When it comes to a successful volunteer experience, it comes down to a few things: the amount of effort you contribute, your sense of reality and making realistic goals, focusing on the clients benefit rather than your own need to help, and working as a team rather than an individual.
There are volunteers that are completely forgettable. One of them being in Brain Space. She came in and out not speaking to any staff and bringing no energy when working with the children. It was so bad that she was finished with her work and people didn't even know whether she was gone or there.
While the desire to "help" is there, an impact is not left on the child or community therefore what is the point? It's not possible for many people to function on my level making a positive connection with all staff from the guy cleaning the garden to the teacher to the teachers at schools to the bus drivers. It's not given to everyone and it's completely understood, but some people need to try harder with people. When you are coming into a community that is not your own- try to work past fear by initiating communication in an informal way. If you make a joke, ask ice breaker questions, and have lunch near them one day. You will find yourself in a much better place than just having this individual experience.
Teamwork can truly make miracles happen. When you look at all the amazing organizations that started as something small and built themselves up to international leaders. It is not because one person is doing everything for the organization. It is true teamwork that is creating success within these places and people are making an effort to work together, listen to one another, give constructive criticism, learn from one another, and build off one anothers knowledge. It's an absolutely amazing thing and when you are analyst who can sit back and watch it. That is even better!
As far as the teamwork between us at Brain Space, it was absolutely beautiful to watch. While Ms. Cat saw my resume and gave me a whole list of things to do, there was one of them that I needed to achieve for the organization. This was Staff Motivation. She said that many of her staff have lost their motivation for work. They are reading the same books, letting kids play games, and losing sight of what is important. This is completely natural for staff to lose their passion when they are doing the same thing each day. This was not sitting and doing accounting each day, but this was working with human lives. There is always some room for improvement and an ability to get motivated when children are involved.
When all else fails, lead by example. When you shine, people will shine with you. They feel good and inspired to do something different. I went in there full power, as they say in India, and I just let all my energy out. There were children who were eager to learn English and I was ready to demonstrate new styles of teaching and making activities fun. Children wanted to play computer games(a targeted problem) and a rewards system was created for games. There needed to be some changes, new ideas, new ways of doing things and at the end-this is what sparks people to change their ways.
In the morning, there was one teacher, Miss. Teri and Mr. John in the afternoon. The other three worked in the office and on the bus mobile. Miss. Teri was a 20 year old local Roatan girl. She was the one who craved something different, demonstrated concern towards children's behavior, made extra efforts with kids, and was a creative thinker. We discussed different ways for them to learn English and we tried out different activities-trial and error.
For those who wanted to learn English, I took them outside for English lessons on the whiteboard. They were so happy learning and all participated She ran English lessons before I got there teaching them new words. We included fun rewards game on the beach for the kids and they loved it. They were constantly giving hugs and smiling with one another. It was like a spirit in the library had been completely revived. I would come Ms. Teri had it in her the whole time, but she was hesitant and just needed a push.
As far as John, he needed a big push as he was solely interested in his Ipad and his own agenda. When it came to tutoring Math, this was not my strength, but I did have some behavioral tricks to motivate kids. When it came to one specific child, it was like the center gave up on her. With a motivational push, John was working with her more consistently. He didn't have to get off his computer, but he did and small change is meaningful. He engaged in some activities we had outside and he engaged more with kids.
And then the book mobile where three people were accustomed to the same schedule everyday with the kids. Sometimes they weren't reading and just handing out books. The book mobile would be a mess and everything was out of order. It was difficult to keep it straight, but as a team we cleaned it up. I would read to eight kids and help others choose book all based off their level. This example lead the bus driver to start reading books to children instead of being on his phone. His face lit up when he did it and the kids were so happy. We would head to schools and I would read to the classes and they were laughing. The team would watch me and my friend said, "You are so good. I could never be like that." And of course I said, "Yes you can." "Let your personality shine and kids will see this and enjoy it."
The worst of all was a 18 year old girl, Brenda,who had no work ethic, but inside she had a heart for kids and she did care. She joined our team of positivity and spent more time working with kids rather than just sitting in the corner of the bus. She was probably the most difficult one to motivate, but when we all acted as a team-she joined us. She organized the books more, she brainstormed with us on what do with certain kids, and she was just more present, which is highly valuable in the workplace.
We created a team, where each person counted and each person contributed someway, somehow, or something. It was a great to see the unity between members and the happiness we shared doing great work. Now of course, a dynamic between the four was already created, but it was a dynamic engaging in less work and more social hour. This teamwork approach that we had was fantastic for a short period of time and it's times when things are going so well-it's just wrong leaving and starting somewhere else.
Although, when you leave a team in good shape, they have a much higher potential for success.
There are volunteers that are completely forgettable. One of them being in Brain Space. She came in and out not speaking to any staff and bringing no energy when working with the children. It was so bad that she was finished with her work and people didn't even know whether she was gone or there.
While the desire to "help" is there, an impact is not left on the child or community therefore what is the point? It's not possible for many people to function on my level making a positive connection with all staff from the guy cleaning the garden to the teacher to the teachers at schools to the bus drivers. It's not given to everyone and it's completely understood, but some people need to try harder with people. When you are coming into a community that is not your own- try to work past fear by initiating communication in an informal way. If you make a joke, ask ice breaker questions, and have lunch near them one day. You will find yourself in a much better place than just having this individual experience.
Teamwork can truly make miracles happen. When you look at all the amazing organizations that started as something small and built themselves up to international leaders. It is not because one person is doing everything for the organization. It is true teamwork that is creating success within these places and people are making an effort to work together, listen to one another, give constructive criticism, learn from one another, and build off one anothers knowledge. It's an absolutely amazing thing and when you are analyst who can sit back and watch it. That is even better!
As far as the teamwork between us at Brain Space, it was absolutely beautiful to watch. While Ms. Cat saw my resume and gave me a whole list of things to do, there was one of them that I needed to achieve for the organization. This was Staff Motivation. She said that many of her staff have lost their motivation for work. They are reading the same books, letting kids play games, and losing sight of what is important. This is completely natural for staff to lose their passion when they are doing the same thing each day. This was not sitting and doing accounting each day, but this was working with human lives. There is always some room for improvement and an ability to get motivated when children are involved.
When all else fails, lead by example. When you shine, people will shine with you. They feel good and inspired to do something different. I went in there full power, as they say in India, and I just let all my energy out. There were children who were eager to learn English and I was ready to demonstrate new styles of teaching and making activities fun. Children wanted to play computer games(a targeted problem) and a rewards system was created for games. There needed to be some changes, new ideas, new ways of doing things and at the end-this is what sparks people to change their ways.
In the morning, there was one teacher, Miss. Teri and Mr. John in the afternoon. The other three worked in the office and on the bus mobile. Miss. Teri was a 20 year old local Roatan girl. She was the one who craved something different, demonstrated concern towards children's behavior, made extra efforts with kids, and was a creative thinker. We discussed different ways for them to learn English and we tried out different activities-trial and error.
For those who wanted to learn English, I took them outside for English lessons on the whiteboard. They were so happy learning and all participated She ran English lessons before I got there teaching them new words. We included fun rewards game on the beach for the kids and they loved it. They were constantly giving hugs and smiling with one another. It was like a spirit in the library had been completely revived. I would come Ms. Teri had it in her the whole time, but she was hesitant and just needed a push.
As far as John, he needed a big push as he was solely interested in his Ipad and his own agenda. When it came to tutoring Math, this was not my strength, but I did have some behavioral tricks to motivate kids. When it came to one specific child, it was like the center gave up on her. With a motivational push, John was working with her more consistently. He didn't have to get off his computer, but he did and small change is meaningful. He engaged in some activities we had outside and he engaged more with kids.
And then the book mobile where three people were accustomed to the same schedule everyday with the kids. Sometimes they weren't reading and just handing out books. The book mobile would be a mess and everything was out of order. It was difficult to keep it straight, but as a team we cleaned it up. I would read to eight kids and help others choose book all based off their level. This example lead the bus driver to start reading books to children instead of being on his phone. His face lit up when he did it and the kids were so happy. We would head to schools and I would read to the classes and they were laughing. The team would watch me and my friend said, "You are so good. I could never be like that." And of course I said, "Yes you can." "Let your personality shine and kids will see this and enjoy it."
The worst of all was a 18 year old girl, Brenda,who had no work ethic, but inside she had a heart for kids and she did care. She joined our team of positivity and spent more time working with kids rather than just sitting in the corner of the bus. She was probably the most difficult one to motivate, but when we all acted as a team-she joined us. She organized the books more, she brainstormed with us on what do with certain kids, and she was just more present, which is highly valuable in the workplace.
We created a team, where each person counted and each person contributed someway, somehow, or something. It was a great to see the unity between members and the happiness we shared doing great work. Now of course, a dynamic between the four was already created, but it was a dynamic engaging in less work and more social hour. This teamwork approach that we had was fantastic for a short period of time and it's times when things are going so well-it's just wrong leaving and starting somewhere else.
Although, when you leave a team in good shape, they have a much higher potential for success.
Believe and you shall Achieve
Leave something permanent behind-something that contributes to their future learning.
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