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…