The New Girl

I am currently working at CAASAH alongside Tamarin, Rebecca and Romy. The girls had been working at CAASAH for sometime when I arrived. This was a good thing for me because they were able to introduce me to staff and children of CAASAH and I could observe the routine that the girls had implemented. However it also brought some disadvantages as the girls had bonded so well with the children which meant initially they didn’t take to kindly to me. I had to be patient until such time that I managed to win their trust and friendship.

An Emotional Rollercoaster

I am going to tell you about a difficult day at CAASAH and a delightful day. This may not mean very much to you right very much to you right now but you may find it comforting to read again if you have a difficult or delightful day whilst working at CAASAH.

Difficult Day

I arrived at CAASAH with the other 3 volunteers, the children nushed to them and hugged them with great delight. I said “Bom dia” (Good Morning) to a little girl who made a face at me and then turned her back on me.
We went inside and I pulled out the craft I had prepared for the day. I tried to encourage the children to get involved but they just tore the craft in two and ran away. I eventually persuaded 3 boys to participate in the craft. It was going really well the boys were sharing the materials and being really creative but most importantly they were having fun!
Unfornately this did not last as one of the day younger boys came over and stole the glue stick. This caused the first child to immediately. Stand up and lash out at him, the two started fighting ferociously. I intervened and I just felt as f they were beginning to settle when another fight broke out, the activity was thrown across the room and I was left feeling emotionally drained.
Later I managed to involve 2 girls in some drawing; again this was going well until they asked me a question in Portuguese. I didn’t understand what they were asking; they got so frustrated with me that they walked away. I felt as if I had no connection with these children which in turn made it difficult for me to love them, stimulate them and show them firm but fair discipline in relation to how they should treat others. I was very disappointed in myself because I couldn’t speak their language and instead of stimulating the children with my activity it caused them to fight.


Delightful Day


I arrived at CAASAH with the other volunteers the children ran to the girls and hugged them. Then a little girl turned towards me and gave me a hug. What a wonderful start to my day. I went in and sat down at a table by myself and started the activity I had prepared. One of the older boys came over to watch me, I asked him if he would like to make a book and he did. One by one the other children came over to join in, including the girl who made a face at me yesterday. She was particularly excited and participated for a long time.

Thanks to the Portuguese lesson I am beginning to understand key words the children are using and the children were beginning to have more patience with me.

It was an extremely quick day; I really felt I had fulfilled my role in entertaining and the children. We are definitely beginning to build a rap our.
As I was leaving at the end of my delightful day I said “Tchau” (Goodbye) to a little girl and continued walking. She shouted my name and as I turned I saw her running towards me. She jumped up and gave me a big kiss and a cuddle!


Points to consider

· Give the children time to get to know you and accept you. Remember they see a constant turnover of adults in their lives as volunteers come and go, and staff changes every other day.
· Read the CAASAH blog periodically while working at CAASAH to remind yourself of what these children have been through. It’ll help you to understand them.
· Understand why they fight with each other but do not condone it. Be firm but fair, calm and consistent when maintaining discipline.
· Learn some Brazilian Portuguese
· Be patient and understanding
· Don’t be hard on yourself if you have a difficult day return to the home base for a big hug from Loo Loo (the cleaner) and you’ll feel better.
· This is not a medical placement although a medical background helps you to understand HIV and AIDS.
· It helps if you have some experience of children in relation to planning activities.
· You may consider working in smaller groups
· Have fun an love them


Good luck and enjoy

Karen CAASAH
November 2006
CCS volunteer

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

1. What is AIDS? What causes AIDS?

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

A HIV positive person receives an AIDS diagnosis after developing one of the CDC defined AIDS indicator illnesses. An HIV positive person can also receive an AIDS diagnosis on the basis of certain blood tests (CD4 counts) and may not have experienced any serious illnesses. A positive HIV test does not mean that a person has AIDS. A diagnosis of AIDS is made by a physician according to the CDC AIDS Case Definition.

Over time, infection with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) can weaken the immune system to the point that the system has difficulty fighting off certain infections. These types of infections are known as opportunistic infections. Many of the infections that cause problems or that can be life-threatening for people with AIDS are usually controlled by a healthy immune system. The immune system of a person with AIDS has weakened to the point that medical intervention may be necessary to prevent or treat serious illness. (Source: Centers for Disease Control – CDC).

2. What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

H – Human: because this virus can only infect human beings.
I - Immuno-deficiency: because the effect of the virus is to create a deficiency, a failure to work properly, within the body´s immune system.
V – Virus: because this organism is a virus, which means one of its characteristics is that it is incapable of reproducing by itself. It reproduces by taking over the machinery of the human cell.

A – Acquired: because it´s a condition one must acquire or get infected with; not something transmitted through the genes.
I - Immune: because it affects the body´s immune system, the part of the body which usually works to fight off germs such as bacteria and viruses.
D – Deficiency: because it makes the immune system deficient (makes it not work properly).
S - Syndrome: because someone with AIDS may experience a wide range of different diseases and opportunistic infections (Source: Centers for Disease Control – CDC).

3. How is HIV transmitted?

HIV can be transmitted from an infected person to another through:
. blood (including menstrual blood)
. semen
. vaginal secretions
. breast milk

Blood contains the highest concentration of the virus, followed by semen, followed by vaginal fluids, followed by breast milk.

* Activities that allow HIV transmission

. Unprotected sexual contact
. Direct blood contact, including injection drug needles, blood transfusions, accidents in health care settings or certain blood products.
. Mother to baby (before or during birth, or through breast milk).

The following “bodily fluids” are NOT infectious:

. Saliva
. Tears
. Sweat
. Feces
. Urine

(Source: San Francisco AIDS Foundation)

4. Can I get HIV from kissing?

Casual contact through closed-mouth or “social” kissing is not a risk for transmission of HIV. Because of the potential for contact with blood during “French” or open-mouth, wet kissing, CDC recommends against engaging in this activity with a person known to be infected. However, the risk of acquiring HIV during open-mouth kissing is believed to be very low. CDC has investigated only one case of HIV infection that may be attributed to contact with blood during open-mouth kissing. In this case both partners had extensive dental problems including gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). It is likely that there was blood present in both partners´mouths making direct blood to blood contact a possibility. (Source: Centers for Disease Control – CDC).



5. Can I get HIV from casual contact (shaking hands, hugging, using a toilet, drinking from the same glass, or the sneezing and coughing of an infected person)?

No. HIV is not transmitted by day to day contact in the home, the workplace, schools, or social settings. HIV is not transmitted through shaking hands, hugging or a casual kiss. You cannot become infected from a toilet seat, a drinking fountain, a doorknob, dishes, drinking glasses, food or pets. HIV is a fragile virus that does not live long outside the body. HIV is not an airborne of food borne virus. HIV is present in the blood, semen or vaginal secretions of an infected person and can be transmitted through unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex or through.

AIDS – BRAZIL OVERVIEW

In Brazil, AIDS related deaths have been cut by more than half in the past eight years with a multifaceted approach that includes free medicine and a focus on HIV prevention.

In 1983, when Brazil´s program was started, the nation was one of the hardest hit by the baffling new illness. But by starting the fight early, Brazil avoided the crippling fate of man African and Caribbean countries.

Now with the program in its 20th year, less than one percent of Brazil´s adult population or 600,000 people is infected with HIV. In South Africa, more than 40 percent of adults are infected. A major reason for Brazil´s far lower incidence of infection is its prevention program, which promotes frank talk about safe sex. On the treatment side, anti-retroviral drugs are provided free to anyone who cannot afford them.

Drugs relatively cheap

Now about 125,000 patients are receiving the AIDS cocktail of drugs at a cost of about $2,000 per patient a year. That compares with $10,000 to $15,000 a year in developed nations, including the United States.

Brazil has been able to provide free treatment at a low cost because in 1997 it started a program to manufacture its own generic AIDS medicine.
The new head of the World Health Organization would like to use Brazil´s free, generic AIDS drug program as a model to help poor nations treat and prevent the disease.

If you are coming to be a volunter at CAASAH, please read about their daily Schedule.

1- GET STARTED
Set up activities for older kids
Sweep the floor if needed (janitors usually are cleaning, but it´s easy enough to jump in)

2- GO TO BABIES ROOM AND GET THEM READY.
Baths if needed ( start with oldest to youngest)
Change diapers (still dirty from the night)
Get dressed and w/shoes (clothes and shoes in room across the hall)
Once the older babies are ready you can bring them with the older kids.
The babies (1yr and younger) get a bottle and put back down for a nap. If babies act up you can put all down for nap around 10:30 - They like singing.

3- PLAY TIME

3.1 - OLDER KIDS:
Kids love the crayons and paper (lots of paper)
Love clay
Puzzles are good
They enjoy legos and dominos
They love ballonsgirls like to have nails painted

3.2 - TODDLERS
Toddlers love the legos and dominos ( mainly to chew on)
Wooden hammer and peg game is a hint.
Mainly love to run around - mostly entertain themselves.Soccer balls just get hidden, so you do not need to bring them.
Only bring durable toys. Kids will destroy them.If you ask the staff (specially Antonia) for toys (brinquedos -in Portuguese) they will sometimes bring them for you.

4 - CLEAN UP
We get picked up around 11:30, so at about 11:20 start cleaning up and turn TV on for them. The guards from CAASAH will tell you when the CCS car comes. Sometimes the car is late and you will be there for lunch time, so jump in a grab a baby to feed.

DAY IS DONE!

TIPS:

1 - Just jump in and take the initiative - the kids and staff rely an us for activities, so just get them started.

2 - Staff may come off as cold at first, but if you show them you are consistent with the children and try to include them they will warm up quickly.
* make an effort to talk to them.

3 - Do not be afraid to move around and help with new things ( changing babies, giving babies bath, nap time, feeding, spending time with adults.

4 - You are not supposed to take pics of kids in CAASAH, but every other Friday is a "Passeio" (trip) day and you can take pictures then. (thay are pretty strict on the no pictures rule, so respect that).

5 - Only one of the doctors speaks English, so it may help to bring your English/Portuguese dictionary to work.

6 - Spend as much time with them as you can because you can learn so much from each child.

7 - Have patience at times it will be hard, but handle it calmly the staff yells at them enough they do not need it from us too.

8 - Please show them love, they deserve it !!!

9 - Have fun !!

(Tamarin - 11/01/2006 - still here working at Caasah)