Please read this insightful letter from a volunteer who recently returned home…

Hi I’m Melissa from NZ. I volunteered at FCH for 2 months this year. It is one of the best experiences I have ever had and one I would like to repeat. The children are vibrant and full of energy. All of them have their own personalities. I know they would love to learn about yours, so go ahead and write them!

Their life is not as easy as ours but with the help of FCH it is a lot better than it would be. To give you an idea of what it is like to be a volunteer, here is a normal day:

Before breakfast – reading or finishing their homework because if there is a power cut the night before then not all the homework can be finished and candle light is difficult.
Breakfast – Daal (rice with a vegetarian curry and lentil soup) I loved this large meal of which they have twice a day.
Dishes – Children wash their dishes with a soap bar in a large laundry sized container outside with rain storage water or well water pumped up.
Time for school – Volunteers take the children to school but the older girls are very responsible and organise the younger children to ensure they are together to walk to school (6 children go to one school and 26 go to another school) They walk them to and from school crossing a main road (the compact size version of a two lane highway) that has no pedestrian crossing so you have to block the road to get the children across safely.
Cleaning Clothes – Cleaning clothes is very hard work and time consuming for such a large household. All clothing is washed by a buddy system with the younger children having an older child to wash their clothes. The clothing is washed by well water pumped up to fill 2 large containers. The clothes are scrubbed with laundry soap and scrubbing brushes outside on the concrete ground. The clothes are rung out and then hung on the clothing ropes outside or on the roof. There are no washing machines or electrical appliances.
School Homework Time – The children complete their homework with the help of volunteers. Older children help the younger children finish their homework. Homework with a number of children is difficult but it is more difficult when there is a power cut (often 8 hours a day)

This is just a glimpse into their life but I hope it lets you see what amazing help you are doing and how a little can go so far.

Melissa

Thanks Melissa. I know the sponsors will love reading about your experience!