Travelling across the world to Africa as a volunteer is by far the most empowering thing that I have ever done. I believe it has opened up many doors far beyond the realms of my life goals. It was my first time travelling alone, as in, without family or close friends. I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t scared about what I was getting myself into. However, the fellow volunteers have become good friends who I can rely on like family; this has made my stay very comfortable and stress free.
This placement has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone to work and raise awareness about HIV & AIDS, which I have also learnt a lot about. We mostly taught youths and bicycle taxi operators. It was priceless to be able to experience the laughs, smiles, humour, plus the energy pouring out of everyone we worked with. I learned very quickly that children are children regardless of location or language. Seeing people completely content and happy despite their circumstances is a constant and much needed reminder that happiness will never be about what you’ve got, it is completely a state of mind.
I remember my first day in Malawi, I was greeted by a friendly man outside the airport telling me nothing but the extraordinary experience I would encounter. This day seems like only yesterday, but so many countless memories have happened since. Despite it being one of the poorest countries in the world, my experiences have been incredible but all of the credit is due to the amazing people I have met along the way. Especially the volunteers (UK and national volunteers), everyone has put their heart and soul into everything we have done and achieved here. It has been astonishing to be a part of such a remarkable team.
This is the most rewarding programme I have ever been on, and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to be an active volunteer on such a meaningful and sustainable project. It has allowed me to grow immensely, taught me patience and perseverance. Above all, it has taught me that determination and strong desire (mentality) is what every person needs to make a difference in their own life and others around them.
My advice to everyone reading would be to enrich your life with memories and experiences rather than with things. You cannot take your house, car, clothes and money to the grave. When you’re lying on your death bed you won’t remember the things you bought. It will be the things that you did and the things you didn’t do. So choose love, choose happiness, choose volunteering, choose your life and live it. Mohammed Haque
This project has run very well bearing in mind the fact that we have completed the objectives that were on target on our team plan. Not only that, the project has been of benefit in the sense that it was much associated with contact with the communities and in doing so it meant learning through the exchange of ideas. It is through this project where I got to realise that I was very much important in being part and parcel of the solutions to the problems effecting the community. Lastly, I must be very thankful to my fellow national and UK volunteers for working together as a team in order to achieve our common goals. Indudah Madalisto Mwenda
ICS is about learning. On this placement I have learnt the importance of teamwork, the differences in cultures and how to grow. Every session we carried out, we evaluated; through this we learnt. Whatever works one day may not the next. It is how we moved forward that defined us as a group and as individuals. We reached all of our targets and exceeded others, but our biggest achievement was maintaining a unit, which made a real difference to a country I otherwise would never have had the pleasure of visiting. Development is not just a problem in some countries; it is the problem of the world. Without each piece the team doesn’t function. It is as much our responsibility as that of developing nations to improve the wellbeing of the earth’s population. I leave this placement with more than HIV & AIDS teaching skills. I leave with new friends, new experiences and a new outlook. Nowras Tharb
Written by ICS volunteers Mohammed, Indudah and Nowras
