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Thessa , 7 Apr 2008 09:17 hours
Kubwa, Nigeria The end... Chinwe is only one of the approx 90 million Nigerians who live below the poverty line -in this country with vast wealth and resources. She runs a little provision store in a container near my house and I often stop there to buy things like washing powder or water. Chinwe also lives inside that container and seems to only leave it to go to church. Her family doesn't come to visit her and a lot of other people avoid her too. Because some pastor convinced her that prayer is the only remedy for HIV, she now has AIDS and will soon die. She is in our hospital at the moment and depends on the sisters and myself for food. Her pastor hasn't visited yet because he's probably busy telling his congregation that Chinwe hasn’t prayed hard enough...
It is the story of many. Nigeria is a ticking HIV/AIDS time bomb where the official statistics show that the prevalence rate is going down, but where in reality people start dying like flies. Fighting the epidemic is difficult because of stigma, traditional beliefs, Christian cults, denial, etc. Many people get infected by a resistant strain of the virus and need to take drugs that should be kept in a fridge –in a country with the most erratic power supply you can imagine. In this overpopulated country life seems to have no value, and hey, if it's not AIDS you die from, then it'll be another exponent of poverty. 65% of the population doesn't even have secure access to food.
Poverty creates a vicious circle and I still think that micro finance can be a good way to break free of that circle. Yet, as in Europe, entrepreneurship is a skill not many have and some even end up in more problems because of loans. Teaching people about financial management was one of the most useful things I have done here, perhaps. Now, at the end of my term as a VSO volunteer, I wonder what it is that I have contributed. According to my employer I gave people back their dignity by giving them means to support themselves. All I know is that I have tried to make a difference, but the problems people face are just too many, too multi-facetted, too deep.
In my work I have learned to just keep trying and I know for a fact that I have helped improve the lives of some people. Perhaps not as many as I had hoped, but still. I have tried to assist people through my work as a volunteer, but also with gifts (thanks to the lovely friends and family who have donated!). VSO's motto is "sharing skills, changing lives", but this definitely works both ways. The lessons I have learned while at work, are lessons that will stay with me forever.
This week I'll be saying goodbye to my work, my fantastic colleagues, and the people in Kubwa. It feels like I have to say goodbye to a huge, slightly mad, and loving family. My new place will be only 25km away, but it could be another world. I'm happy to stay in Nigeria –with a bit more money so I can visit home once in a while. Get ready to see me in August 
I will start a new blog soon, but now this is where my VSO stories are ending. Dear readers, thank you for your comments and your support. I am very grateful that I have had the opportunity to come here and live this adventure, and am very grateful for all the beautiful people I have in my life.
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nicci | 7 Apr 2008 11:13 hours |
Mighty proud of you, kiddo. You are an angel in so many ways.
Love you.
xx |
Roald | 7 Apr 2008 11:44 hours |
Zus, ik ben bere trots op je! Niet alleen door de grote sprong naar het Afrikaanse, maar ook zeker door wat je daar allemaal gedaan hebt!
Ik heb je blog met plezier en natuurlijk trots gelezen, en ik wens je uiteraard veel succes met de verhuizing, overstap en nieuwe wereld!
Love you big time! |
Lidia | 7 Apr 2008 14:17 hours |
Lieve Thes,
Ik kan er niet veel aan toevoegen, alleen dat ik vind dat je geweldige dingen hebt gedaan en dat het nooit voor niets is geweest. We love you! |
Noëlla | 7 Apr 2008 15:15 hours |
Lieve Thessa, JIJ hebt gedaan waar anderen steeds over praten!!!! Heel veel nuttigs!!!!Petje af hoor en veel succes met wat je verder gaat ondernemen!!! |
Lonneke | 7 Apr 2008 17:06 hours |
Lieve Thes,
Ik heb echt genoten van je blogs! Nadat jij op die send-knop gedrukt hebt daar, moet je weten dat er heel wat mensen zijn hier die even alles om zich heen vergeten voor een paar minuutjes om zich te verplaatsen in je mooie en bijzondere verhalen. Geniet en pas goed op jezelf!
Lfs |
sebas | 7 Apr 2008 20:11 hours |
gek genoeg is dit pas de eerste keer dat ik direct op je blog reageer, maar je weet dat ik ze lees en we hebben toch contact genoeg. Een aangrijpend verhaal van wat helaas realiteit is daar, ik heb het met een redelijk brok in de keel zitten lezen, al kan ik me de situatie nooit voorstellen zoals die daar daadwerkelijk is, maar ik weet wel dat jij een verschil hebt gemaakt daar!
ik heb ongelovelijk veel respect voor wat je daar doet!
Sebas. |
ingrid | 7 Apr 2008 21:25 hours |
Chapeau!! For many, many reasons,also for this last deeply touching story...I'm proud to be your mom |
Esther en Jeroen | 9 Apr 2008 09:12 hours |
Wat goed weer van je te horen, we zijn echt trots op je!! Je kan niet meer doen dan je best, en dat heb jij zeker meer dan gedaan! Super!
Liefs, Es en Jeroen |
anita | 10 Apr 2008 11:19 hours |
reading your stories makes me all emotional! am so happy for you that you'll be staying on for another two years (though i don't believe for a minute that you'll go home after those two years...) hope to get a chance to come back sometime too...
big hug! |
Esther | 15 Apr 2008 12:29 hours |
Net pas tijd gehad om rustig je verhaal te lezen: kippevel kreeg ik evan, en moest n traantje wegpinken maar hey, dat ben je wel van me gewend!
Succes vandaag met de start van je nieuwe baan! Je gaat daar, op een andere manier dan tot nu toe waarschijnlijk, weer veel bijdragen aan Nigeria!
Kus x |
Deddy | 22 Apr 2008 22:04 hours |
Iedereen mag weten dat ik (en mamma ook) trots op je ben. Jouw motivatie en geweldige inzet ten behoeve van de mensen daar is geweldig. Veel mensen laten het bij woorden, maar jij gaf anderhalf jaar van je actieve leven aan je medemens.
Echt een compliment waard.
Ik wens je veel succes en plezier toe in je nieuwe omgeving. Enne.... we komen je heus nog een keer in Nigeria bezoeken!
Deddy |
Ediri | 3 May 2008 18:01 hours |
Hi Tess,
I just happened to stumble unto your blog today after such a long time.
Thank you for bringing to light both the wonderful beauty of my country, as well as the reality of the misfortunes which MANY unnecessarily suffer as well.
I am also glad that you also honestly mention the AIDS issue in the country, because, sad but true, many are still in denial and they hide behind Christianity and other forms of religion.
I as a Christian (as you already knew  ) have been enlightened about the reality of AIDS and hope to go back home in the future to help and succeed in enlightening them about this, as many before me have already begun.
In concurrence with your family and friends, I too am proud of you and what you've accomplished in Nigeria. I look foward to seeing you in August.
Till next time, stay Blessed and let me know when you start the new blog!
Luv, Ediri |
Yvonne | 9 May 2008 18:32 hours |
Wauw, wat gaat de tijd snel... Moet eerlijk bekennen dat ik al een tijd niet op je site had gekeken maar ik begrijp dat jij een ander baan hebt gevonden. Super!! Ik hoop dat het allemaal goed gaat.
Dikke kus uit Sri Lanka. |
Jesse | 1 Jun 2008 18:06 hours |
Hoi Thessa,
gefeliciteerd met je nieuwe baan! Is je nieuwe blog prive of mag ik je nieuwe avonturen ook volgen?! geniet van het leven, liefs uit Namibie |
claartje | 2 Sep 2008 12:13 hours |
he wat leuk dat ik op zo'n manier via jou pa weer wat over jou hoor.
te gek wat je doet echt respect voor. zal niet makkelijk zijn.
groeten claartje. |
Ugo | 5 Nov 2008 18:04 hours |
Hi Thessa, Stumbled on your link. Nice that you are still staying in Naija. |
Dgimis | 18 Nov 2008 15:41 hours |
good guest page.
thank you. |
Gbenga | 28 Nov 2008 11:06 hours |
Hi Thessa, I actully stumbled on your blog while finding views of the gurara, where i happen to be taking my dutch intern in the country in weeks ahead. So if you are still in the country , we would like to connect while there.
gbenga@landmarkinternship.org |
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Great information on your blog! |
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You are doing a great job here.Keep it up.Cheers!!! |
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