Hola, Sues-dey, Mambo, Namaste

One of the coolest things that I have been able to experience while travelling to Nicaragua, Cambodia, and Tanzania with Children’s Global Alliance is learning, watching, and performing greetings. In each of these places, people welcomed each other with sincerity, grace, and compassion. Every “hello” had worth and care.

In Nicaragua, people exchanged their “hellos” and “good mornings” by greeting one another with a warm “hola” and kiss on the cheek. I must admit, I was confused at first, but grew to value these kisses. The quick, powerful kisses proved that the students and teachers at Escuela Escpecial were comfortable with our presence. When reminiscing about my time in Nicaragua, I always think about the greetings exchanged with teachers and students each morning. Receiving a kiss on the cheek when arriving to the school each morning established trust and instilled respect and appreciation to Children’s Global Alliance student volunteers.

In Cambodia, the children of the Cooperation of Peace Orphanage greeted volunteers by running into the dirt road, yelling “hello sister, hello brother” while jumping and laughing. When American volunteers exited the tuk- tuk (a Cambodian taxi), the kids would crowd us, hugging us and competing to hold our hands as we entered the orphanage. Feeling their excitement for the day to come added to the volunteers’ purpose and empowered CGA students to give 100% into teaching and working at the orphanage.

In Tanzania, students, teachers, translators, and strangers all said “hello.” As our van slowly moved through traffic, people on motorcycles would smile and wave at us, the “wazungas.” “Mambo” they would yelled, “poa” we’d respond, all laughing. When arriving to the school, LOAMO, teachers and students would hug us, tight, and then proceed to ask questions like “How was your breakfast?” “How did you sleep?”  “Did you know that you look very smart today?”. The people at LOAMO wanted to know everything about your wellbeing, for they sincerely cared about you. It was unbelievable. They were so selfless, so kind.

Volunteering in these countries and working with these humble, awe-inspiring people influenced me to value the encounters and greetings I experience each day. I now work to invest myself completely into the current conversation, acting with understanding and friendliness.

I am excited to see what the greetings will be like in Nepal. I have read that people say “Namaste” when first arriving to important locations.  This is interesting because the Sanskrit word Namaste translates to “I honor the spirit in you that is also in me.” I find this so intriguing for it immediately establishes faith and trust between the people in conversation. Peace and good intentions are welcomed right away. It is significant and meaningful.

Most things in Nepal have a deeper meaning and are of high value. The country’s name itself has distinct meaning. The name “Nepal” is said to be derived from many languages and cultures. Most anthropologists conclude that Nepal comes from either the Sanskrit word nipalaya means "at the foot of the mountains" or "abode at the foot"; or the Tibetan word niyampal means "holy land". After watching documentaries and viewing pictures of this beautiful country, it is clear why its name correlates with divinity and stunning mountains, including the world tallest mountain, Mt. Everest.

Nepal’s geography and topography is unique, for it is covered by the Himalayan mountain range and is surrounded by the influential countries of China and India.

Similar to China and India, Nepal has endured many different kingdoms, dynasties, and governments. With a multitude of ethnic groups and varying religions, the history of Nepal is diverse, confusing, and important. Previous to today’s leadership, there have been three dominant dynasties to rule Nepal, the Kiratis Dynasty, the Lichavi Dynasty, and the Malla Dynasty.

Nepal is currently ruled by the Shah dynasty, which first unified Nepal in the 18^th century by leader, Kaushalyawati Shah. Shah was a Hindu who worked very hard to unite three large Malla kingdoms of Kathmandu, Pātan, and Bhādgaon in 1769. He then consolidated them to found the modern state of Nepal, establishing the current capital of Nepal at Kathmandu.

Today, Nepal’s president is Bidhya Devi Bhandari. As the first female head of state in Nepal, Bhandari acts as an important milestone in Nepal history.  She was elected recently in October 2015. Governing a developing country occupying many ethnic groups and people of different religions is a challenging task for Bhandari. However, the citizens of Nepal pride themselves in exemplifying peace and health, allowing the country’s diverse people to work together.

            Nepal, home to the Himalayas and diverse individuals, is full of history and meaning. Currently being influenced by the globalization of western beliefs, Nepal is developing rapidly. However, its distinct culture and landscape forbids Nepal from becoming a uniform country. I like this. Nepal is unique and home ancient religions and values; it will always remain distinguishable, invaluable, and strikingly beautiful.

As the Nepal service trip approaches, I continue to fundraise. My sister, Eleanor, and I have hosted sleepovers for kids whose parents are attending parties or a well-deserved date night. We will continue to provide this service, for we love working with kids! Furthermore, I am beginning to tutor and mentor students in elementary and middle school. Having two younger sisters who are currently learning fractions, adverbs, etc., I am familiar with both the material being taught in lower school and how to teach kids so that they can enjoy learning difficult concepts. I look forward to continuing my fundraising efforts and learning more about Nepal in the months leading up to our June trip!

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to my Nepal service trip thus far, I am beyond grateful for your support and guidance as I continue my volunteering with Children’s Global Alliance.

Senior Year Service Trip

Many things shape me, Meaghan Sheahan, including my family, hardships, extra curricular activities, and service trips. I am currently a senior at Battle Mountain High School and am involved in numerous clubs and sports. As an executive member of student government, an officer in Best Buddies, a link crew leader, teacher’s assistant, tutor, and a defensive player of varsity lacrosse, I spend most of my time at school. I really enjoy meeting fellow students and working with them to advocate specific needs. The best part about high school, however, is seeing my younger sister Eleanor during passing periods. Eleanor is a freshman. This is the last time we will be in the same school, and I love seeing her smiling face as she passes me in the hall.

Eleanor is amazing, but she isn’t my only sister. Our youngest sister, Lillian is in the sixth grade and is quite the stand up comedian. Always bringing a smile to our faces, Lillian acts as an optimistic force that consistently provides Eleanor and I with wisdom and creative viewpoints. I am so blessed to be the elder sister of these two angels.

I cannot take credit for their priceless personalities, however. My parents, Chris and Mary, are my sister’s and my most inspirational role models. Married for over two decades, my parents work hard to act with selflessness and love. They both work at the hospital, where they make livings saving the lives of others. They are incredible. Both Mom and Dad are greatly involved with our sports and academic careers and encourage us to act with authenticity and faith.

As a senior in high school, I am often asked to discuss my goals in life. I am constantly writing college applications that illustrate my “happy place” and am prompted to identify my “passions”. Thanks to the guidance and opportunities granted to me through Children’s Global Alliance, I know that my greatest passion is performing service for the enrichment of the lives of others.

Children’s Global Alliance has played a significant role in my journey throughout high school. Exposing me to impoverished countries while encouraging me to push myself as a volunteer, Children’s Global Alliance has empowered me to find happiness and purpose when working with individuals in developing countries. I first applied with CGA in the fall of my eighth grade year. Since then, I have been to the countries of Nicaragua, Cambodia, and Tanzania, where I have encountered hundreds of people, greatly impacting my life.

This past summer, I travelled over 9,000 miles to Arusha, Tanzania. Here, I taught in an English primary school, LOAMO, for children ages three through sixteen. Like my previous service trips, Tanzania was nothing less than extraordinary. For me, it was time of self-growth, reflection, and discovery.

           Returning to the states was not an easy task. My body was in Colorado, while my heart remained in Africa.

Feeling called to service, I once again applied with Children’s Global Alliance, writing an essay, creating a detailed fundraising plan, and interviewing with the founder and chaperones of CGA. I am proud to state that I have accepted as one of eight volunteers to be traveling to Bhaktapur, Nepal in June 2016. Here, we will be teaching at the Deeya Shree School that provides education to a total of 140 students.  While in Nepal, my team will also be assisting families who were impacted by the 2015 earthquake.

I am thrilled to continue my service with CGA, for the non-profit organization is an extremely important part of my life.

Thank You Africa

When asked to reflect on my time here in Tanzania, the feeling of gratitude comes to mind. The service trip has been, by far, the most rewarding and empowering experience of my life. I am overwhelming grateful for the community of LOAMO, Children's Global Alliance, and the role my sister has played on this trip.

LOAMO staff and students welcomed us into their school, granting us with love and compassion. With a drive to learn, students acted with authenticity and respect in the classroom. The teachers, kitchen staff, and workmen all were dedicated to their jobs and were filled with joy when I assisted them in what they were doing. Being asked to teach was an incredible privilege, one that I will hold in my heart forever. Through teaching children through interactive lessons, which enabled every student to understand the lesson, I realized how much love I feel towards working with children. I was made for volunteering and teaching. And it is was LOAMO that empowered me to stand up and teach with confidence and grace. I will never forget the laughter, love, and joy I have experienced when speaking with both staff and students at LOAMO.

I feel as though it is very important to express my gratitude towards Children’s Global Alliance chaperones, Lisa-Marie, Karlie, and Fiona for granting me the opportunity to volunteer in the developing country of Tanzania. Whether it was bringing us to a Maasai village, taking us to a baby orphanage, or providing us with crucial feedback to our lesson plans, these women have invested every part of themselves to inspiring American student volunteers, while changing the lives of Tanzanian students. Not once did I feel unsafe of uncomfortable, thanks to the CGA chaperones. I am truly blessed to have been a part of this organization.

My sister, Eleanor, and I knew we were lucky to receive the privilege of traveling together, but never imagined to bond and come together like we have in our short time here Africa. Having had a broken relationship due to unfortunate situations in the past year and a half, Eleanor and I have been able to bandage our wounds and talk about subjects that have been silenced for quite some time. For this, I am grateful. Both myself and Eleanor received student of the week and she has had the most positive attitude on this trip. I am beyond proud of her. Eleanor connected and ignited hope in many of the students, leaving a mark on their hearts forever. Eleanor pushed me to stay positive and provided me with insight when teaching children who struggle with reading comprehension. Eleanor and I have come a long way in three weeks. This trip has honestly been the best thing to ever happen to us.

I am full of gratitude and love, because I know that Tanzania will affect me forever. Everybody has a destiny; everybody feels called to do something, mine is service. I was made for this and know that I will carry LOAMO and CGA with me for the rest of my life, allowing my to continue my volunteering career. This trip has taught me an immense amount and the lessons I have learned here will be a part of my character forever. For this, I am humbly grateful.

A Very Challenging Day

Thursday, July 23^rd, was easily one of the hardest days I have ever experienced.

On both Thursday and Friday, every student in the school took exams, marking the end of the second term of the school year.

As prep class began to take their exams, the students grew quiet and focused. Half way through the exam, however, the headmaster opened the door, with a sad and disturbed look on his face. He specifically picked out two of the students and brought them outside and into his office. I haven’t seen either student since.

As the morning continued, I grew very confused, for I saw a group of male students leave the school. I was baffled. I had no idea what was going on, but I knew in my gut that something was not okay.

I couldn’t sit still, so I walked outside the classroom and into the courtyard, only to find two girls crying hysterically. One girl, Brightness, is in class six, while the other, Lisa, is just a toddler in baby class. I held both girls in my arms and then proceeded to ask Brightness what was going on.

As tears streamed down her face, Brightness explained that many students had been asked to leave the school because their parents didn’t pay school fees for the second term. These students were asked not to return to school the following day.

For many of these kids, education is their only possible ticket out of poverty, and now, due to the fact that her parents were unable to pay for school, they will no longer attend LOAMO and will be forced to continue their education at a government school, which does not provide the students with  the same level of support and sustainability as LOAMO.

An education is a priority for all students here. Their parents are dedicated to the children’s academic career, but on Thursday, some were robbed of the opportunity to learn at this English speaking primary school.

 The pain I felt when receiving such news was indescribable. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t think straight and I couldn’t begin to imagine the horror, which the parents must feel, unable to provide for their children. It is not the child to blame, but it the child who suffers.

I am still distraught about this, but know that the headmaster has done everything in his power to try and have the students stay at LOAMO, sending home letters and asking the parents for any amount of money for school fees. There are also many scholarship opportunities available.

Children's Global Alliance has given so much to this school and the organization is smart when it comes to distributing money. Great patience, carefulness, and attention is given when providing individuals with money. Furthermore, it is an investment in one’s life, rather than a donation. CGA is very selective when making such investments, and it wouldn’t have been right to donate money to every child whose parents couldn’t find a way to pay for school fees. CGA hasn’t been able to see every child’s home, every child’s background, comprehend every child’s living situation and family dynamic. It is crucial for CGA to invest in the most worthy children and teachers, making it close to impossible to allow all children to continue studying at LOAMO.

I want to help, and I am reassured by knowing in my heart that I have given my all into teaching and bonding with the students and teachers. I can’t pay for every child’s school fees, but I can absorb every experience I have connecting with each student and allowing them to understand and appreciate that they are more than the amount of money their family has. 

Prep Class

Time has flown by here in Tanzania, for we are already on our final week of teaching. The fact that time is running out both saddens me and encourages me to push myself in giving my all, 100% of the time.

I am no longer teaching in class four, and now am in prep class for children ages five though seven. Prep class has been quite different than class four, but I still love every minute of teaching.

Beginning on Monday, I have taught interactive classes where both the students and I find ourselves laughing and learning with joy. Unlike class four, however, the knowledge attained by the first student to finish their work and the last is greatly varied. The teachers here work hard and are dedicated to their work, but often find themselves having to prioritize for the sake of the majority of the class, leaving behind the children who struggle.

It has become a goal of mine to help those students who find themselves unable to read and comprehend the material. Working one on one with the students has allowed me to realize the different ways in which children learn and reminds me of how important it is to teach with many different methods, enabling every student to grasp the concept.

Because I am going to be a senior in high school, I often receive the question, “what will you be studying in college?” There have been times where I have spoken about becoming a lawyer or doctor, but now, thanks to the service trip, I can conclude that I would like to work with children.

Each child learns differently, each child excels at a certain subject, and each child is affected by what they learn. This concept intrigues me greatly.

Another thing that I am eager to learn more about is the students’ past. Every child is born into a different home, each full of personal challenges and unique family dynamics. Learning about the student’s backgrounds before teaching them is crucial, for it adds purpose to education and value to your role in their lives.

It is close to impossible to learn every child’s past, for we only have a few more days here in Tanzania, but I have received information regarding the disadvantaged kids at LOAMO and have had the privilege of visiting the homes of a few of the children.

Knowing that most of the students at school live below the poverty line while working incredibly hard in school has only increased my respect and gratitude towards these students. Some students are HIV positive; others are currently suffering from malaria, while others only receive one meal a day, living in extremely vulnerable and poor conditions.

Despite these unfair predicaments that so many students find themselves in, the entire prep class is excited to learn and is overwhelmed with joy when answering questions correctly. It is an honor to be surrounded by such positive kids.

The students here at LOAMO have taught me so much, including how to find hope even in the darkest of times, to work hard, and to invest myself in education, for it will only help me in the long run. 

Noela

When applying for Tanzania, I wrote an essay in which explained why the quote "I am not a product of my circumstances, I am a product of my decisions" illustrated me as an individual. To me, this quote means one is not defined by their personal obstacles, but by their actions taken to overcome such challenge. Some people may choose to dwell in self pity in uncomfortable and unfair situations, while others choose to wake up every day full of hope and selflessness. The students in class four at LOAMO have chosen to act with optimism and courage during their journey through life, uncertain of their next meal.

Since the first day at the school, I have noticed one young girl's constant smile and kindness, her patience and compassion, and her all encompassing laugh. The student's name is Noela. Noela is a tall, yet skinny twelve year old girl who is very bright and quietly participates in all subjects through the day. She is shy, yet loving.

Thursday, I received the priveledge of traveling to Noela's home after a long day at school. Noela was estatic to welcome me into her home, even though it was nothing more than two small rooms with a metal roof. When visiting Noela's home, we met her father, Ernest- a man who loves Noela very much. We never saw her mother and she wasn't mentioned. I was confused and asked Noela where her mother was. The answer I recieved startled me. When Noela was just three months old, her mother died. Soon after, both Noela and her father were diagnosed as HIV positive.

While Noela was sharing about her current health situation, she held back tears growing very sad. Noela is often sick and must take medication which is extremely expensive. Because her father is HIV positive, employers deny him work and he struggles immensely to make ends meet. Noela would like to become a doctor but is held back by her health, she wants to journey to school every day, but fails to due to her sickness. Despite the terrible circumstances in which Noela finds herself, she continues to study hard and laugh with hope and grace. Noela is not a product of her circumstances, but a product of her decisions.

I have gained much knowledge from Noela. I have learned to act with optimism whatver the challenge may be. Noela has reminded be of how lucky I am to be alive and healthy and has taught me how to act with patience and selflessness. I will carry these things with me upon returning home in less than two weeks and will always have Noela's beautiful laugh in the back of my mind.

Noela and many other students suffer by either being HIV positive or living in incredibly poor conditions. I am only in Africa for three weeks, but I am commited to empowering the students to maintain hope for the future and to continue to work hard in their academic carreer.

I am so grateful for this opportunity and know that I am commited to giving my 100%, 100% of the time.