I am 27 and come from Cambridgeshire in the UK, I have been in Lesotho since the end of January and this is the second batch of UK and Basotho volunteers that I am overseeing in Roma and accross Lesotho for ICS Skillshare.
In the UK I have worked with young people in youth work settings for several years and really enjoy using my skills to help young people reach their potential in their transition to adulthood.
I was attracted to ICS due to their ethos of encouraging young people to go oversees, help young people in developing countries while developing themselves at the same time.
Personally, having already completed one placement with a group of volunteers I have witnessed the positive contribution to the community the previous volunteers have made alongside the positive change this community and experience has impacted on their own lives :)
I feel it is important to recognise our previous volunteers in Roma - Ciaran, Katie, Mathe and Maleshoane. They worked tirelessly with continious passion and enthusiasm for the local community and are constantly asked after by the locals now they have returned to the UK.
Strong bonds and friendships are made by the experiences that we share with one another.
This is certainly true for the previous volunteers and for my current team in Roma :)
Here in Lesotho all of the UK volunteers stay with homestay families and in Roma we are immersed in the local community of Ha Mafooane. When a person stays with a family in Lesotho they become part of that family.
This could not be more true with my homestay. Every family member fills their role in my life and I feel part of the Lepota family completely.
In the time I have been in Roma I am pleased to say we have enjoyed successes in so we have maintained very good relationships with the local schools and community leaders - and more importantly the young people. We regularly receive feedback that people are very receptive and grateful for the sessions we deliver for young people in the area.
Being part of Coaching For Hope we deliver sessions to young people using sport and games as a medium to engage young people and then deliver a simple message on a given topic - this may be HIV/AIDS, substance misuse, life skills etc.
I'm Roma we have 2 teams - made up of 1 UK volunteer and 1 IC volunteer and they will explain more about where they have been working and what they have been doing so far.
Finally it is important that I recognise and acknowledge that in Roma we are very very fortunate to have local volunteers who assist our ICS Team in implementing our projects. These volunteers are OYAP Ambassadors and regularly give up their own time to help young people in their community. Thank you so much Limpho, Noma, Faith and Puleng :)
Team 1 (THE GIRLS):
Hannah -
Hi, my name is Hannah, or my sesotho name is Masenati. I am originally from Lochaline in the Scottish Highlands but I moved to London two years ago and am now living in Ha Mafooane, Roma in Lesotho.
In Ha Mafooane I am living with a host family which just happens to include the chief of the village!! Having a host family has been an amazing experience because it has really helped me to settle into the community and my mum has really helped with all the bits like handwashing my clothes and sesotho cooking.
I joined ICS after a friend recommended it to me since we both wanted to work in development. He was really impressed by the projects that ICS ran and I was keen to be part of it, as well as wanting to escape from waitressing in London! I think the programme is great for anyone who wants to make a difference in developing communities, having a new experience or to gain new skills.
Puseletso -
Hi everyone it's me Puseletso and my nickname is Tummy and I am from Ha Mafooane Roma. I volunteer with OYAP an ICS volunteer and have been an OYAP Ambassador for many years - this is an organisation that deals with youth and children in communities.
As an OYAP Volunteer I started as volunteering and helping the previous team where I had to work without gaining any profit (stipend) until I know the proper work then I was accepted to be an ICS volunteer.
For me I can say this is really good work because it keeps us busy so that we may not be involved in dangerous or risky things that we may find ourselves in.
As a team we are working Monday to Saturday going to different schools and communities. This work is lovely because we can earn or gain more knowledge and also gain experiences.
We are focusing on running session in schools and the communities to teach life skills and information to young people.
We run sessions at Roma Primary with grades 4-7, NULIS (National University of Lesotho International School) and also 3 community sessions in Ha Mafooane, Liteng Teng and Tloutle Community.
In these sessions so far we have talked about the environment, sevual abuse, communication and team work. In the following weeks we will be delivering sessions on Behavioual Change (linked to HIV/AIDS), Disclosure and HIV/AIDS, Relationships and Problem Solving.
Team 2 (THE BOYS):
Nkaku -
Of all the names I have, I like it when I am called by my real name which is Nkaku. I live in a big town called Roma and as an Roman I am passionate about football (Roma Boys FC) and arts.
During our time off we like to hang around and talk deeply about ourselves and that helps us a lot as we come to know each other more.
Once upon a time I came accross the mission and the vision of ICS on the internet and it came into my mind that I have to be associated with it as I like what they are about.
Right now I think I am falling in love with ICS because the community and schools that are working with really enjoy our sessions.
My community in Roma are really passionate about what we are doing and some of the community members like to join us.
Our Team Leader is amazing and he is very co-operative. He likes to hang around with us but when is come to work one cant stop him!
We want to be a force to be reckoned with as a team in Roma.
Tommy -
Hello, my name is Tommy Haywood and I am also known here as 'Khotso' which in sesotho means Peace. I am 20 years old, from Liverpool UK, studied BTEC Public Services at college and am a fond player of football.
I live in Roma with my lovely mother Makabelo, her son "my bro" Kaybee and little bundle of fun sister Boingy. They are such lovely people and it's a pleasure to live with them, my mother makes me feel at home and treats me as her own son, love my sesotho family too bits!
I joined ICS because I found out how many opportunities it can offer for a person like me to develop myself. I have been given the opportunity to develop myself as a person, gain new skills and probation which will help me in my placement and also in my future career - whilst carrying on my ambition to help people.
In my own words about ICS:
"It just looked too damn good to resist"
As a team we have been working with the Herd Boys in Tloutle, Christ King High School, Tloutle Primary and Community Sports on a Friday. As a team we have particularly enjoyed working with older boys and being able to use sports development with football to deliver messages on Substance Misuse, HIV/AIDS and Life Skills.