BuffBuffcocoapuff's Xanga

Sunday, July 06, 2008

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:07:43 GMT

New Zealand is beautiful. Absolutely stunning. And the house we live in is sweet. And the people I live with are sweet. And I think this is going to be a good 3 weeks.

a word of advice....never fly for 2 days straight. you wont feel so good afterward.

peace

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Thu, 01 May 2008 23:18:29 GMT

As most of you know, I spent five months in Ghana last year on a Liberian refugee camp known as Buduburam Camp. If you don't know anything about the Liberian refugees, click here. I worked primarily with a small organization called Children Better Way. During my first month, I volunteered in the micro-loan program, the HIV/AIDS program and in the primary school as well as the upper-primary school. After my first month, I focused most of my attention on my responsibilities in the school as well as on tutoring.

But it wasn't all work and no play....I made some very close friends in those 5 months! I tried to spend as much time wandering the camp, talking with old women, young children, even groups of guys, my age--in their 20's, who have seen more and endured more than anybody I have ever met. These people put faces and names and emotion behind the statistics I'd read before going to africa. They inspired me. Even with so much need, they smile. Even though it seems like the world is ignoring them, they dance.

I want nothing more than to help people like them in a tangible, sustainable way. I have the passion. I have the motivation. I need the skills.

I got accepted into the Be The Change Program, created and run by Global Volunteer Network, but I need your HELP!

I will be using my personal savings and I have been working hard to raise the funds needed to take up this opportunity to help others. If you are able to help support me financially in some way it would be greatly appreciated.

My program fee to participate is $997 US dollars. In addition to this, I need to pay for my airfares, entry visa, vaccinations and insurance. Airfare will run between $1900 and $2200. I would appreciate any donations you can give to enable me to take on the challenge of helping others in less fortunate circumstances than ourselves.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the program. I would like to take this time to thank you for considering helping me in this worthy cause. Your financial aid will enable me to participate in an experience which will HELP ME HELP THEM.

Links

global volunteer network
www.volunteer.org.nz

Be The Change Program
http://www.volunteer.org.nz/newzealand/be_the_change/

Posted today 2:31pm

About the Global Volunteer Network

The Global Volunteer Network (GVN) was launched in December 2000 by Colin Salisbury, its Founder and Executive Director, after spending time volunteering in Ghana, West Africa. While he was there he saw the tremendous difference volunteers could make in helping local organisations achieve their goals. Upon returning to New Zealand he spent some time researching the different volunteer organisations around the world and was amazed at how expensive and limiting many programs were in terms of volunteer opportunities.

Colin has extensive volunteer experience both locally and internationally with time spent in Ecuador, Ghana, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and Thailand. His background in Community Development and achieving a Masters in International Development has enabled him to provide challenging and affordable volunteer opportunities around the globe.

The Global Volunteer Network (GVN) is a private, Non Government Organization (NGO) based in Wellington, New Zealand. Our incorporation number is: WN/1194442.

GVN currently has volunteer positions available through our partner organisations in Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Honduras, India, Kenya, Nepal, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Romania, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, USA, and Vietnam. The network continues to expand with new programs currently being researched and assessed.

The number of people volunteering through GVN continues to grow. In 2002 we placed 240 volunteers, and in 2007 we placed almost 2000 volunteers. Our goal for 2008 is to place 2500 volunteers.

We also offer fundraising hikes to allow an active role in raising funds for communities in need. We currently have hikes planned to Mt. Everest Base Camp, Machu Picchu, and Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Posted May 2 12:44am

What is Be The Change?

Global Volunteer Network, the organization that connected me to Buduburam Camp in Ghana, is offering a week long, intensive training course entitled "Be The Change: A Six Day Intensive Course Designed to Develop the Skills You Need to Make a Difference." I applied for this program, after months of looking into internships, volunteer opportunities, schools, classes, seminars and everything else you could imagine! I was accepted last week and I am really excited! They only accept 6 people each year! The Be The Change Course is designed to take your idea, or dream and give you the skills and confidence you need to make it a reality. The participants of this week long program will work each day with Founder and CEO of Global Volunteer Network, Colin Salisbury. Each day Colin, and his staff, will take you through a workshop designed to give you the skills you need to return to your community and make a difference. Workshops vary depending on the needs of the group but could include:

Communications- What is your message and who is your audience?
Project Management- How to plan large and small events.
Fundraising- How to raise money for your cause.
Social Enterprise vs. Nonprofit- Who's doing what?
Public Speaking/Presenting Yourself- How to get out there confidently.
Accounting- How to keep track of your finances.
Website Production- Get online.
Marketing: How to Tell Your Story
Skill/Passion Identification- How are you wired?
Running a Campaign- How to get people behind your cause.
Leadership- Servant Leadership Skills.

If I can raise the funds for this trip, I will be living in the 'Be The Change' house, on the periphery of Lake Taupo, with 6-7 other socially minded individuals from all over the world. After workshops each day Colin, and his staff, will

Work with the group on further developing their ideas and putting them in action.
Show the group some of the most stunning and hidden secrets of New Zealand's Lake Taupo Region

After leaving this program it is my goal to leave with the skills and confidence I need to "Be The Change" in Liberia.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:22:33 GMT

things change so fast. SO fast. I cant keep up.

but then again, it seems there are a lot of things that will never change.

As for me, I dont know. Im the same, and im different....but Im still here, in ohio. I have a lot of plans, some more thought out than others, but ill keep them to myself for now. Who knows where I'll end up.

I miss africa so badly sometimes i'm afraid my anxiety attacks are going to come back.

yeah. I dont know why im on this. I dont know if anybody does xanga anymore. But if you are reading this, there's a good chance I miss you alot.

alright. peace out.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:23:29 GMT

e v e r y t h i n g fell apart. ssssoooooo fast.

but, im on my own now. for now. i dont know how long. I dont know what will happen. but im going to figure some things out in this next 6 months. and I am going to start writing again. honestly. I think that will help. soon Ill post a link to a different blog. an honest one.

ummmmm.

yeah.

peace and love.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 12:52:01 GMT

anyone in chicago looking for a roommate?

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:54:27 GMT

Maybe, if my heart stops beating,
it wont hurt this much
And never will i have to
answer again to anyone
Please don't get me wrong

Because i'll never let this go,
but i can't find the words to tell you
I don't want to be alone
but now i feel like i don't know you

One day you'll get sick of
saying that everything's alright,
And by then i'm sure i'll be pretending
just like i am tonight
Please don't get me wrong

Because i'll never let this go,
but i can't find the words to tell you
I don't want to be alone
but now i feel like i don't know you

___________________________

dont worry. this doesnt mean its over. it just means it feels, most of the time, like it never really happened.
___________________________

'Could you remind me of a time when we were so alive
(Everything has changed)
Do you remember that? Do you remember that?
(Everything has changed)
'Could you help me push aside all that I have left behind
(Everything has changed)
Do you remember that? Do you remember that?

So we stand here now and no one knows us at all
I won't get used to this
I won't get used to being gone
And going back won't feel the same if we aren't staying
Going back to get away after everything has changed

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 18:04:59 GMT

I have learned.....

that 90% of the people i know are all talk.

and its not a lesson easily learned.

Want to help kids in Liberia?

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:35:57 GMT

Alright. I will give you an introduction.....

I went to ghana to volunteer with an Organization called Children Better Way on Buduburam Refugee Camp. My volunteer coordinator's name was Anthony and he is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. I respect him tremendously. Even when CBW frustrated me, and when I wasnt sure if i should trust them, I always trusted him and could always see how hard he worked to help other Liberians. I also knew his wife, Marilyn, who is as amazing as he is. She was working in a small school on camp for younger kids, and i visited the school a couple times and LOVED it. I loved that it was ran and taught by Liberians and I loved everything they were doing, the way they worked with the children and was impressed with their teaching, especially in comparison with the teaching i saw in other schools. They had a smaller budget than other schools and still managed to do a better job. Anthony is trying to leave CBW, and the two of them want to move back to Liberia to open their own school. They have land and plans, but no money. As much as I want to fund this for them, i cant. I have some things i need to take care of...such as seeing my fiance and paying the lawyer Im hiring to help us. Also, we have our own plans for our own NGO, a microloan, and in all honesty, in wouldnt make sense for us to be giving what we have to another project when we cant get our own off the ground for a few years, because of finances. But i want to help anthony. I believe in him and what he is doing.

here is a rough draft of his and Marilyn's proposal, though it is still missing a few parts, it is a good start.

Contact Address: Marilyn Korlu Johnson
Buduburam Refugee Resettlement
Post Office Box 46
State House, Accra
Ghana

E-mail: emanlyn@yahoo.com <mailto:emanlyn@yahoo.com> Telephone: 233-243-589906
E-mail : tonynyanplu@yahoo.com <mailto:E-mail : tonynyanplu@yahoo.com> Telephone: 233-243-346715

INTRODUCTION

Learning begins at birth. This calls for early child hood and initial education. These can be provided through arrangements involving families, communities or institutional programmes as appropriate.

The education and care of the young child is an important concern for all humanitarians and educational stakeholders. This is because experience gained in the first five years of the child’s life shapes a person for responsible adult hood.

In Liberia, a country that has been ravaged by 14 years of civil war, attempts by the government to develop programmes for the care and education of children has yielded limited results. More programmes for the care of children and their education have been operated by private and voluntary organizations, but the past 14 years are consider “lost” in this enterprise due to the war. In facture sense, because of the protracted period of war, there were more children growing up with guns then books.

On a broader note, the education system in Liberia has been one of the weakest in Africa due to lack of resources, weak government commitment, poor infrastructure and a very weak economic and institutional context, there is clear evidence that the past decide and a half of continued violence, abandonment and looting of infrastructure, killing, displacement of large portion of the population and unstopped degradation of institutions have had a devastating impact on virtually all components of the education sector.

Mission Statement

To provide early childhood education to children age 2-5 years and relief for parents who engage in livelihood economic activities outside their homes

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Presently, educationally, Liberia is going through a critical period. There are limited facilities for early childhood education. The bonds of poverty affecting thousands of war weary parents cannot afford to send their young ones to even the limited facilities. This grim picture continues to render the educational fate of hundreds of thousands of young Liberians between the ages 2 to 5 years undecided.

OBJECTIVE

The establishment of the Early Child hood Development Center in Gardnerville Liberia, will achieve the following objectives;

Ø Enable children age 2-5 years to acquire early child hood training and care

Ø Provide love, tender care feeding and security through a variety of stimulating experiences for toddlers

Ø Enable toddlers and developing kids to positively socialize in educational processes,

Ø To provide relief for struggling parents who engage in livelihood economic activities outside their homes

Ø Avert possible social vices that may otherwise occur among very young children in the absence of early care and school life.

IMPLEMENTATION

The founding member of this institution Miss Marilyn K. Johnson is presently residing in Ghana, but will be in Liberia with in six months at which time all schools will be re opening for the next academic year to kick off the project in fulfillment of her contribution to the national reconstruction and development of Liberia. She has the passion of promoting the welfare of children between ages 2-5 years, and intent to establish a center for early childhood development in (Garnerville) the suburbs of Monrovia.

The suburb has a very high population, most of whom take their children into the city to school. Additionally, there is only one school in the entire area that is providing this service. In the future, the center, through the experiences gained will serve the additional purpose of training personnel of childhood centers, a much needed service in Liberia that was divested by war.

Marilyn K Johnson is presently serving as administrator and a teacher for the Kids N Us Caring Center II on the Buduburam Refugee Camp in Ghana and holds a Certificate for Nursery Teacher from the National Nursery Teachers’ Training Center Accra, GES (Ghana Educational Service) sponsored by UNHCR.

MODALITIES AND INPUTS

The organization (establishing a management team) and the use of facilities and manpower in specific ways to gain concrete results will be as follows:

The center will enroll between 75 to 100 children between the ages 2-5 in first year.

The school will conduct four (4) terms a year.

The school will run two class rooms in the mother compound.

The school will employ four (4) teachers.

Parents are required to pay $40.00(US dollars) for feeding a year.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

The center will operate in adherence to policies and regulations of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of health & Social Welfare, Liberia.

In matters of care and training, the center will addressed the issues of children’s physical growth, physical cleanliness (health), environmental cleanliness, language development, emotional social development and spiritual development of children.

The Donors will monitor the project. They will assist to evaluate the project periodically to ensure progress. They will visit the project ground to conduct assessment as and when necessary. Quarterly reports will be forwarded to Donors.

BUDGET

RUNNING COST

Four teachers $50.00 per month x 12 $2,400.00

Reconstruction cost $2,500.00

Material cost $7,594.00

Total $12,494.00

MATERIALS NEEDED FOR ONE YEAR

QTY	DESCRIPTION	UNIT PRICE	AMOUNT($)
100	Toys( pk)	5.00	500.00
20	Poster color (pk)	5.00	100.00
6	Pencil (pk)	5.00	30.00
20	Water color (pk)	5.00	100.00
12	Color crayon (pk)	7.00	84.00
20	Chalk(pk)	2.50	50.00
10	Glue (pk)	5.00	50.00
20	Ream of sheets	5.00	100.00
120	Copy books	5.00	600.00
20	Modeling clay	5.00	100.00
100	Work books	8.00	800.00
4	Ream of poster sheets	25.00	100.00
16	Markers (pk)	5.00	80.00
	TOTAL		2,694.00

Grand Total $ 7,594.00

Reconstruction Cost

With regards to the reconstruction cost, there is standing structure in the compound where the school is to be located. However, giving the continuous fighting we have had over the years the structure is partly damage. In other for it to be use, is has to be renovated and expanded to the stander measurement of a classroom for the benefit of the children. Below is the brake down of the reconstruction cost;

Unit Quantity Unit price Total

Cement 20 bags USD 10.00 200
Sand 2 loads USD 72.00 144
Crushed rocks 1 load USD 250.00 250
Cement bricks 1000 pieces USD 8.00 800
Zinc 2 bundles USD 75.00 150
Plank 2/2 10 pieces USD3.00 300
‘ ‘ 2/4 10 pieces USD 4.00 40
‘ ‘ 2/6 10 pieces USD 6.00 60
Zinc Nails 2 bundles USD 75.00 150
Plywood 9 pieces USD 7.0 70
Steel rods 2 USD5.00 50
Wire nails 3 boxes USD 36.00 108
Stripes 10 pieces USD 5.00 50
Panel doors 2 pieces USD 65.00 130
Screen 10 yards USD 0.5 5

Total cost 2500.00
Note: Workmanship and transportation will be provided by the founder of the school.

__________________________________________________________________

ok. What im wondering is if anybody wants to help me get a fundraiser going for this. Im really really serious about it and I want it to be big. I figured north park is really the only place I have where i could try to get something going.

Im making a facebook group for this. i know its dumb, but its the only thing i can do right now.

please, if you could spare some time and a little money.....DO IT.

I can wire any money raised directly to Anthony through western union. I will pay the transfer fee.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 02:40:16 GMT

Not knowing how to think
I scream aloud, begin to sink
My legs and arms are broken down
With envy for the solid ground
I'm reaching for the life within me
How can one man stop his ending
I thought of just your face
Relaxed, and floated into space

I want to swim away but don't know how
Sometimes it feels just like I'm falling in the ocean
Let the waves up take me down
Let the hurricane set in motion... yeah
Let the rain of what I feel right now...come down
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down

wwhhhaaaatttt the fuuucccckkkkkkk??????

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:33:07 GMT

i miss these boys, especially the one on the left. haha. and i dont really know the crazy looking one with the cigarette, but i love the rest of em like my family.

i know my entries suck lately, and that i dont really talk about anything but wesley. but, i figure if i talk about him, at least ill be positive.