Mary aus Kenia berichtet über ihre Erfahrungen als ICJA-Freiwillige in Deutschland

Unsere Freiwillige Mary wurde zur "Conference on the solidarity for emerging and developing countries" in Brüssel eingeladen, um dort über ihren Freiwilligendienst in Deutschland zu sprechen. Dies ist ihre Rede:

THE SOLIDARITY WITH EMERGING AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

My experience as a volunteer in Germany 2011 – 2012.

My name is Mary Wanjiku Kamiri. I come from Kenya and I am a socialworker by profession. Back in Kenya I have been working mainly with the abandoned, orphaned and other vulnerable children in a children’s home within Nairobi the capital city of Kenya. Personally I have a passion for children and families in need of care and protection.

I have been now in Germany for the last 10 months. In Germany I am based in a “Freie Waldorf school” and which is an integrative school system for both special needs children and the normal children.

In this school, I am mainly working with children (6-14years) in an after school program. I work alongside German colleagues and our main goal is to act as bridges for the children on an individual basis and in the best interest of a child as an individual. In this program we do various activities with the children which includes:

• Various play activities

• Learning activities e.g. home work, reading and theatre activities.

• Guidance and counseling activities for both the children and the parents.

• Ego therapy activities e.g. drawing and painting

• Hand work activities e.g. wood work, cooking, animals care.

• Sport activities e.g. foot ball games, walks and swimming among others.

My experience as a volunteer in Germany has been, that service is an investment that pays in more than monetary ways. It pays in character development, in influence and also in relationships. It has been a year that I personally feel a deep personal growth, open mindedness and more self confident. All this however could not have been possible without my very supportive colleagues in the project, my wonderful host family, my regional mentors and the head office.

The contributions to the program:

Apart from accomplishing together the day to day activities of the program, the entire process also gives a chance for learning as well as teaching of intercultural skills to all involved.

For example:

• Learning of the new language – They teach me German and I teach them English and Swahili words.

• They ask me so many questions about Kenya and Africa in general. This is not only an aspect with children but also with adults alike.

• Many children wonder why I have a different skin colour from theirs and I take time to tell them about the different continents there are in the world and the different people, different cultures but all from the same world.

• Different cooking methods and especially with the outside fire, normally we do outside cake baking with fire, stick breads, soups and popcorns and the children are just amazed how can direct fire and from firewood be used to cook.

• This process also serves as an awareness creation of our humanity and diversity - Some young people from my host project village are already planning to do a voluntary service in another country.

• Of importance is that, challenged children, who may never have a chance to do a voluntary service in another cultural background are now in contact with my Kenyan culture. They are always exited about every single different aspects that they note and their questions are endless.

• Sometimes there are different ways of addressing a similar problem and some based on our cultural backgrounds and values. I am glad that we share and adopt such ideas freely in my host project.

What I strongly feel is that the process has got a positive impact to my German co workers, making them more open minded and even more willing to keep on hosting other volunteers, so that the children can also learn and experience different cultures. In fact we always say – we may look different , with different cultures and value systems, different economic situations but the truth is that INSIDE we are ALL THE SAME.

As I look back, this is an exchange year that has made me rediscover myself and focus more. In the beginning, when I was planning for the exchange year I only focused on what I can learn more about women in general, However I am now amazed with my basket which I am about to take with me back to Kenya. I thought I was a very effective social worker rescuing and safe guarding the rights of children but I have come to learn so many other effective tools and which are far more effective .e.g.: The beautiful chances given to challenged children starting at the family level, the immediate society and the state. I feel I have a role to play when I go back to Kenya to sensitize the communities that no one in this life is useless, that everybody can do something if he or she is given a chance.

I have been able to get more impressions about the whole aspect of alternative family care for vulnerable children in Germany rather than the institution based care as some of the children I am working with are from foster families or adoptive families.

Its really much to talk about my year, but to sum up, I have learnt that its in giving that we also receive. It has been actually a learning experience for all the parties involved. Understanding the other people’s way of life and their culture has also made me to develop tolerance and much more respect. I have also come to appreciate myself as a person and my way of life, I have been able to find myself in this process, because knowledge is not a pond but a river. I will let it flow to others in my country with a vision to contribute towards making our society better.

Mary Wanjiku Kamiri from Kenya