Past, Present, Future

I was "pulled" from my village, Fiwila, on Monday September 10th, 2012. It was a day that came full circle. The first time I visited my house and I was so unsure of whether it was the right placement for me, if me and the family would mesh well together, and how the hell was I going to survive without cell phone service!?! I laid on my floor, with only the furniture left behind by previous volunteers in the house, and cried my eyes out. On Monday, shortly before departure, I laid in that same spot, this time my house totally vacant and barren as I gave all my furniture away since I am not being replaced by another volunteers and all my bags were packed up and ready to go, and I balled my eyes out, this time for a different reasons. It turns out that I had been placed in the perfect village for me, with the most wonderful family who became my real family, and in the end I ended up getting cell phone coverage. Sitting with my family the night before I cried through the whole meal realizing "this is the last time that I will be eating nshima with you." The morning I left I was able to go to the opening day of preschool and see the children and the teachers begin the term.

I came to Peace Corps with the loftiest of goals, to change the world, to save the community and every person in it. I didn't even think it would be that hard and while I knew I would change I didn't know how I would change. Peace Corps has been one of the most humbling and educational experiences. Every time I though that I had an aspect of Zambian culture figured out, or understood, or thought I was a Zambian something would happen to remind me that I will never totally understand this world, because it's not my world. However, I feel I gave Zambia everything that I had, and it gave me everything it had to offer and what more could a person ask for?

My family is sending my best friend and Zambian sister Paxina to nursing school starting in (hopefully) January. Her life will be forever changed along with her family's. She kept me for two years, and now it's my turn to help keep her. Some of the people I met inspired me and melted my heart. The tradgedies that they had endured, the struggles they had overcome, and they will still forging ahead trying to make life better for themselves and their families.

Not everything was beautiful. There were some ugly things, such as the corruption and the manipulation. There were deaths, and failed projects. But there were also births and successful endeavors. I learned to celebrate small victories, because if you only focus on the big picture and the big victories, a lot of beautiful and wonderful moments in your life will pass you by.

My two years in Zambia have been the most amazing, challenging, educational, uplifting, eye-opening, healing, and wonderful two years of my life. I don't know what really lies ahead (other than an amazing Euro trip to see my sister and old friends that it has been to long since I have seen) but Zambia has taught me that even the best, most carefully laid plans can go completely astray and how to deal with the chaos that may ensue.

For those of you who helped with my preschool, either helping to promote it to your friends/family/coworkers, donated money to the grant or supplies for the school both me and my community can never thank you enough. You have helped to make a difference in these children's lives, I have seen such a change in them since they started their lessons in February and they are SO excited about their beautiful building full of toys, art supplies, and what they don't know is educational material that is meant just for them to enjoy. They all get to sit in their own chair, many of these children have never had a chair that they get to sit in all by themselves and they don't have to share or give up to an adult or older child.

And to those of you who have followed my journey, and who have supported me through my journey, I couldn't have done it without you. There where days when you just wanted to throw in the towel, days when you were so sad, or angry, or frustrated but then I would remember all those at home who loved and supported me (I kept a constant reminded on my wall and saved all your letters) Your love and support has meant more than you will ever imagine

Leaving is bittersweet. I am ready for the next chapter of my life, but leaving this important chapter behind is not easy. I have built a life here, a network both of Zambian and American friends. I have gotten used to life here (even the horrible transportation system-which is the number one thing I will NOT miss about Zambia) and I am about to leave all of it behind, and I can never return to it. I am returning to a life that I left behind two years ago that isn't the same life it was, because though I didn't realize it at the time, I was leaving behind a life then that I could never return to. We can only go forward, we can only fight through the bad, savor the good, and celebrate any success (even if its just sweeping the house, or typing a report, or building a preschool) No matter the size of the success it is a success and it should be enjoyed and celebrated. It is the small moments that make up our lives, and if we don't appreciate and enjoy those small moments we're going to miss a lot of life.

This chapter ends, an another begins

so it goes.....

Building the future...

George & Phil
3 1/2 and 4 Years Old

George and Phil are two boys who live in my village.  A few months ago,  I took this picture. It was a weekday morning and their brothers and sisters, who were in charge of taking care of them, had wandered over to my house to see if I had anything fun to give them. Because the boys parents both work, their care fell onto their older siblings. Their older siblings weren't in school because they had to take care of these guys, and these guys weren't in school because there was no option for them to go to school. In a few years they would have started school totally unprepared. The grade 1 ciriculum in Zambia is designed as if children attened preschool, however in the village set up, this rarely occurs. Even if their is a preschool accessible, the cost is usually astronomical for a village family. Children go into grade 1 totally unprepared, behind in school before they even start. In my community 50 percent of the grade 1 students just stop going to school. They can't learn because they are behind and get embarrassed and discouraged. I'm working to help change this in my community, and I need your help!

These kids lack the foundation to succeed in school. Can you imagine building a house without a foundation? Preschool is the educational foundation that these children lack. If they are behind in grade 1, they are never able to catch up, thus are always behind in school. Some get away with it until it is time to take their grade 7 exams. If they can't pass their grade 7 exams, they cannot advance to grade 8. For many, grade 7 becomes the end of their education. Girls are often married off shortly after failing their grade 7's (or before) and sons are sent to the fields to work. These are the lucky ones. For those that drop out before grade 7, they end up becoming domestic or field workers. Any chance of success and upward mobility is squandered.  All because they weren't prepared for school as a toddler. 

We forget sometimes how important preschool is for a child's development, cognitively, but also emotionally, socially, and physically. True in preschool children get introductory education such as learning their abc's, counting to ten, writing their name, knowing colors, days of the week, the months of the year. But there are other valuable skills a child obtains in preschool. These are things like developing fine motor skills, by doing things like drawing, cutting and pasting, running, jumping, and holding pencils, or developing social skills and learning how to interact with other children. They also get some lessons on things like hand washing after using the toilet and before eating. Their small, developing brains get the stimulation they need in order to grow. Early childhood education is a new concept in Zambia, one that only a few appreciate. 

The new govenment is trying to institute more "community" pre schools because they don't have the money to institute government run schools. I have written a grant whose funds will be used to rennovate a building donated by the local orphanage in my community. We will turn this building into a one room preschool class room. We will also use the money to buy supplies for the children, everything from tables and chairs to pens, paper, paint, and scissors. We currently have nuns who are trained in teaching preschool that are volunteering to teach, however outlying communities also want preshcools. They are receiving, and will continue to receive training, on how to manage and run the school. We will be able to hold a training for them on how to institute, run, teach, and mange a preschool in their areas. Parents are anxious for their children to attend preschool. We have opened already in Fiwila, my community. The orphanage has a small room we are using and some wonderful friends and family have sent a few supplies to get us by. These supplies are running out, as is my time in Zambia and I need your help to raise the additional $2,000 needed to complete the project. The kids that are in school love it. George and Phil above can now count to 10, recite their abc's and are even learning a few words in english! Their brother's and sister's are able to also attend school since if the boys are in school, they don't have to stay home to take care of them. There are suddenly 20 little lives who are being given a chance to succeed in school, and thus succeed as functional adults in their communities. These children are the future of Zambia, please help me give them the foundation they need. 

If you have already donated, myself, and the kids, are eternally grateful to you! If you haven't donated and are interested in donating, it's really simple. Every little bit helps! All donations go 100% to my project and are tax deductible! Just go to this link: https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.donatenow&keyword=611-078 which is my specific project. You can also go to peacecorps.gov/donate and in the "search for a project" section enter either my last name (Neft) or my project number 611-078. I have put a lot of work into organzing this program and the community is extreamly dedicated to the program. Please feel free to share my blog with anyone who is interested, and please always feel free to contact me with any questions!! Twatotela sana! https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.donatenow&keyword=611-078