Decisions, Decisions

Well my first full week at my organization was a huge success… Community mobilization and trainings on child neglect and prevention, HIV counseling and testing outreaches, lifeskills sessions, and more. 

I was eager for the week to wrap up, as today I had a lifeskills session at a local secondary school that supports some of our OVC, orphan and vulnerable children, population. 

The topic? 

Decision making.

Something that may seem innate to many of us but in this culture is something that we have to address, especially in terms of young girls having the power, strength, and voice to say no.  When my Counterpart and I arrived at the school we were made aware that the girls were not available until 5p, due to another required meeting.

Note.  Why they school administration fails to tell us this when we call in the morning to verify I have no clue.  Oh Uganda.

My Counterpart and I choose to work with the boys and have a more intimate session to go into more depth on the subject matter.

Light bulb!  Maybe we will have the boys teach the girls this subject when we return next week.  #awayforward

As we are setting up in the classroom, I am getting more and more excited at teaching and getting back into the swing of things.  At full capacity, the class is 23 in total but being that no girls were attending, we had 12, which was perfect.  This allowed for good discussions and for everyone’s voices to be heard.

We listened to stories, acted out role-plays, and discussed the differences between aggressive, assertive, and passive communication and how this impacts our decision. 

The girls joined us at the tail end of the session to share in sodas and biscuits.  We will fill them in on everything come Monday.

Standing up in front of a classroom, chalk in hand, and peeping eyes peering in from the barred windows have made me realize one thing.

Teaching credential once I am back in the States?