city Glasgow. Glasgow boosts the metropolitan life at its best with easy & best
transport available to move anywhere around the city, with the best place for shopping and with its beautiful architectural laid buildings the city of Glasgow captures ones imagination about working & living in this magnificent city.

My host home was located in the north-east area called 'Riddrie' and my volunteer placement ( VP ) was located in the southern district of city area called 'Toryglen'. It was approximately
2-miles south of city center. The name of my VP was 'URBAN ROOTS' , it was an environment based project, the main working areas included maintaining the on-going forest conservation project in the woodland area, to build wooden board walk in the woodland area, to grow fresh vegetables for local community and to setup and help in running the 'Fruit Barra' that will sell low-cost fresh fruits & vegetables for local community. My VP counter part was Suzanne, she was from Wales UK, she was clever, honest & hard working. We really had a great time working together.Besides VP there were CAD's GCD's MPR & Debrief that we did as a whole group & we learned & enjoyed a lot doing those.

The city of Glasgow had a friendly atmosphere in which working was a good fun with lots of learning. Everything seems perfect in Glasgow. To be as live-audience in BBC Scotland studio,
doing traditional scotish dancing, or being 'Bards' at pub, everything i did in Glasgow was full of fun with lots of learning. From the best shopping places, to the most beautiful vistas of Crainlarich, from the most beautiful buildings of University of Glasgow, from warm welcome by Scotish Youth Parliament in Edinburgh to the cool breeze of Irish Sea, from George Square to Glasgow central station I can honestly say that i had the best time in my life in Glasgow. I LOVE GlasgoWOW : )

A BIT OF TEAM 85 MID PHASE REVIEW

Gx team85 had their Mid phase review on the 31 of July 2009 in Lamu.. A piece of heaven...With all the natural beauty , excitment, enthusiasm, fun and joy the team reflected on all the past work...with all the delicious food and sailing the team promised for the best for the next month.Plans were made for the best to achieve and things were discusssed which were lacking in the team.... All the best of times... with lovely memories..... laughter.... smiles... Indian ocean.. Sea... Beach...... Coco trees...boats... shells....women wearing black hijabs.... kids playing in the streets with all their smiles and greetings... donkeys with their cute and innocent gestures on their way.... and Kenian with African warmth and hospitality..... Made all the best of impressions and reflections on our minds... a life long expirience ... a lovely memory and so lovely to remember.....A nice tour and a Pracious gift from Global Exchange......

NUSRA (BY KIRAN)



When I met the students at Nusra I thought they are shy and will be unlikely to participate actively when I'm going to teach them but it's a cultural shock for me that the students at Nusra technical training institute asked us (my work placement counterpart Sarmad) quesions in our very forst lecture about culture focusing on Pakistan and Kenya. We asked them what they want to know about Pakistan adn we were bombarded by so many questions mqaking us continue our lecture the following day. They asked us about provinces, independeces day, colours of the Pakistani flags, governance in Pakistan, political adnd transport systems, about terrorism, population, illegal businesses in Pakistan, wedding ceremonies, Pakistan and Indian economy and government etc. I enjoyed repling to their challenging questions.
NUSRA was established in februaury 2005 by the Malindi Eduaction Develiopment Assosiation (MEDA). The main aim of the institute is to rescue the youth of cuommunity from the bad traits of the streets by providing them with technical training skills. My counterpart, Sarmad and I have been teaching students about Pakistan, interview techniques adn tips, C.V. making, stress management, healthy living, sales adn marketing, communication, urdu adn reproductive health so far.
As the school will be closing for the summer holiday period we have devised a whole months programme for August. We are going to train two students about glass about painting as aprt of life skills education. They will be selected through proper procedure. We are going to publisize NUSRA by conducting orientations in different schools, our target audience are teachers and students. We are going to paint busy street walls and we are going to distribute flyers to shops. Apart from that we are going to conduct awareness raising sessions within the communities that will be arranged by students. Moreover, we are going to paint a wall in clothing department and will plant a tree as well. We have also planned to paint GX logo on one of the walls at NUSRA.

Priscilla's Host Home Experience

I am one of the Global Xchange programme host parents and I would wish to express my feelings about the whole programme. This has been a very good programme for me because it made me learn different ideas and culture through the children I was hosting. I learnt a lot about the food the girls liked which included more vegetables than meat. This has made me adopt the life style and am almost becoming a vegetarian which is good for my health.
The other thing I learnt while staying with them is that each party is trying to learn a new language, the girls are trying to learn our language and I am also learning a few words in Pakistan. It is good to learn that people behave the same whether Africans or not. I am a mother of adolescents and what I've most observed is that there is no difference between my sons and the host children I had. They both need understanding, appreciation and love.
We have shared a lot of experiences together and I have always enjoyed sharing talks especially on the days activities. At first I had a big challenge especially with the meals because it was not easy to know their likes but now I know what they like.
The only challenge I had was being there for them every evening because I work up to very late so balancing the two was a challenge for me.
Another challenge was understanding their pronunciation so one has to repeat a sentence before you get the meaning. Otherwise I have really enjoyed having them in my house and I wish their stay could be extended.
Lastly I would wish to meet the parents of the children I have stayed with through the Global Xchange programme.

Host Mum to Kiran and Suzanne

Sports Day in Silver Sand School Malindi

"OMARI PROJECT" ( By Rabail)

In Kenya we are living in Malindi. It is a very beautiful city covered by Indian Ocean. Here I am working at "Omari Project". The Omari Project was launched in response to the problem of Heroine use in Watamu and the other Coastal towns. The Omari Project has been operating in Kenya since 1995. The activities of the project is to carry out an integrated programme for prevention, care and support for Heroine and injecting drug users in Kenya. since 1995. The Omari Project addresses the problem of drug users through an integrated programme that has three main components i.e 1.Treatment and rehabilitation of Heroine users. 2. Harm reduction and prevention approaches that focus on injection drug use and reaches new users through drop-in centers and outreach activities. 3. Advocacy leading to greater stakeholders awareness to promote solutions to the problems of Heroine abuse and associated high incidences of HIV and AIDS.
I have learnt a lot in last few days from Omari Project about drug users that how they are approaching to the clients to trace clients andthen providing the Counselling to build their capacity to decide for their lives to stop using drugs. It is quite new experience for me to work with X-drug users and drug users. Its really interesting to know what is the cause, why the very first time they started using drugs. So i found mostly the same answer because to release tension but its not the way to release tension even its the way to damage/kill yourself. Within last few days working with Omari Rroject I learnt a lot like on second day we went to visit and provide counseling to "Rehabilitation Residence Center". It was new for me I am so glad to be a part of this programme. Last week we have attended 5 days training on Indian Head Massage. there are lots of benefits of this massage for stressful drug users specially that will help them to lose the stress and provide them relaxation. So after that training Omari Project will provide this facility for clients as well as with Counseling + Accupuncture to make client more stressless. I am looking forward to learn more and to share my knowledge as well. Hope to learn more.

Written on the behalf of "RABAIL MIRANI"

In memory of the greatest time at URBAN ROOTS

Thought it was about time we (Sarmad and I) mentioned our fabulous time in Toryglen. Our days were filled variation, we got our fingers green and dirty planting and growing a spectacle of fruit, vegetables and a myriad of colourful flowers. We worked our muscles digging and constructing (which will be, when completed, the finest boardwalk in the whole of Scotland). We helped set up a fruit 'barra' - for the average joe this is Glasweigen slang for stall, selling fruit and veg at cost prices enabling the whole community to enjoy a healthy adn nutritious diet. We leanrt the importance of having a plan B and took to the kitchen to make vats of jam with remaining strawberries and donned our overalls when we became artists and painted, in all the colours of the rainbow, the most marvellous school murel. Best of all was meeting all the sparkling people who have inspired us grealty and taught us a lot! A huge thanks to Abi, Jacqui, Danny, Glen, Jade and all the other volunteers!!

sports day

The sports day at Silversands Academy was a really fun experience. Firstly, the event was very well organised (although this does not mean the 'Hakuna Matata' philosophy was abandoned). The races (which included sprints, sac races high and long jumps amongst others) were quick in succession and cheered by what felt like schools full of sugar high children. The excitement was contagious and tangible. The MC's microphone failed on a few occasions as the track markings faded to give way to the runners' vigorous foot prints. A wonderful event...

POSTED ON BEHALF OF ZAAKE

My Story

Me as a volunteer in the exchange program is sounds like a dream or a matter of luck…I think like this because for people like me from a village of North west frontier province is hard to get such opportunities... where e everything is defined … who to achieve and what to achieve… what is for poor.. And what for a rich.

That’s why I consider GX as a tiny ‘big bang’’ in my life. This big bang really made me to think globally, on a global perspective, have a broaden vision and understanding of cultures , global issues and variety of methods to cope with these issues…it not only extended my level of acceptance and tolerance but also made me love and accept those people which were not like me, who did not speak like me who did not think like me…GX made me behave like a responsible citizen of the world….it made me responsible of the fact that although I am a tiny part of this universe yet my approach toward life and towards issues either positive or negative have a far going impact…I have learnt that there are many dimensions to see life from, rather than a single. It made me conscious of all that is happening around me. The time I am spending in the GX, I will consider it the most memorable time of my life. Practicing different things, experiment with my knowledge and skills and making me aware of my potentials.

I did lot of things … without being pedantic actually if I really try not to be pedantic yet it sounds like that because there are loads of things that I experiences and every experience was the best of the best… I actually did all those stuff which seemed a dram to me or sounded impossible to me from making cards of the photos I have taken to selling marketing, printing, starting a new business, skating in Glasgow mela, painting corridor, climbing the mountain Arthur’s seat in Edinburgh , singing in the bus, working in the soup kitchen, playing guitar, assisting during a baby delivery in the labor room, playing golf, cricket, football, rounder, climbing statues in London, , taking photos of prince Charles, celidh dancing, creating awareness about Swat Valley , distributing flayers, reading my poetry at poetry night,, discussing my novel in the novel workshop at Glasgow, getting tested for HIV, working with people with learning disabilities, educating midwives and pregnant woman about STI’s, Visiting the HIV positive people’s houses, packing and dispensing the drugs, swimming in the Indian ocean, voting for global warming issues at Scottish parliament, talking to lots of people about my country and culture… and making friends from Busra Iraq, Palestine, India, Scotland, England America, Kenya, Zambia, Belgium, Congo, Germany, Pakistan, Afghanistan… and so many... These are just some reflections in my mind but there are tons on amazing things that we did… and are looking forward to also…

I think without volunteering in Global Exchange it would be hard for me to have such a life long experience... Thanks to Global Exchange, So, British council, Patan Multan and my brother and mother…

THE MOST TOUCHING AND ASTONISHING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE

I am working as a volunteer at Gede health center. We work on Prevention to mother and child transmission, HIV/AIDS positive people and in dispensing the drugs. Everyday is a new learning, new experience and new ideas new issues and their solutions. But the one experience was very unique that was when I was assisting in the labor room. There was a mother who was about to deliver. She was in labor pain from 7pm of last evening and now it was 9 am in the morning. She was lying on the bed, resting on one side hitting the opposite wall with her on palm. She was unable to speak... shivering. When I hold her head in my arms… her hairs were totally wet with sweat… sweat was dropping from it… she was not suffering from fever but it was the intensity of pain that made her severe sweating. she was pleading but in silent way because she was told not to make the other expecting mothers scared….it was a tough case even the expert nurse was unable to handle the case…. She was worried of delivery…she was in severe pain…we were massaging her feet, her palms and her hairs to divert hr attention from pain…but she was in severe pain even I cant express that in words.. … From last 14 hours… her eyes were widely opened. She was hitting the wall with her palm her other palm was in my hand and she was pressing it very hard. But she was worried to deliver. The nurse used all the injections and techniques but she was unable. At last she called for another doctor, half of the head of the baby was out but the rest of the body was stuck in the womb. I can’t explain her facial expressions which could explain the intensity of the pain. She was unable to push because she was worried and the baby’s head was half outside the body. Then everything went hush, she was told ‘you want to be transferred to another hospital? Will you be able to pay the expenses? Do you want your baby to be born dead? Do you want to press his head between your legs? She suddenly replied No, and then she seemed to forget about the pain and about being alive. The nurse was on her chest, I was pulling her legs and then the doctor succeeded in pulling out the baby. It was such a hard moment; I was feeling pain in my whole body. I really wanted to vomit in this intense situation. My mind was blank and that woman was suffering from extreme pain, she was at the extreme height of pain. The baby was the most beautiful; I haven’t seen such tiny creature before. The baby was so cute it really made me cry. I don’t know these tears were for joy, wonder, pain or gratitude. The baby was saved now but mother to remove placenta, stitches feeding milk and she moved to another bed. It was extreme phases from which she passed. It was about 4pm she was lying on the bed she had not eaten from previous evening, I asked her does the baby’s father knows and where is he? She said he lives in the city, I told him he’ll come after a week. This experience really made me thankful to my mother, to value the creativity of the Almighty and made me realize of the strength of a woman. And I will give the whole credit to Global Exchange programmed that provided me opportunity for all this experience and learning

RAHEEL AND ZAAKE IN "TIMBONI"

Me and Zaake are living in a village called "TIMBONI" near Malindi Town. It's a Beautiful village which is surrounded by a Beautiful beaches from different sides and by Coconut trees. It is very Green. It's a center of attraction for many tourists. Walad Ahmad is our host who works in First Community Bank. His Father Ahmad Walad (Baba) is the Elder of that village and has worked a lot for this beautiful village. They are 14 family members in all (including us 16). At first i was little worried to live with such a big family as i haven,t ever been before and also it is little far from malindi town (from our workplacements too) but now i consider myself Lucky as they are very very hospitable and lively and im enjoying the life of a Village too. I love Nights of the village with a lovely sky. We have a developed a very good rapport with all of them. They are very friendly and welcoming. They all likes music a lot especially Pakistani and Indian even though they dont understand the lyrics of indian and Pakistani songs. The food they cook is very tasty and i usually end up with over eating.We are enjoying Fish and coconuts on daily basis. We are also looking forward to go for Fishing with Baba who is expert Fisherman. Walad Ahmad and Baba are the source of hope for many people belong to that village. They are socially very active and community minded. Every one in the village shares their problems and issues with them, values their suggestion and trust them a lot. They are altruistic which is really a source of Inspiration for us. We all have celebrated Zaake's Birthday last tuesday. We all together danced and had a lots of fun.Zaake is also doing physical exercise regularly(which i always miss the opportunity) with one of our host who is a Acrobat with a very flexible Body. I like my hosts and the fantastic village"Timboni" a lot.

Glasgow in 2 months !

I was tensed, the thoughts of being stigmatized, calling us terrorists and extremist were haunting me like anything while I was in aircraft. My tension was getting worst as my craft was approaching airport.

Our craft landed. I with my team and supervisor headed towards passport desk. I was waiting in the cue. To my astonishment the guy at counter smiled at me and asked for my passport. I was shocked, I thought to myself how come he smiled at me “I am Pakistani” does not he know that. After checking my passport he said thank you with a smile. It was unbelievable for me.

My myth about Scottish people was destroyed. I realized it is just a media that propagate negative image which is far away from reality. The Scottish people are really friendly.

Claire and Simon my host home members greeted me with a broad and warm smile. I remember I was cold first night they provided me the electric blanket which seems to be a blessing. They really made me feel at home. They cared me like my parents would do.

I worked at “FUSE”, it is a youth cafe. I was tensed if the children at “FUSE” would cooperate with me to understand their accent. Speaking and understanding English is not an issue for me but the Scottish accent is very broad to understand .I remember the first day at the cafe I was excited to meet children but was a bit anxious to communicate with them. One of the child came up to me and asked for McCoy crisps, and at first I did not understand what he said. I told him if he could say that again, he said again but still I did not understand I asked him politely if he could say it slowly and clearly to my surprise he did and finally I managed to give him McCoy. I was relieved. The children here have been really helpful making me understand what they say, actually it will be justified to say that they have been patient to tell me same thing again and again .I enjoyed teaching friendship bracelets and glass paintings to the children to raise money for “FUSE”. During my stay at FUSE I got the opportunity to destroy myths of children related to Pakistan and terrorism.I enjoyed my time here with every one, the staff members were friendly.

I could not find any similarity between Pakistan and Scottish culture. Everything is different. The community issues are different from the society from where I come from. I thought Scotland being a developed country will have no problems and issues, I thought the people here will be free from any problems but I was wrong. Alcoholism and drug addiction is ruining the lives of many people where unemployment is increasing day by day .I wish I could stay here for long time to do something profitable to sabotage these issues.

I learnt to value time. I can travel alone in buses in back home it would have never possible ,I learnt to be independent .I learnt how to find ways when lost, I use to spend big amount of money back home but now i realised how much money I was wasting .Because of Global xchange programme I learnt fund raising techniques. It was a great experience to work with the team, to involve and respect every one’s ideas while making decisions.

Global xchange has provided me the opportunity to think at a broader horizon, beyond the limited skies, accepting cultural differences. I am now friends with all my team members .I share my good and bad times with them

I was wrong in many ways that’s what I realised when I came here .I am very grateful to British Council and Volunteer services overseas for providing me the opportunity to experience cultural diversity and giving me the avenue / plat form to make new friends.

Kiran.s.Anwar (Kiki)
GX volunteer Team 85

My host home experience in kenya

I'm living in a house nearby to the beach in Malindi town. My host mother is Maryam Mohammad Jeniby working as a 'conservation education officer' in WILDLIFE CLUBS OF KENYA. My host father is Hussain Ali working as a fisherman. They are both very kind, caring and loving of both of us. Not only this we have two younger children at home, one is Yusra, 14years old and studying in class 8 , and the second is Jaffar, 9 years old studying in class 5. They both are lovely children and our relationship is like that of a brother and sister. We love to help and facilitate them in day to day life and it's unforgettable time when we all play together. I LOVE IT!! Our small host home is not less than a paradise. It's full of peace and family's attitude make us really feel like our own home. Our host mother is very caring, responsible, sensible, realistic and sensitive towards us. I see my Pakistani mum's face in my kenyan mum's face. It's amazing to live in such hospitable, caring, loving and lively family. In evening's when we all are together we spend fantastic time unforgettable time. I shall all the life remember our gossips and lovely laugh which really help our teeth muscles to exercise.

I wish my host family all the best of health, prosperity and success throughout the life and even for the life here after.

God Bless you my lovely and lively host family. You are genuinely nice people. I LOVE YOU! Nakupenda!

posted on behalf of Maria

Jambo! From Malindi

Jambo everyone!

Just checking in from MALINDI BABY! The team is now officially in Kenya, rocking the boat in Malindi. The town definitely felt our arrival - whispers have been spreading around the town like wildfire about the 'mzungu's (foreigners) and it is virtually impossible to leave the house without what seems like several hundred people staring and shouting, 'Jambo!' 'Habari!' 'Mambo, Poa!' etc...it's funny but a little disconcerting. Particularly when someone comes up to you and knows your name and all about GX, but you can't remember when and where you've met them before?! It's mental but awesome at the same time.

We arrived in Mombasa on the 5th July, pretty late at night but still with gorgeously warm weather! We spent 4 days training in Mombasa with the other GX team - it was good to see them again and hear about their time in Manchester while we were busy bunnies up in Glasgow. We did several workshops in Mombasa, going over our time in the UK and then looking forward to time in Kenya...finding out what's acceptable, doing some language lessons, health and safety...the usual when you're experienced jet-setters like ourselves! Haha.

We then moved on to Malindi on Thursday 9th July, and life just has not been the same since =] we're all shacked up with our host families and everybody is loving it - personally Najeeba and I are living with a lovely lady called Ramla (or Mama, as we call her!), her daughters Soraila and Zanib, and another one of Ramla's daughters, Mariam, comes over everyday with her sons, Izaat, who's 3, and Abdallah, who's 7. I swear I'm going to bring them home with me, they're absolutely adorable! And so cheeky - in a cute way! Our new family are absoluely lovely, and we're being so well looked after - I was planning on losing weight in Kenya but I don't think it's going to happen, the food here is so amazing and my family keep trying to feed me up - I'm going to come home about 3 stone heavier than I was, I reckon. Oh, and eating on the floor rather than sitting at a table and using fingers rather than cutlery is WAY better!

We had our community welcome on Saturday morning in a local hall, and it was an event to remember! I'm sure there will be an official post on it at some point (if the computers are ever fast enough to put it on!) but I'll just say a couple of things quickly about it. It started with a lot of introductions and speeches, and explanations of what GX is and what we'll be doing etc. Then there was a traditional dance by an amazing dance group called Tosha, and some pretty spectacular acrobatics, too! It ended up with a big lunch, which was tasty but just far too big - I was so stuffed. After the community welcome we went on a group jaunt to the beach, where some of the Pakistani's attempted to learn to swim - there's still a long way to go but people are definitely getting there! It was a really fun activity, and hopefully one that can happen frequently, seeing as most of us live only about 10 minutes walk from the nearest, beautiful beach!

Just so everybody knows who's doing what, I'm going to list the host homes and work placements =]

Host homes;

Ramla - Sabina and Najeeba
Saumu - Deborah and Rabail
Priscilla - Suzanne and Kiran
Nassir - Alex and Sarmad
Mariam - Salma and Maria
?? - Zaake and Raheel

Work Placements;

MEDA (Malindi Education and Development association) - Deborah and Najeeba
The Omari Project - Alex and Rabail
The Gede Health centre - Suze and Salma
Vision Magnet Theatre - Sabina and Raheel
Malindi District Hospital - Zaake and Maria
NUSRA - Kiran and Sarmad

Fingers crossed and wish us luck for the next few weeks!

x

Goodbye Glasgow, Hello Malindi! : )

Today the team are all headed for London, to begin the next stage of our journey!

We've all had an amazing time in Glasgow, which was evident from the atmosphere of our farewell on Tuesday! We had a great night, in a room full of all the people we've become so close to, and learned so much from over the last two months. I know the only way I'm coping with leaving is to not say goodbye, but to say thank you for the wonderful frienships and memories that I know will last a lifetime : )

Take care everyone, and keep in touch - hope to be back telling you all about Kenya very soon! xx

We loved working at PEEK!

Raheel and I had a brilliant time at our volunteer placement, working with children was a first for both of us and we were continuosly amazed and delighted by how friendly, fun, creative and inspiring the children were to be with. PEEK does a great job of using arts activities to build the skills and confidence of young people in the East End of Glasgow, and all the staff have been a great example to us of people who are commited and caring about the people in their community. They were all so generous in giving their time and support while working with them, and we'd both like to say a big thank you, and please keep in touch!

Have a look at the PEEk website: www.peekproject.org.uk

Dedicated to my family

Dedicated to my family

The wee soft gentle touch of Daniel makes me forget all my worries
His “janu” smile is adorable
Its fun to play hide and seek with him.

Erin the “star”, making a beautiful drawing that wins my heart,
It’s worth keeping it safe forever. I was worried when she was ill. I could not see her quiet. I wish her good health forever.

A day never passed by when Simon does not ask me whether I am “o.k.” simply love it .He is very caring; I really enjoyed talking to him about religion.

Claire is a beauty with a brain. I wish I could spend more time with her .I remember the sunny day me, suz and claire chatted a lot about our own cultures, xchanges our beliefs and cultural practices ,it was very relaxing.

I am going to miss every bit I spend with you all.

Kiki
24.06.09

Some of the wishes from our amazing tree...

Just some of the amazing and moving wishes we had on our tree - click the picture to see them clearly. =]

VIEWS OF PUSHPA KODIKARA (HOST)GX

ABOUT GLOBAL XCHANGE

i think its very useful,well desighned project.i belive these sort of organizations are very good for youth good for forighn contries its very nice programe i always promote global xchange. i hope in future this program keep going .i hope all volunteers adopt positive changes adn hope that they spread this knowledge in their own contries for betterment.in starting days of GX i learned a lot in meetings about hosting Peppy UK SUPERVISOR she helped me a lot.its realy brilliant course.i envolved in this group and i met with lots of new people and made a good freindship with other host famlies now we have a freindship network because of Global Xcahnge. i wish this program run for ever because it connects different peoples together as a chain for such a good work.

ABOUT RABAIL & DEBORAH

I am hosting 2 girls one from Pakistan and other one is from UK.i am glad to be their host here in Glasgow i realy pleased to met them.i have three sons but no daughter but now i found my two daughter i am quite happy on that.they both are realy very nice and sincere with their work so hardworking girls.both are very easy to adopted i have no problem with them they are so caring and loving i found them like my own daugters Rabail and Deborah are like my family members now i am realy worried about that when they left me i will again feel myself alone without them my house is so quite no one to make noice and i will loose my two daughter they everyday call me MUMA i love this word when they both cal me muma.i never told them to do any work but they do without telling them like their own home.i will miss them too much.they are learning a lot and adopting positive things me too learning from them i have learned a lot about their culture their relegion and their life styles in their country.
wish u best of luck i want to see u on peek of world .

FOR SADIA AND PEPPY

I found both supervisors of GX very nice doing very good job they are so carring about their volunteers and also about us host homes.

FOR ALL TEAM OF GX

All the volunteers from UK and Pakistan u are all doing well,i realy love u all u are like my kids.all of you are as good as Rabail & Deborah for me.wish u all the best for your future.

Thank you:
Pushpa Kodikara

CAD number 1 - Glasgow Mela!

On Sunday 21st June, the team attended the Glasgow Mela, where we helped on the Oxfam stall, and staged our own activities to engage the community and raise awareness of the current crisis in Pakistan.

During the Mela, we held a balloon release for peace, and created a wish tree for those affected by the current crisis in Pakistan. People were invited to write their personal wishes and display them on the tree, and we were delighted with the inspiring and emotional response we got from people of all ages and nationalities.

Wishes ranged from ‘I wish for a labradoodle’ to ‘peace for Pakistan’ to ‘I wish my sister would realise she is beautiful.’

Each balloon had a card attached saying, 'Balloon Release for Peace, Oxfam Pakistan Crisis Appeal, Visit http://www.oxfam.org.uk/, with some Urdu script on, also.

I think the day was amazing. I particularly enjoyed the wish tree, and found myself with tears in my eyes at some points whilst reading the wishes of some of the participants. Hopefully we achieved a real fun and inspiring event for everyone involved, and have really shown how little actions (writing a card and sending it away on a balloon, or expressing your wishes and hanging them on a tree) can really make a big difference, both on a personal and wider level; I think the smiles and exclamations from around our stall proves that beyond any publicity we could have! I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who participated.

The whole team were inspired to hear that their efforts were appreciated by those attending the Multi-Cultural Festival ‘This tree is a milestone for love, and will have a great influence’ Syed Ansar Ul Hassan.

To make donations or find out more about the Pakistan Crisis Appeal from Oxfam, visit http://www.oxfam.org.uk/ or visit any Oxfam shop. We'll also be running the fun run next Sunday in Tollcross Park in aid of this appeal, and you can donate to the cause on www.justgiving.com/gxteam85 - please be generous!

We also helped Oxfam to collect over 230 signatures for their current petition, appealing to Gordon Brown to attend the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December. Oxfam are pushing for the UK to lead the way in negotiating an international treaty that will deliver a safe, sustainable future for poor people around the world, millions of whom are already suffering the effects of climate change.

This is a list of all the wishes put onto the tree;;

I wish my sister would realise she is beautiful

I wish for peace, happiness and for all diseases to be cured for all the sick people Fraser

I wish my mum and dad would let me have a hamster

Long Live Pakistan Ryan

I wish Natasha would come back

I wish Olivia embraces and enjoys India

We wish for peace, love to all

I wish my Aunty Anne goes up to heaven well

I wish for a better day

I wish all dads a happy fathers day

I wish for peace and happiness and forgiveness in my family FOREVER

I want Peace Niamh and Aiden

I wish I could live in Pakistan Ibrahim Ahmad

I wish for peace and happiness for all the world

We wish all the women in the UN shelters courage and perseverance

We wish all families would have enough food and water to live for the best of their lives

I wish for peace and love for the world

I wish for a helicopter and world peace

I wish to win the lottery

Sunshine!

I wish I owned a mansion

I wish that people accepted each other - regardless!

Peace in Pakistan

I wish for no more fighting

I wish for a dog

I wish I was a millionaire

I wish Pakistan won the final today

For Peace Worldwide!

I wish for better health and good fortune

I wish I could pass my driving test DW

I wish Dad has a nice day

I wish for all wars to stop

I wish for all my dreams to come true!

I wish for an end to world poverty in my lifetime

I wish I had a big house

I wish every wish came true

Peace, health and happiness for all people

World Peace, Food, Shelter for everyone in the world

I wish for everyone to be happy again

I wish for the war to stop

We want peace Vinay

I wish for a puppy to love and for peace in the world Isla

PEACE IN PAKISTAN

:-) Sarah

I wish for all these wishes to come true =)

I wish for good health and ultimately happiness

Peace and Happiness for everyone!

I wish I could have a real dinosaur (a T-Rex)

I wish Celtic would win the league

I wish upon a star MR

To Pass my driving test first time

I wish that everyone lived happily ever after

I wish that the sun shines in the sky! Coral

I wish I had a sister

I wish for Pakistan to win the match Joe

I want Pakistan to win Twenty20 Cricket 2009

I wish my sister was happy

I wish to be the biggest in my family

We Want a Peaceful Pakistan

Good health to Gina and Wealth for Julia

I wish for epic Lulz

I wish to be a singer

I wish everyone health and happiness

Peace in Pakistan

I wish for Emma to stay in remission from cancer

I wish I could meet Zac and Vanessa from High School Musical

I wish I could have a horsey

I wish that all the wars would STOP!

I wish for Pakistan to be a better place Kaitlin

I wish for Harmony between different cultures! Peace for all!

All the best wishes for PAKISTAN

I love Pakistan. Peace there and everywhere.

Peace and Only Peace! I love Pakistan.

I wish for peace! One World, One Love!

I wish to meet our friends today

I wish happiness to ALL people. Love you all.

I wish for a dog, a labradoodle for me Caitlin

Love and Peace for Glasgow

I wish that Pakistan gets peace and prosperity

I with that the world gets peace and love

I wish I could live in my country forever

I wish for all wishes to come true

I wish that everyone would make the most of every moment

I wish I had my own world where people don't die

I wish for love and happiness in the world Jaimee

I wish animal cruelty would stop Aimee

I wish for RFC to win the league

Pakistan - may there be peace there

I wish that I will go to heaven

I wish for a mansion

I wish my dad did not shout at me

I wish for £52m

I wish I had a nintendo wii

I wish I could find my mam

I wish for this to be the best GX ever.

...And that's not even all of them, as some were blown away in the wind to be found by some lucky wanderer!

=]

The end of life as I knew it! By Maggi

May 8th. Maggi's flat. Smiles for Gwen. Taken by Altaf with love.



I should have realised, as I looked at two brightly coloured butterflies dancing down the middle of Paisley Road West at 9 O'clock on a May evening, that a cosmic shift had occured in my life.

"We are just going for a walk" they said,"as it is our tradition". Nearly an hour later, in the pitch black of a Glasgow night in an area where gangs roam and drunks thrive, I stood in my lounge window where I had held anxious vigil since their departure. Every nail had been bitten to the quick as I anticipated the international crisis and social conflict that would follow the loss of two young muslim girls within hours of arriving in my country.Would I be allowed to continue as a social worker in the employ of Glasgow City Council? Would my family ever speak to me again? How would I cope with the media exposure of my neglect of two such innocents? And above all, how could I face their parents with this betrayal of trust on my part?

Just at the point of dialing the last digit to inform the Gex supervisors of this awful tragedy, the butterflies came back into sight, skipping gaily along Paisley Road West with huge smiles on their faces. Was I given an opportunity to express my distress at their prolonged absence? Not a bit of it! I was bombarded with tales of long-lost 'cousins' who had entertained them in their late-opening shops; I was informed of facilities and public buildings, miles away, that they were dying to further explore. My protestations were swept aside by hugs and squeals of excitement at being in "the best host-home" with "the best host-mother" and the proof that I had nothing to worry about was that they were "here"!

The following morning didn't fare much better!

As I dropped them off at the internal carpark in Central Station where they were to meet the Gex group, and told them to follow the commuters coming off a train..........that is just what they did!.....All the way past the concourse, through the station, out into the busy streets of Glasgow, and into the offices of the commuters whom they were tailing! Hopelessly lost on the first day! Did they panic! No! They simply charmed some poor unsuspecting Company Executive into believing that they were the nicest young ladies she had ever met!

And it has been downhill ever since!

Every domestic rule discussed on health, safety and security principles has been earnestly agreed to................... and just as earnestly flouted! Every specific place for kitchen equipment etc, so that I can find it again, has been demonstrated, acknowledged ..............and ignored! I have tried the wagging finger until I now have an athritic joint. I have tried lecturing, demonstrating, sulking and cajoling..... all to no avail. Every serious attempt to establish ground rules has degenerated into giggles and hugs while sweeping aside the promise of dire consequences if they fail to comply.
I have even threatened an arranged marriage to my mystic son as an act of joint revenge.... and was dismayed by the level of enthusiasm for the idea.... by one of them at least!

I have now given in!

I am resigned to living in a home of unchanged beds with food-encrusted dishes in the sink, puddles on the bathroom floor and sticky keys on the lap-top and the cooker knobs and nothing is where it should be! But, hey!.... the food is great; the puddles present a gymnastic challenge to an aging hippy; the sticky keys still annoy and the beds are none of my business! Being of a Buddhist persuation, I know that this too shall pass and be of ultimately little account. I shall once again experience the peace, quiet and order of my previous, boring, older woman's existence of work by day and telly by night. Or, as`Salma has the temerity to describe me, - " A Desperate Housewife with an obsession for Dr Who!"
Huh!

I can't wait for the 4th of July and the sanity which will prevail! ??????????????

Where, then, the overwhelmingly heartening story of Salma overshooting her bus-stop as she entertained the passengers to the score of "The Sound of Music"?

Where, then, the experience of Maria taking a daft domestic turn at 2am and hoovering the entire flat to the consternation of residents and rats alike?

Where, then, the heart-breaking sharing of "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Khuda Kay Liye" until the early hours of the morning.

Where, then, the bewilderment of seeing, and envying, beautiful items of clothing and jewelry on a brightly clad young body........... only to gradually realise that they were mine!

Where, then, the witness of my grandchildren interacting with such ease and pleasure with such a vibrant group of young people who arrived believing that 'people in the west' do not love their children?

Where, then, the joy of seeing my two young guests welcoming, cooking for, and playing with, the children of a bewildered Iraqi family on their first night on Scottish soil and thereby expressing the best of Celtic Hospitality which is sacred to me.

Where, then, the offered cup of tea.... the massage...... the tasty tit-bit........the late-night confidencies sitting at the end of my bed................... the spontaneous hugs and kisses when I am remonstrating with them................

Yes, indeed! Life as I knew it will never be the same.

The highlights of the Gex85 visit are too numerous to mention, and all of them life-changing in a positive way.
Their first weekend marked the seventh anniversary of my daughter Gwen's passing which we marked with a life-enhancing party in her honour and attended by my beloved Indian son, Altaf, one of my first Gex guests. This was his third visit to Scotland which he considers his second home. Following the Gex experience in 2006, he graduated in Peace Studies from Bradford University and is currently living and working in Jordan with the UN where I hope to join him in August. He remarked on the energy and positive vibrancy of the current 85 group and was reluctant to leave, especially after the spontaneous game of cricket in Glasgow Green when Scotland gave Pakistan a thrashing!
BTW (I have footage of Maria, Salma and Altaf dynamically interacting with a giant foot in Bellahouston Park which I am prepared to sell to the highest bidder before I post it on UTube.)

My active involvement with the group has been hampered by a knee injury sustained trying to take photographs of Puffins on Staffa in May during my annual pilgrimage to Iona. But this did not prevent a wonderful weekend at my village home of Penpont with Deborah, Zaake and Raheel as well as Salma and Maria. This included 'hairdressing', rapid-running, pool-jumping, palm-reading and late-night-philosophy discussions against a background of the best of Scottish countryside complete with hills, woods, rivers and castles. The food wasn't bad either with the best of biryannis and home-made chapattis being spun in my wee kitchen. Sadly, none of this impressed my grandchildren who declined to consider Salma as a step-mother, and my sad, dejected son Richard has since joined a monastry!

Those unfamiliar with the irony and sarcasm of the Scottish sense of humour may conclude that the last two months have tested all involved to the limits. And to some extent, this is true. Our shared home has been like a microcosm of the world. A potential clash of generations, values, standards, abilities, principles, cultures, opinions, priorities and perceptions within which I admit to regularly assuming the "advantage" of seniority and ownership. But each time that I won my point, I lost the opportunity to see things anew. As the title of my piece suggests, I was gradually persuaded to let go of my need to keep order of both my household and their activites. They now run rings around me with total aplomb, having demonstrated over and over again that not only can they look after themselves in the wilds of city night-time, but they leave a lasting positive impression on all whom they meet. The bus drivers of Glasgow know Salma by name and Maria's smile could disarm the toughest street ned.

Both of my Pakistani daughters are a positive credit to their homes and families and have been constructive ambassadors for their country and culture in their placements and with the citizens of Glasgow at large. I have been bowled over by their intelligence and insight and know that many of the youth in my own country could learn much from their demeanour, decorum and modesty. The enthusiasm with which they relate the stories of the day, either from their placements, their social activities or street observations leave me both enriched and humbled.

Yes, my tough Scottish heart has to admit that a huge hole will be created when they leave me next week. I may have singularly failed to convert them to the philosophy of "a place for everything and everything in its place"........But I let them go, reluctantly, with the satisfaction that, many years hench, as they each try in vain to instruct offspring and daughters-in-law in the finer nuances of housekeeping, they will be haunted in their dreams by the image of an athritic wagging finger.

So...... go well my two beautiful bright butterflies. May your experience in Africa be as life-enhancing and humanly enriching as it was to me many years ago. May your intelligence, insight, and creativity find value in this troubled world. May your families and home communities recognise the role that you have played, and will continue to play, in the cause of deeper human understanding and reconciliation. May you take with you from Scotland a sense of the universality and interconnectedness of all of humanity, so well expressed by our immortal Bard, Robert Burns.

"Then let us pray, that come it may,

(As come it may, for a' that)

That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the Earth

Shall bear the gree, an a' that.

For a' that, an' a' that,

It's comin' yet, for a' that.

That Man tae Man, the World o'er

Shall brithers be for a' that".


Bless you both, Salma and Maria, as you take your unique giftedness into the World. Enjoy your adventure with an eye on the far horizon, and the step ahead of you, too. May your path be ever illuminated by the one true Light. Know that you will ever occupy a very special place in my home, my heart and my family.

Haste ye back, ma bonny lassies.

Love and Peace..... Your Scottish Mum.....Buma XX