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Jaan-Raul

EVS, June-September 2014.

Jaan-Raul

  1. Age
    19
  2. Profession
    Student
  3. For how long did you volunteer in Shianda?
    3 months
  4. Why did you decide to go to Kenya?
    I really like travelling and assisting people and volunteering, therefore this project seemed to be the perfect option. Im also interested in finding out about how other cultures live so there were many reasons.
  5. Why did you decide to volunteer with WEFOCO?
    This organisation was already suggested by Mondo so thats how it went.
  6. What do you think about the work that is being done by WEFOCO?
    I think this is a very good and sustainable organisation. I hope that WEFOCO will have a long life ahead – it really does good work.
  7. What kind of tasks did you have?
    Working and assisting in Rise and Shine Special School. I shared my experiences as a deaf person and in general being disabled. I was also a teacher for the 1st, 2nd and the 5th class in the school for the deaf, I was also organizing leisure activities – specially focusing on sports. Also did family visits to raise awareness about the disabled people, gathered information about the situation of disabled and poor families in Kenya to d further work better. Also handing out clothes and toys that were received by Estonian supporters.
  8. What did you like most about volunteering?
    Teaching.
  9. What was surprising?
    Kenyan culture in general – how the children are constantly beaten and its considered normal. Also a very loose attitude towards time and obligations – for instance most of the time while children were supposed to have lessons, the teachers just weren’t there. Most of them.
  10. What kind of additional information would you have liked to know before going to Kenya?
    Nothing.
  11. For what kind of difficulties the new volunteers should prepare themselves?
    Its hard to say.
  12. Tell about your favourite experience from Kenya.
    Its hard to highlight one of them but I guess teaching in the deaf school – really enjoyed every minute of it and bargaining the prices all of the time.
  13. Do you miss something from Kenya/Shianda?
    Deaf School in Mumias and the sign language teacher. Also I miss my home in Shianda, matatus.
  14. Any other comments:)
    I feel like its better to live in Kenya actually – no worries, people are care-free and it is just very relaxed here.