Exciting return to Silana Village, Dawasamu
When I left Silana Village in May after completing a two
week Education Program, my experience was amazing enough to know I’d be back
again before the end of my six month trip. Only two months later and I’m back
in my favorite village on a nine-week scholarship with GVI.
Returning to Silana was even more incredible than I thought
it would be. The villagers, who had become a big family to me over those short
two weeks, welcomed me back into their homes and their community with such
excitement and gratitude; constantly thanking me for returning to their school
and families. To hear that they were eagerly awaiting my return reminded me of
why Silana is so special to me. The locals care about every person who comes
into their village and go above and beyond all measures to ensure they become
and feel a valued member of Silana.
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| Tash running an after-school art & crafts club |
It’s exciting to see the villages progress in terms of
becoming a sustainable and self-sufficient community. Since my departure,
Community Project Leader Kendra, has been working closely with the villagers in
order to develop waste management awareness. After numerous community meetings
and presentations focusing on issues such as litter, composting food and
packaging items, and new ways to re-use old materials, the community are now using
tin collecting bins and composting bins, have begun up-cycling collection
projects, an up-cycling income generation initiative for the women’s group, and
a GVI community vegetable garden.
My role as a scholar as opposed to a volunteer in the GVI
Education program has allowed me to spend time assisting volunteers with lesson
planning and classroom management, along with floating between classrooms,
preparing resources, and helping out in whatever way I can. Although I also
help with administrative tasks, I really love that I still have the opportunity
to spend time with the students through taking small and whole class lessons,
and one on one reading sessions.
It’s amazing to be back here in Silana Village, it’s
everything that I remembered it to be, and I’m really looking forward to being
even more involved in Navunisea District School and the village community.
Silana is most certainly a place I feel comfortable and loved, and my home away
from home.
Tash Chow - Community Scholar Dawasamu
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