It all starts with a smile...

As I am now entering my 5th month as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I have noticed some very positive experiences and a successful integration. My work time is split between working throughout the village with local counterparts and working in the village Primary School while co-teaching with teachers. I found this as one of my biggest challenges due to the fact that I don't have a degree in Primary Education nor do I have any experience in that field. In September, I anxiously attended the school years first general assembly where I introduced myself and explained what I would be doing while here for the next 2 years. When I went in front to speak to the roughly 500 children in attendance that day, I couldn't help but only to notice all the hundreds of smiles that I was looking at. The introduction ended with the children simultaneously saying "Thank you, Mr. Chase!". After hearing the enthusiasm and seeing the smiles on their faces, I knew that this was only the beginning to something great.

After meeting with the faculty and staff of the Primary School, a game plan was made on how I would incorporate my work into the classroom with the teachers. After meeting one-on-one with each of the 20 teachers, a schedule was then made of my rotation to each of the classes. Some of the teachers had mentioned to me that they wanted more arts and crafts included into their Health and Family Life Education classes. I couldn't think of a better way to start that off than with Worlds AIDS Day. The village Community Health Worker and myself went to 4 of the higher division classes to educate the children on simple things in regards to HIV/AIDS such as: modes of transmission, prevention, and how to support someone that is HIV positive. The students then had the opportunity to create their own flyer while helping raise awareness for HIV/AIDS. I was most surprised at creative quality that these children had and the inspirational quotes that they came up with. Some of these children literally went above and beyond for this short project.

This past week, I have been leading multiple classes on Gender Roles and Responsibilities. The children are being exposed to different group activities, specifically in which they are sharing what it is like in their homes and they see how different that it is not only globally, but also within their own country of Belize. Something that has literally meant the most to me thus far happened just this week, with a teacher pulling me aside after the class period expressing to me that before that day there were 6 children that he had never seen volunteer to present or speak up in front of the class, and that day all 6 of them did. Empowering children at a young age to overcome this barrier is very beneficial because they will be prepared for adulthood to make healthy decisions and risks, sustain their self-confidence, and the ability to work through their own challenges. It's amazing that even within a few months of encouragement and motivation, the children have already came out of their shell from hiding behind that smile.

After working daily in the school for quite a while now, all I constantly hear is "Mr. Chase!! Mr. Chase... Mr. Chase?!". These children are my fuel to maintaining my motivation and that is something that I will never get tired of.  Enjoy some pictures from my work in the Primary School!