I started working for World Vision when I was 17 – 3 months
after I finished High School.
It was only supposed to be a short-term gig while I figured
out what I wanted to do with my life. At first that seemed to be working out,
as I left 9 months later to study, but I was back just over a year later,
diploma in hand.
 |
| An NZ Herald article from my first year at WVNZ |
I am now 33 years old, married with 4 children, and the
pattern that I started at the age of 17 has continued. I have come and gone
from World Vision for study, travel and babies.
Over the past 16 years of my life, 12 have been spent at World Vision New Zealand.
Since I have been around so long, a lot of the people I work with have often been surprised at the fact that I have never travelled to the field to see World Vision’s work in action. To be fair, I was never in a role that required it, so it was not something I resented. I also did not feel that I needed to see the work for myself because we have a lot of excellent people who do that on my behalf. However, I did have the desire to see WVs work for myself “someday”.
Well “someday” has arrived. I am writing this in a hotel in Bariadi, Tanzania. I was honoured to be selected to represent WVNZ at the closing ceremony for Nkoma ADP.
I feel like I have been travelling for a week just to get here. I have travelled as far as Scotland – but I have never felt further from South Auckland.
Being in Africa is so surreal. Probably because I am seeing for myself what I have been hearing about for nearly half my life.
We drove three hours from the airport to the hotel and I quickly discover why WV needs sturdy vehicles. It is a rough ride most of the way. My eyes were wide open the whole time. I did not want to miss a thing. (Apologies for the Aerosmith reference.)
There are people everywhere! They are walking along the roads, herding cattle, riding bicycles and motorbikes. I kept wondering - Where are they all going? Where have they been? What are they doing?
Tomorrow I will be going to Luguru ADP. This ADP is so new that no children are sponsored as yet. I feel completely open to what may be in store. Although I also feel apprehensive. I am supposed to be advising the staff on filming Child Greeting Videos. What if I don’t do a good job? What if I cannot answer their questions? What if it is just too hot to work?
My biggest fear is how much this trip will change me. I have seen people come back from trips like this and they have been so impacted by what they have seen that they are never the same. I can be scared of change – as evidenced by my employment history.
Over the past 16 years of my life, 12 have been spent at World Vision New Zealand.
Since I have been around so long, a lot of the people I work with have often been surprised at the fact that I have never travelled to the field to see World Vision’s work in action. To be fair, I was never in a role that required it, so it was not something I resented. I also did not feel that I needed to see the work for myself because we have a lot of excellent people who do that on my behalf. However, I did have the desire to see WVs work for myself “someday”.
Well “someday” has arrived. I am writing this in a hotel in Bariadi, Tanzania. I was honoured to be selected to represent WVNZ at the closing ceremony for Nkoma ADP.
I feel like I have been travelling for a week just to get here. I have travelled as far as Scotland – but I have never felt further from South Auckland.
Being in Africa is so surreal. Probably because I am seeing for myself what I have been hearing about for nearly half my life.
We drove three hours from the airport to the hotel and I quickly discover why WV needs sturdy vehicles. It is a rough ride most of the way. My eyes were wide open the whole time. I did not want to miss a thing. (Apologies for the Aerosmith reference.)
There are people everywhere! They are walking along the roads, herding cattle, riding bicycles and motorbikes. I kept wondering - Where are they all going? Where have they been? What are they doing?
Tomorrow I will be going to Luguru ADP. This ADP is so new that no children are sponsored as yet. I feel completely open to what may be in store. Although I also feel apprehensive. I am supposed to be advising the staff on filming Child Greeting Videos. What if I don’t do a good job? What if I cannot answer their questions? What if it is just too hot to work?
My biggest fear is how much this trip will change me. I have seen people come back from trips like this and they have been so impacted by what they have seen that they are never the same. I can be scared of change – as evidenced by my employment history.
 |
| Bob Pierce - The founder of World Vision |
Bob Pierce, the founder of World Vision, prayed for his
heart to be broken by the things that break the heart of God. I don’t feel
brave enough to pray that right now. Unfortunately, I am pretty sure that I
prayed that when I was younger and braver – so I fear that God may remember
that prayer and answer it.
When I first became a mother I struggled with working for World Vision because suddenly every child was not just some poor child overseas. They were Lily, Melody, Abbey and Nathanael. I didn’t see strangers anymore. I saw one of my babies.
Although I found a way to deal with that, I am afraid of being overcome tomorrow when I go into the communities. What if I look at these children and start crying? That will be completely inappropriate. So I have decided to set the bar low. If I can get through the day without crying or accidently offending someone then the day would be a success.
Day TwoWhen I first became a mother I struggled with working for World Vision because suddenly every child was not just some poor child overseas. They were Lily, Melody, Abbey and Nathanael. I didn’t see strangers anymore. I saw one of my babies.
Although I found a way to deal with that, I am afraid of being overcome tomorrow when I go into the communities. What if I look at these children and start crying? That will be completely inappropriate. So I have decided to set the bar low. If I can get through the day without crying or accidently offending someone then the day would be a success.
 |
| WV staff show the twins their Child Greeting Videos |
It is strange to think that only yesterday I felt like I was
on another planet, because today I learnt that whether you are from South
Auckland, or Bariadi – everyone is the same. I saw so much to remind me of
home.
For starters I met a pair of twin girls who are fraternal, just like mine, one is considerably taller than the other, just like mine, and they have a sister who is two years younger, just like mine. When we asked if we could film their Child Greeting Video, they said yes, but not in what they were wearing. They wanted to put on some nicer clothes. What child does not want to look their best on camera? When they appeared in their best clothes they looked so lovely. Later we met a mother who we wanted to film, and she exclaimed, “You can’t film me wearing this!” I love that. I love that we are all the same.
Unfortunately the contrasts in a place like this are startling,
none more so than in the dispensary. This supposed clinic is made up of three
rooms – one for seeing patients, one for giving vaccinations, and one for the mothers
to give birth in.
Today pregnant mothers were coming to the clinic for their check-ups. 100 pregnant women arrive at the clinic every Monday. There are 7 staff who help to deliver at least 20 babies each week and care for all the mothers. They would like to have 12 midwives, but there is nowhere in the area for them to live.
Only 40% of women give birth at the clinic, but they face appalling conditions. There is no incinerator, and even though the women were speaking Swahili, I clearly heard the term ‘placenta pit’.
Most shocking of all is the fact that the clinic is lacking the most basic necessity – water. Women have to bring their own water to the clinic when they are in labour. How can this be a clinic if there is no water? This is incomprehensible.
For starters I met a pair of twin girls who are fraternal, just like mine, one is considerably taller than the other, just like mine, and they have a sister who is two years younger, just like mine. When we asked if we could film their Child Greeting Video, they said yes, but not in what they were wearing. They wanted to put on some nicer clothes. What child does not want to look their best on camera? When they appeared in their best clothes they looked so lovely. Later we met a mother who we wanted to film, and she exclaimed, “You can’t film me wearing this!” I love that. I love that we are all the same.
 |
| The Luguru Dispensary |
Today pregnant mothers were coming to the clinic for their check-ups. 100 pregnant women arrive at the clinic every Monday. There are 7 staff who help to deliver at least 20 babies each week and care for all the mothers. They would like to have 12 midwives, but there is nowhere in the area for them to live.
Only 40% of women give birth at the clinic, but they face appalling conditions. There is no incinerator, and even though the women were speaking Swahili, I clearly heard the term ‘placenta pit’.
Most shocking of all is the fact that the clinic is lacking the most basic necessity – water. Women have to bring their own water to the clinic when they are in labour. How can this be a clinic if there is no water? This is incomprehensible.
 |
| Elizabeth, the Head Midwife, has worked at the Luguru Dispensary for 10 years. She is overlooking the site for the new Health Centre. |
In the past World Vision would have seen the situation at this clinic and built the health centre ourselves. However, that makes it a ‘World Vision’ Health Centre. The community has no ownership of it. Having every family in the community contribute tells them that this is not our health centre – it is yours. World Vision will leave one day, but you will always have this centre.
The children loved looking at themselves on my phone and taking photos with me. (I might have liked it a bit too!)
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