Brittany McGee

No one likes to read a long blog. Even if that blog was primarily pictures. So here’s the real deal from FBT- it was real.

For the first time in our Pre-Service Training, we experienced what being in site really would be like. The YD Ancash group visited 4 different sites where volunteers currently serve. We met their families, their counterparts and the youth that they work with. We saw the daily challenges, heard about obstacles they had overcome, and learned how they came to love their sites.

Not only that, we practiced giving “Charlas” in their communities. Charlas are basically short lessons on themes that reinforce and support the YD program goals (self-esteem, critical thinking, positive communication, sexual health, etc.). When we get to our own sites, we (usually) have the opportunity to work with schools and the teachers to weave these into their existing daily schedules. Peruvian schools all are mandated to have 45 minute “tutoria” periods, similar to a home room. The charlas typically fall under the realm of acceptable use of tutoria time.

I had the opoortunity to do two different charlas during FBT—one in a group and one by myself. Both were great learning opportunities, but the second one proved particularly more educational and memorable.

Imagine standing in front of a class of 15-year-olds who don’t speak your native language. You’ve planned what you think is an engaging 45 minute charla, you’ve looked up all the language you think you’ll need and you’ve prepared all of the written materials you’ll need. You, however, did not take to heart that the people of the sierra region are typically more reserved and stand frozen in front of the class as no one wanted to verbalize their responses to your questions. What do you do?

I wish I could say this didn’t happen to me, but I found myself in this situation during the charla I ran by myself. I pushed through the lesson plan, reassured that the students were taking notes in their notebooks despite not wanting to talk. I ended the class singing Michael Jackson with two other volunteers who were observing the class. That at least got a few laughs out of the students.

Had I not had that experience during FBT and encountered that in the future, I would probably have been more down on myself than I was. Since I had two volunteers and one staff member observing my class, I got great feedback and now know how to prepare for more quiet classes in the future.