Antananarivo, October 14, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
just came back from my first field trip in Madagascar. Our team drove over 700 kilometres from Antananarivo to Morondava, a small city located in the west coast ofthe island. The journey was a great opportunity to get to know our colleagues from the Malagasy Red Cross and share unique moments that will stay with us forever. It has also allowed me to discover the stunning landscapes and variety that this country has to offer.
The purpose of my visit to Morondava was to attend a Red Cross training to over thirty volunteers coming from different regions of the country. The participants were first introduced to the history and principles of the Red Cross. They were then taught social mobilization techniques and explained the roles that they will undertake during the week of the campaign against malaria.
In a country where this disease is the first cause of child mortality, such a campaign is taken very seriously by all involved. As I was talking to one of the local Red Cross coordinators, she said: "the fight against malaria is a fight against poverty". I will never forget these words and the expression in her deep black eyes when she said them.
I didn't understand much of what was being said during the training as it was given in Malagasy. But it was special just to be there and see how keen these volunteers are about helping their communities in the fight against malaria. Some of them are very young and passionate about humanitarian work. I think they are true youthful leaders that will make enormous contributions to their people. The hardships they have faced did not break their resolve but rather infused them with a force that now motivates them to help others.
For me, one of the best parts of my work is the opportunity to meet people such as them. It is a privilege to live these experiences alongside them and to learn from their strengths and experiences.
just came back from my first field trip in Madagascar. Our team drove over 700 kilometres from Antananarivo to Morondava, a small city located in the west coast ofthe island. The journey was a great opportunity to get to know our colleagues from the Malagasy Red Cross and share unique moments that will stay with us forever. It has also allowed me to discover the stunning landscapes and variety that this country has to offer.
The purpose of my visit to Morondava was to attend a Red Cross training to over thirty volunteers coming from different regions of the country. The participants were first introduced to the history and principles of the Red Cross. They were then taught social mobilization techniques and explained the roles that they will undertake during the week of the campaign against malaria.
In a country where this disease is the first cause of child mortality, such a campaign is taken very seriously by all involved. As I was talking to one of the local Red Cross coordinators, she said: "the fight against malaria is a fight against poverty". I will never forget these words and the expression in her deep black eyes when she said them.
I didn't understand much of what was being said during the training as it was given in Malagasy. But it was special just to be there and see how keen these volunteers are about helping their communities in the fight against malaria. Some of them are very young and passionate about humanitarian work. I think they are true youthful leaders that will make enormous contributions to their people. The hardships they have faced did not break their resolve but rather infused them with a force that now motivates them to help others.
For me, one of the best parts of my work is the opportunity to meet people such as them. It is a privilege to live these experiences alongside them and to learn from their strengths and experiences.
Labels: africa, bed nets, canadian red cross, international work, madagascar, malaria bites, Nathalia Guerrero
posted by Alison Frehlich at 11:40 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home