Week end in a children’s drop in center with fellow volunteer

When volunteer arrives in the country, as part of the ICT program and in order for them to easily (at least that is what VSO hope to achieve) adapt to the environment and to understand better the living condition of the country, they will spend their first weekend with a host volunteer and the said volunteer will provide guidance and answers questions based on the volunteer perspective on what is like to work and live in the country.

I spend my said week end with a very nice, kind and accommodating volunteer name pat. She fetched me from the guest house on Friday evening. On the same evening, we went to the Brazilian bar with a couple more volunteers. After introductions and a little more of getting to know each other stuff, we ordered beer. This is my first beer also in Guyana. They were all friendly and welcoming and in no time at all I bonded with them. We talked a lot of stuff then eventually had dinner of roast pork, roast beef, roast chicken, sausages and salads.

The next day, Saturday, after a hearty breakfast she asked me if I want to go with her to a children’s drop in center where she normally spent her Saturdays. When we arrive, the children flock altogether to her side while at the same time eyeing me. One of them bravely came to me and asked my name. “I’m Steven, what is your name?’ he said, to which I said, “my name is Riza and I am pat’s friend”. There were at least 25 children there with two teenagers. They wore happy faces in spite of their being without real family. While in the center, she read stories which the children eagerly listens to. Then I played chess with the two teenagers. Then we watched and cheered while they play cricket. Lunch came and we helped the house parents in serving the lunch, after which they washed themselves up and get ready for an afternoon nap. We tucked the small children and left the center afterwards. It was a refreshing experience for me. I remember the days when I used to work in one of the children’s center in the Philippines years ago.