My Setswana name means lucky which struck me as kind of
funny when I arrived since I felt that luck was foolish and hard work was the
real deal. As I type those words I cannot help but laugh because now that
sounds quite ridiculous to me and I am embarrassed that I thought that. I am a hard
worker but if someone from a lower socio-economic status and I worked equally
as hard, I would get farther because of the opportunities and privileges that
came from where I was born.
Upon seeing my co-workers again, one greeted me with saying,
“Your white!” I could not help but snarkily look at my arm and go, “Yup still
white.” In her defense she was implying that I have lost some of my tan or at
least did not get any more tan since I saw her last.
I have begun writing for our volunteer run newsletter, and
below is my first article. STEPS is an international NGO that uses films to
promote debate and discussion around HIV/AIDS related topics.
Trying to Show a STEPS Film
By Dawn Bangert, Bots 14
Everyday I see 374 students at the primary school who would
love to watch a movie. These same students I would love to teach about HIV,
what better way than to show a STEPS film, winning! The other teacher at my
school who came to the training is eager to show the films as well and it looks
like all signs are a go. Another PCV friend texted me about the success of
their film screenings and I am excited to get things going.
The saga begins with one working TV and an elusive DVD
player that is rumored to be somewhere on the school premises.
Attempt Day One: There is an all teacher meeting and I am
unable to look for the DVD player as planned.
Day Two: My counterpart is too tired from yesterday’s
meeting to look for the equipment and I cannot locate the keys to the storeroom
where I suspect the DVD player may be hiding.
Day Three: Counterpart is still tired, but the cleaner has
my back and lets me into the storeroom. No sign of DVD player, and Head Teacher
has meetings in his office all day and I am unable to look there.
Day four: DVD player has been located. I am ecstatic my
counterpart has a new found energy and we begin setting up. The TV works
however the DVD player is missing the cables to connect it to the TV. After a
brief chat with another teacher we discover these cables should be easy to
locate in Kanye and fairly cheap. CRASHHHHHHHHHHH That would be the sound of
the table crumpling and the TV crashing to the floor. The score now stands,
down two (non-working TV and no connector cables) however up one (DVD player).
Day Five: Begins with a text from a friend about yet another
successful STEPS screening and I am begrudgingly happy for friend. Vow to self
that if I do nothing else all service I will show a STEPS film.
Day Six: A projector randomly appears and the hunt for a
teacher willing to share their laptop begins.
Day Seven: A school laptop appears, I can almost smell a
successful STEPS screening in the air that is until I spend the better part of
the morning trying to hack into the password protected device. After I try
every combination of my head teachers name, position, birthday, and anything
else I can think of, I no longer smell success but intense frustration.
Day eight: Work on my VRF and feel like a failure as a
volunteer. Also contemplate swearing off STEPS films as over rated and probably
not as good as they are cracked up to be.
Day nine: A teacher brings her laptop to school and another
teacher asks to show a film. Could this be real? One o’clock approaches, I
successfully set up all the technology components. The students settle down, I
hit play and in walks my head teacher in a tizzy waving a sizable report that
he needs me to type immediately so he can turn it into the education office in
Kanye by 2. Based on the combis in my village him getting to the office, let
alone with the report in hand, is an impossible task, however, after making
sure that the teacher is comfortable leading the discussion, I duck out to
bitterly enjoy my success from behind the computer screen.
I may have been too frustrated to enjoy my success in the
moment however after sometime away, I am not only happier for my friend but
also able to enjoy the fact that a STEPS film was shown at my school. With only
a minor attitude adjustment my happiness greatly improved as well as my sense
of accomplishment. In the moment it can be hard to remember that we all have
different timelines and varying levels of motivation and support from our
community members and co-workers. Just because a friend of yours or a facebook
status tells you of other volunteer’s success, chances are that someone else is
at the same place on the spectrum that you are. It’s a roller coaster, stay
strong and reach out for help when you need it.
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