Life with Woiny (Yewoinshet) is pretty much non-stop from 7:30 AM to midnight every day. I don't know how she does so much, yet still has time to talk to anyone who needs her. I certainly have not had to "slow down" to the Ethiopian pace of life as I had expected.Every morning I meet with Woiny and Zebany to help them understand and practice the EMDR training they received last November in Nairobi (thanks to a Bloomsburg benefactor.) Next comes a little computer or office work before the whole staff meets together for a tasty lunch provided by the HFC cooks.
Then it is on to supervising Woiny as she does therapy on some of the more traumatized children. Trauma is pervasive and seldom is limited to having lost both parents to AIDS. Woiny is constantly teaching me that the therapeutic assumptions that work so well in America do not translate well to such a different culture and way of experiencing life.
We review the sessions on the way home, share a traditional Ethiopian dinner with her family, and then Woiny and I move on to trying to understand and undo all of the problems with her computer. We are both enjoying learning from each other so much that time flies by. A project just mentioned this evening is the making of an HFC video for her presentation to donors in Canada in 2 weeks. Not sure where we will fit that in.
Today I also began the project of re-doing her 5 Play Therapy rooms (with 2 more on the way.) Exhaustive shopping ended in success and the purchase of 7 tables and 14 chairs. The children will now have a place for drawing, working with clay and reading books with their therapist. I want to thank all of you for the donations that made it possible for me to help HFC in this way. Some of the therapy supplies that flew across the ocean with me are pictured here as well.
Saturday's full-day workshop on Trauma has filled to 32 people and next Tuesday's may be even larger. I will let you know how they go. People here are so hungry to learn that it is inspiring.Dorothy
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Your clients can only imagine that Woiny finds the time to talk to anyone who needs her the same way you find the time. Woiny seems to be just as compassionate as you are. It sounds like you are pretty busy over there and your truly helping to make a difference for them - that in itself must be humbling. Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteThe new rooms with furniture delight the eye. In my heart's eye, I can see the children who will sit there and find themselves more healed when they leave than when they came. What a fine work! Blessings to everyone!....sharon
ReplyDeleteIt's so exciting to read about what you are experiencing there. Remember to take some time for yourself. Love, Judy
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