Today I had the wonderful privilege of tagging along with one of our program coordinators to observe one of our new test/pilot programs that is currently being tested in 2 different compounds in Lusaka. The new programs takes a few of our trained GRS coaches and has them go directly into the compounds to work with not only the kids in that community, but also some of the older men/women & the younger generation. I am not exactly sure all the specifics of this new program and will elaborate as I learn more from our staff, but the really cool part about this multi-session curriculum is that although our coaches have practices/lessons set out in the curriculum to deliver HIV & life-skills education, much of the curriculum(especially with the older group) is decided by the participants. The coaches facilitate the discussion topic and provide answer, games, information, etc. on this topic, but it also largely an open forum for those involved to share their opinions and learn from other community members, both old & young.
Being able to sit in for a bit on the older group and the kids provided two very different but amazing insights. In the older group the topic was largely on Gender Based Violence and the role that men & women should play in the family/household. Apparently (as it was nearly all in nyanja the local language and being translated a bit for me by a GRS staff) it got very heated at times, but served as the beginning for some very important discussions and education. However, I spent the majority of my time sitting in with the kids session. Our GRS coach did a wonderful job of keeping the kids involved while using interactive games to deliver the curriculum.
The biggest thing I took away from today, even though I already firmly believed this but always good to be reminded, is that a kid is a kid, a person is a person, no matter where you are. The men and women were having heated discussions about the role that men should have in taking care of the children and providing for the family, along with questioning why the younger generation were wearing the different style of clothing. And the kids, oh how I love the kids. The small boy I was sitting next to was your classic trouble maker. He was poking the girl next to him, distracting others during the session and continued to stare at me/make funny faces. While some sat attentively listening to every word, others made smart comments that all the kids laughed at as the coaches were taking attendance.
We all share a common humanity, we all desire many of the same things. Good education for our kids, a happy and healthy life, friends and family, faith, doing good for others, etc. These are not African qualities, or American or Asian, or European, they are human qualities and desires. We all struggle, we all need each other, and no matter how cliche it sounds we are all connected. I know it is not always or hardly ever this simple, but in the end it comes back to our shared humanity.
I will again refer to the beautiful insight and words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu as he noted, "A person is a person because he recognizes others as persons."
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