Good Vibes in Week 5

How is it possible that we have been here for five weeks? Our fifth week in Guyana was very eventful, and certainly one to remember. Most of us taught lessons involving contraceptives, which include a demonstration of how to put a condom on a plantain, in our case. No matter the age of the class or the time of the day, there always seemed to be smiles and giggles coming from the students, and a couple of laughs from us as well! Even though it is a bit of a sillier lesson, the students seemed to really engage and remember all of the steps of how to properly use contraceptives.

Our life outside of the classroom was quite exciting this week. Ravi (the owner of the bar below us) taught us how to make fried plantains, a popular side dish in Guyana. Not only were they so delicious, but he gave us about 5 pounds of them, so we were eating plantains all night! On another night, he taught us how to make two types of cake. One was similar to a vanilla cake back home, and the other was made of cornmeal and fresh coconut milk! For our first time baking, and with no measuring cups, we like to think we did a pretty good job!

On Friday evening, all 6 of us got to teach our second lesson to the young men at the Guysuco Training College. Although we thought that teaching contraceptives to 13-year-olds was funny, teaching the same lesson to 20-year-olds was hilarious. Surprisingly, they seemed to enjoy the lesson the most! We coupled the contraceptive talk with a lesson about abuse and consent, and we are thankful that we were able to cover a broad spectrum of topics in only two visits to Guysuco.

Saturday morning was very happy, as our friends from Georgetown came for a visit to Berbice! We showed them the market, and then all 10 of us, along with our friends from the Youth Space made the trek to the Letter Kenny beach. After a full day of laughing, swimming, and spending time in the hot sun, we were all pretty exhausted Saturday night. We introduced the Georgetown gang to our favourite meal, pumpkin curry and roti, and they enjoyed it just as much as we do! On Sunday morning, we had an especially early start, as we wanted to see the sunrise. We threw our hoodies on and were out the door by 5 AM. The sunrise was breathtaking, and even though we have been here for five weeks, we often forget to stop and realize how stunning Guyana really is.

The rest of our Sunday consisted of a visit to the Letter Kenny Mandir with our friends, some much needed naps, and a plethora of games and charades as a group.

Although it was sad to say goodbye to our friends, we know that we will be seeing them in two short weeks!

Until next time,

The Berbice Family <3

Week 6 in Georgetown

This week was a very important week. We focused our classroom discussions on suicide, self harm and depression, which are very difficult topics to talk about. We were very impressed with the discussions that we were able to have in the classroom; many students opened up about their own stories which was very brave. Every class was receptive about the topic which was great to see.

Not only are these discussions important to have here in Guyana, but they are necessary globally. Every 40 seconds, someone in the world dies by suicide. With everything that has happened in the media recently, we want to emphasize the importance of reaching out to someone for support and care.

In the classroom, we discuss warning signs of someone who might be having thoughts of suicide. Often when someone is having thoughts of suicide, they may try to tie up loose ends of their lives by withdrawing from friends and family and saying definite goodbyes to their loved ones. If we notice someone in our lives that is displaying some of these signs, we can't be afraid to ask them directly if they are having thoughts of suicide.

If someone is having thoughts of suicide, it takes a tremendous amount of strength for them to reach out to someone. If someone reaches out to us, it is so important that we don't judge them and validate their feelings. Telling that person that they aren't alone is one of the best things that someone can say.

Not everyone who is having thoughts of suicide displays warning signs; therefore it is crucial that we incorporate discussions about mental health in our daily lives.

If anyone that we know is struggling, it is so important to talk to someone that we trust and who cares about us. If someone is not ready to talk to someone they know, there are many different helplines with people that are trained to listen and support us.

In Guyana:

Suicide Helpline: 223-0001

In Canada:

Suicide Helpline: 1-833-456-4566

Let's start and continue these conversations.

Always,

Tara, Gwen, Britney, and Hannah 💙

Week 4!

We are over halfway through initiative… how crazy is that? Time is flying by in Berbice, and we wish it would slow down because teaching is only getting better and better! Week four was a much tougher week than expected, as we taught depression, suicide and self-harm lessons in most of our classes. These crucial topics are usually not part of the curriculum in Guyana, which is why QHO works so well as a needs-based peer to peer education organization. Although it’s difficult to talk about, we are thankful that we can start conversations among the students, and help to decrease the stigma surrounding depression and suicide.

On Friday, we took part in an event that was held by the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport. This department works with youth all throughout Guyana to facilitate workshops and programs outside of the classroom that address similar topics to those that QHO teaches. We approached six different schools to ask them to select 20 students to take part in this event. The morning started with speeches from members of the community, followed by workshops led by QHO, the police department, and members of the Ministry. We discussed topics such as substance abuse, addiction, depression, mental health and suicide. After lunch, we walked with the participating students to Port Mourant Market, where we painted positive messages about abstaining from drugs and alcohol, as well as messages to decrease the stigma surrounding mental illnesses and suicide. The students really enjoyed painting, as did we!

After a tough week of teaching, we had a well-deserved restful Saturday. We went to the market to stock up on produce, and then spent the rest of the day reading, journaling, playing cards, and just hanging around. On Sunday, we went with our friends to the Letter Kenny Mandir. Although few people in Guyana speak Hindi, and we were unable to understand what was being said, it was a beautiful service. Afterwards, our friend Eric invited us to his home to try seven curry, a traditional dish in Guyana. Unlike normal curries, this one is eaten out of a water lily leaf, usually with your hands! (We may or may not have resorted to plastic spoons though!).

From the students in the classroom to our friends we have met at the Letter Kenny Youth Space, this community has welcomed us to Guyana with open arms. We cannot explain how grateful and blessed we all feel everyday.

Until next time,

The Berbice Fam

Week 5: Feelin Alive!

Hi fellow blog fanatics!

This week was a busy and wild time! We focused mainly on Healthy Relationships and Abuse in the classrooms. We were very impressed with the students' thoughtful questions and bravery to participate in some difficult discussions.

On Wednesday we enjoyed our first official class with the Gifted Hands Learning Centre for Special Needs Students where we helped in playing interactive number games and spelling with the students.

We were also invited by the Titian’s Table Tennis Club, located at the Red Cross, to facilitate discussions at the start of their practices. On Wednesday we started with a discussion on Mental Health and were welcomed with a great energy from the kids! We are looking forward to continuing the collaboration over the next few weeks.

This week on NTN we talked about Healthy Relationships, Self Esteem and Abuse. We got to meet the director of the Network who was very generous to give us fresh mangoes from the tree outside of the station as a thank you!

Friday was a very exciting day as we joined the Adult Education Association at the Health Expo in town. We were amazed by all the resources that the expo offered to the students from free blood testing, dental cleaning, eye exams, vaccinations to informational resources on all things health. The booths all had many educational games to keep the kids engaged an interested in the topics.

On Saturday morning we drove to see our fellow Peer Educators in Berbice! We were greeted with open arms and were involved in many different activities throughout the weekend. On Saturday we went to the market, the beach, and the youth space in the community. We were happy to meet some of the friends that they have made in the community. On Sunday we woke up early to see the sunrise and were invited to a Mandir for their Sunday prayer. We were very lucky to be welcomed into another culture and we learned a lot! At the end of the weekend we were sad to say goodbye to the other PEs and we wish them well for their last 2 weeks of teaching.

Peace and love,

Britney, Gwen, Hannah and Tara 😊

Week 4: So much more!

Hello loyal blog readers,

This week we continued our health discussions in the classrooms focusing mainly on substances and substance abuse. Many students found these discussions very interesting and educational.

On Tuesday, we had the pleasure of meeting Marcia Smith, who is the acting principal of a special education learning centre, called Gifted Hands. This was the start of a new partnership, which will include going to the centre once a week to provide additional one on one learning for the students. All  of us are very excited about this new collaboration and are looking forward to spending more time with the students!

We have taken on an additional partnership with the Red Cross after school Youth Program- where we will be facilitating health discussions with students.

This week we also were able to add another 2 classrooms to our schedule with a new school called the School of the Nation. We are excited to be reaching more students in Georgetown!

As usual, we appeared on NTN (National Television Network) on Thursday morning. We discussed substances and substance abuse in our segment.

We wrapped up the halfway point in our teaching on Wednesday! With only 3 weeks left of teaching, we are trying to focus on the most pertinent topics for each classroom.

On Thursday night, the ladies who work at our accommodation prepared us a lovely vegetarian meal which was very kind of them! It was nice to have an authentic taste of Guyanese food.

There were positive vibes around the city as the carnival celebrations continued this week. Independence Day was on Saturday, so we decided to see the parade. The parade showcased many different costumes and music.

Until next time,

Britney, Tara, Hannah and Gwen

Week 3!

We cannot believe that it is already Week 3 in Guyana! The Berbice gang is finally starting to get in the swing of things, and teaching is coming much more naturally! After finishing all of our introductory lessons, we are diving into many more topics, and the students continue to engage more and more. A few of us did the reproductive anatomy lesson this week, and there were many laughs and red faces, especially among the younger grades, but it has to be taught at some point!

            The questions we have been getting in our question boxes are usually pretty interesting, but when we get the odd funny comment or question about how cold Canada is, it always puts a smile on our faces! We encourage every student to write us a question at the end of every lesson, because we know it can be intimidating to ask in front of all of their peers.

            Along with teaching, lesson planning has also become much easier to do. The six of us usually bounce ideas off of each other every evening, and find ways to adjust and tweak each lesson to suit each of our individual classes. The students seem to enjoy activity-based lessons the most, so we have been eagerly thinking of new ways to incorporate fun activities into our lessons!

            Our life outside of the classroom hasn't changed much, but we continue to grow closer with our friends at the Letter Kenny Youth Space. One of our friends was kind enough to invite us for dinner on Monday night, and we were all so thrilled when they served our favourite – pumpkin curry and roti! The community we have been welcomed into is beyond anything we could have ever hoped for. Everyone we have met has been so kind to us, and always make us feel right at home. Even the man who owns the bar below us, Ravi, came upstairs while he was working to show us how to make roti! It was lots of fun and definitely requires a skill that we haven’t quite figured out yet. The verdict from Ravi was “needs improvement”, but a good try for our first time!

            This past weekend was especially fun because we went to Georgetown to visit the other half of the Guyana group! Sharing our stories and unique experiences in the classroom was so much fun, and we stayed up for hours catching up. After our best breakfast since arriving in Guyana on Saturday morning, we ventured to Kaieteur Falls for an outstanding day trip. We boarded a 15-seater plane and took a 1-hour flight directly over the Amazon Rainforest. We walked to three different lookout points, each getting closer and closer to the falls. The view was nothing short of breathtaking, and was something none of us had ever seen anything quite like.

We are so blessed to be in such a lush, welcoming and beautiful country, where we can spends off exploring one of the wonders of the world, our nights with friends, and our school days with eager and engaged students. 

            At the rate we’re going, Week 3 is going to be tough to beat!

            Until next week,

            The Berbice Family

Week 3: Yippee!

Hello friends, family, acquaintances and strangers,

This week was jam-packed and fun-filled as we completed our second full week of teaching! It has been really great to have thought-provoking discussions and getting to know the students even more. There is an exciting energy about the city as the carnival started on Friday and is to continue over the next 2 weeks! Hannah and Gwen began facilitating discussions about suicide and depression at St. Rose's as they have limited class time to spend with them. In the other schools, we focussed on bullying and substances which really interested the students.

We were also invited to the Health Expo which will take place on June 1 in downtown Georgetown. This will provide us with an opportunity to spend time with the students outside of the classroom and investigate other health resources in Georgetown that we can incorporate into our lessons.

Thursday we appeared on our weekly segment at NTN. We talked about mental health and depression and it went really well! Reyaz (the coordinator of NTN) was very impressed with us and told us that we were the most composed group for our first segment.

On Friday evening, the Peer Educators from Berbice came to visit us. It was nice to exchange classroom stories and find out more about their experiences in rural Berbice.

We were lucky enough to be able to explore Kaiteur Falls on Saturday. All 10 of us boarded a 15-seater plane which took us over the Amazon Rainforest to the interior of the country. The views form the plane were spectacular as we flew through the clouds and over a rainbow! 🌈

We walked through the Amazon Rainforest to several view points and took in the amazing landscape. The guide was super helpful and told us about different species we encountered along the way. We were so amazed by all of the beauty that this country holds!

Looking forward to getting to our half-way point of teaching this week!

Signing off,

Tara, Britney, Gwen and Hannah :)

Week 2!

Week two complete, and wow was it ever different from week one! This was our first week teaching in schools, and all of our hard work and practice lessons in Kingston during the year are starting to pay off! Nick and Ciara had an extra early start to their Monday morning, as they were teaching in three schools about one hour away. Elizabeth, Liz, Delaney and Hailey stayed a little closer to home and all finished at the same spot on Monday afternoon. The classrooms in Guyana are quite different than North America, as most rooms are separated by chalkboards instead of walls, so needless to say we have all found our “teaching voices”!

As a group, we have all come to appreciate our primary and secondary school teachers and all the effort they would put into teaching us, but especially in their introductory lessons. We sometimes found it difficult when the students wouldn’t ask questions right away, or volunteer to participate, but they are likely experiencing the same initial nerves that we are! “Ice-breakers” seem to be a great place to start when getting to know the students, and the whole Berbice team seems to really enjoy the games “two truths and a lie” and “where the west wind blows”. Some of the classes that we teach in twice a week are already starting to warm up to us, and are starting to engage more and more! We are all eager to continue creating bonds with students and creating welcoming and engaging learning environments!

This past Friday evening, we had the pleasure of teaching the young adults at the Guysuco Training College about Mental Health, Mental Illnesses, Suicide, and Sexually Transmitted Infections. The six of us tag-teamed the lesson, and all enjoyed it so much! We were teaching men similar to our age, and although we were only there for a 90 minute lesson, we received a lot of awesome questions, and were able to start some important conversations. We were asked to come back in a couple weeks from now, and we are all eager to return!

As for our lives outside of the classroom, we have created a good routine of coming back from class, going to the Youth Space, making a “family-style” dinner, and then working on our lesson plans for the next day. Our first week consisted primarily of introduction to Mental Health lessons, and after asking each classroom what they would like to focus on, we will soon begin teaching a plethora of different topics in different classes.

On our day off on Saturday, we went to the Letter Kenny beach with our friends from the community. We certainly learned from our previous mistakes and loaded up on the sunscreen before leaving! We learned how to play cricket, the most popular sport in Guyana, and we soon realized that we have quite a way to go with our sporty skills! We topped off our week with a restful Sunday, full of lots of lesson planning, preparation for our upcoming week, and lots of Mother’s Day calls to our wonderful Moms back home!

We are excited to see all the new classroom adventures that week three has to offer!

Until next time,

The Berbice Family