It is amazing that there are only five months left in my service. Although I am anxious to come home I also feel that five months is little time to do everything I want to do here in Mozambique. I have grown attached to so many people here and know that it will be hard to leave. In the past several months I have been involved in different projects and programs within my organization and within the community. Because there is a lot to talk about and I am a bit lazy I will describe the last several months using a photo essay. Pictures speak louder than words, right?
April 7th Mozambican Women’s Day
On Mozambican Women's Day, Osivela wa Yesu was invited to join in the official festivities of the city doing a fashion show of the clothes tailored by the sewing ladies at the center. The models were the girls which participate in the REDES girl's program.
Quina Vitor, wearing a beautiful skirt and blouse sewn out of capulana material from the World Cup
Me, Quina, Betina, Odeti, and other girls performing in the fashion show
Sassy Estela showing off a fancy skirt and blouse outfit created out of traditional bright colored capulana
Joeli, David, and all the girls enjoying the pre-show music and dancing
April 26th World Malaria Day
This year, we decided to have a fair on this important day. We had dancing, singing, theater performances, health education sessions, and tables informing about moringa, mosquito life cycle, and natural insect repellents. The day was a sucess with about 600 community members in attendence.
This year, we decided to have a fair on this important day. We had dancing, singing, theater performances, health education sessions, and tables informing about moringa, mosquito life cycle, and natural insect repellents. The day was a sucess with about 600 community members in attendence.
3-year-old class at the preschool for orphans and vulnerable children recieving mosquito nets
REDES girl's group finishing their malaria-themed songs and dance at the fair
Younger REDES group performing at the fair.
Young girl's choir singing about how to prevent malaria in the community.
Josefa, teaching about how to sew torn mosquito nets.
Preparing for the busy day
Ulisses and Margarida, teaching the community about malaria prevention
Grandmothers recieve mosquito nets and moringa cuttings for their orphaned grandchildren
Theater performance about the importance of going to the hospital instead of the traditional medicine doctors
May 2nd Beginning of the well project
This project has required much preparation, planning, and organization by the community, Osivela wa Yesu staff, and Margarida (the project coordinador)
Organizing and preparing for the community project
The intensive task of digging a drinking water well
Gathering water from the first finished well
Young boy looking on as another well is begun
May12th Gardening with REDES Group
The girl's group, although focused on preventing HIV and teen pregnancy, also works to capacitate the girls in the areas of farming, nutrition and cooking artisitc creativity, goal setting, budgeting and sewing skills.
Girls helping to create a vegtable permagarden at Osivela wa Yesu
Water control, extra tilling, and perenial plants surrounding the garden beds are key to a sucessful garden
June 1st Childrens Day
The preschool kids enjoyed an entire week of activites leading up to a satifying meal of chicken and rice on children's day.
Preschool coloring contest for children's day
Sugar cookie decorating
Such adorable children decked out in their new outfits
June 8-10 JUNTOS Youth Workshop
This workshop was a tiring but fun weekend for youth to get together to learn and share about topics such as gender equality, sexual health, and leadership. We also played several games, team-building activities, and enjoyed songs, dances, and theater performances.
This workshop was a tiring but fun weekend for youth to get together to learn and share about topics such as gender equality, sexual health, and leadership. We also played several games, team-building activities, and enjoyed songs, dances, and theater performances.
Margarida and fellow JUNTOS leaders teaching about the effect of HIV in your body
JUNTOS youth group recieving their certificates of participation in the workshop
Tanya,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update. whats with the long blonde hair:)?? Look forward to some trail running when you get home.
love dad
Hi Tanya,
ReplyDeleteGreetings from the Peace Corps' Office of Third Goal and Returned Volunteer Services! Thank you so much for sharing your "Picture Essay." We especially enjoyed your photos from Mozambican Women's Day. The clothes depicted are so vibrant and beautiful. What incredible patterns! We appreciate your participation in the Third Goal.
www.peacecorps.gov/thirdgoal
thirdgoal@peacecorps.gov