Tyler Shaw Dec 12/2009 - Feb 6/2010

That's my second time at CAASAH and I love this placement. I have my own blog so please read it web.me.com/tylerashaw

Nicole Vecchio Feb 20 - Mar 27/2010
Margo Buchanam Feb 20 - Mar 20/2010

The goals for volunteers at CAASAH is to provide love, support and attention to the children there as well as being a good role-model not being worried about if a project planned goes wrong. Once we arrived the children were in many different places of the home as opposed to be in a room all together. Half of the children also went to school. We brought in an art and crafts activity everyday. We also tried to teach manners (please and thanks). After two weeks we can better communicate and understand the children better. It is important if you spend some individual time with them since they are very different and also some have learning disabilities, some are deaf, etc. The language barrier was difficult but there are many ways to communicate like using gestures or having a portuguese dictionary (take advantage of CCS portuguese class).
Be patience and try not to get frustrated you need to be a self motivator at CAASAH just be yourself and the kids will love you.

My work at CAASAH had a highly positive impact by working with the children and staff and voluteering with CAASAH I learned a variety of things and ways about myself and things I will be able to put to use in my future nursing career.
At first, I was very overwhelmed by the language barrier however, I learned very early in my academic career that verbal communication accounts for only 10% of all communication and that non-verbal is 90%. Play is also universal and this can be used to express what one is thinking. Another challenge was trying to come up with activities suitable for all age groups.
At CAASAH you cannot bring babies/children in the adults livin quarters. No cameras allowed within the facility without permission. We need to ask staff before let the children use chalk, paint, and ask before had out cookies and chocolates.
I organized and planned activities that are not too complex/difficult. I found that the games that were most effective involved ballons, clay, bubbles, papers, crayons, beads, ribbon, yarn, ect. Very simple objects. The kids especially love ballons and clay.
My suggestion don´t worry to much about the language barrier or trying to get your thoughts across by using words. Play is universal, get on the floor and play with the kids. Use gestures, facial expressions, and make animal sounds. The children find this hilarious.

Theresa Michele LeBlanc
05/12 to 06/21
2007
Brazil

I cleanned, fed, taught and played with the kids of Caasah. Established circle line, educatinal activities and resources. The kids at Caasah are special. My experience at Caasah had a positive impact in my life. I introduced in the children's routine methods to help them break some habbits and developed educational activities.

Hazel Jooste
Feb - March, 2007

I relized that just being there and playing with the kids was appreciated. I played with the kids, holded the babies, changed diapers. We liked to draw, play with chalk, watch tv and do puzzles. We went on field trips on fridays which were a lot of fun and know the kids loved them. The zoo was the best. This experience at Caasah was a positive impact in my life and I suggest future volunteers to be educated about HIV/AIDS, be creative. Caasah is work. Be prepared with the most energy.

Norah Thompson
Jan - Feb, 2007

The patients at Caasah are in need of a lot of love and affection. The most rewarding part of my work was seeing growth and positive changes in the patients, knowing that I helped bringing a little sunshine to their difficult lives. This placement requires a lot of initiative on the volunteers part - don't be afraid to take initiative in bringing your own skills and talent to Caasah.

I developed with the kids activities of arts & crafts, painting, puzzles, etc. I played with toddlers and babies and I made shoulder/ hand/ foot massage and yoga with the adults. working with the adults was especially meaningful cause they loved doing yoga and painting and they enjoyed hand/ shoulder massage as well.

My experience at Caasah placement had a positive impact in my life. I suggest future volunteers to try to engage the adults as well as the children -they need just as much attention and affection as the children even though it takes little longer for them to warm up to you.

Most of all, both the children and the adults need to be loved - come with an open heart and show them - children and adults - that you really care about them. That is the greatest gift you can give them.

Erin Wilson

January, 2007

we showed the staff and patients that we weren't just there to take care of them. we were interested and enthysiastic about learning the patients back grounds by asking questions and speaking to onsite staff and doctors to get a clearer understanding of who we were working with and where they were coming from.

We played games with the children, helped them with their homework, taught English and Math, Arts&Crafts, supervised on the field trips, changed diapers, got toddlers ready for the day. We played games with the adults, supervised on field trips. the most important activities (projects) I developed at Caasah were: collages and paiting.


It is a challenging placement. Go with the flow and try to relax.


Gabriela Olivares
Feb. - April, 2007

I talked with the adults, went to the field trips with the children, played with the kids. Try to gain the trust of the children and be patient. Talk to the Caasah staff and the adults.

Emily Kuhl
March, 2007

"The kids need love and affection so much, and it is so easy for us to help them and give to them. My experience at Caasah had a highly positive impact. I played, walked, read, changed diapers, fed babies and disciplined the kids. The most important project that i developed was the book and the schedule and the posters of the kids. I suggest future volunteers don't take the kids too seriously, they don't have families and it takes them a long time to trust. Keep trying."

Eliza Harris
CCS Volunteer
Jan - March 2007

SAFETY TIPS FROM THE CDC.GOV: VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE SEE THIS REQUIRED LINK:
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/PDF/transmission.pdf

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