Saturday 20 January 2007

the first democratic meeting of the CAMES BSC

I've been asked here at the Carolyn A Miller Elementary School (CAMES) to create after school activities; I am the first person in the post of 'play co-coordinator/orphan assistant so i've
spent my first week here trying to plan a routine of work that is
sustainable and consistent. I have had to bare in mind so many factors;
staff support, future vol ability and experience, the educational
nature of the activities to name a fraction. I've created a time table
to include 'Games' for all straight after school, splitting up Grades
to days, and TheCAMES Social Club, for selected students to explore and learn other extra curricular act ivies throughout the arts. It will be the SC's
duty to share their knowledge gained with the rest of the school, via
plays, recitals, concerts, quizzes, competitions and even directteaching themselves to their fellow students. In one day, with Mr Ballah's blessing, I managed to explain to Grades 4, 5 & 6 and thier teachers the Aims and objects of the clubs and what the students will gain from membership. (Boys and Girls split so sensitive issues can be discussed freely, eg everything from std's to sexual/domestic violence, hygiene to politics, HIV/AIDS to rhythm method - yes, 'primary'learning
age but 13+'s only). the teacher's (each grade has a 'Sponsor' - class
teacher) chose 8 boy and 8 girls who show good attendance, good
behaviour or good work. I especially asked them to pick kids who are
clever but maybe have no confidence and don't feel able to comment in
class. there is also a boy with dwarfism (remember Chancy?)who is the
only one I pushed for - he is so attentive and I think often ridiculed,
he is exactly the kind of kid who couldflourish with responsibility.
amazingly, i say that the first Boys' Club meeting will be that
afternoon and 18 of the 24 boys turned up, alltie rd , thirsty and
hungry. ( I have to find a way to get them water at least before
meetings - but every costs) We sit in a circle, probably their first
time as they wanted a square first! and play a daft game from which i
could gather who's confident and who's shy. about 60/40. Oninstigation by Mr Ballah
, the meetings with follow a very African yet democratic form. I give
an Agenda, explain a Chair, co chair, (secretary, treasurer and
chaplain (!) roles to be done next meet). I suddenly realise that a
show of hands will be intimidating, so it goes like this: " the Chair
is a boy who can show greatleadership , he must be fair, honest, caring
and strong. he is the boy we will look to for guidance and he will be a
help to the volunteer, staff and students - if you feel you would like
this responsibility, stand' four did. "we will learn their initials and
have a private ballot, you will write the boy of your choice on a scrap
of paper and pass them to me". They did, a boy keep tally andToklah Fah was elected the first Chair of the BSC. "now for the co-Chair, he is the chair's right hand man the will help the chair and take over where necessary - he's not your slave!" they
vote.Toklah comes quietly to me, "miss Dee, there are 18 boys here and you have more that 18 pieces of paper, some are voting more than once". this boy, after one minute
of being Chair had already seen unfairness and made a stand. "thank
you, well done, the right man has been chosen" I say. I give the boys a
quick stern lecture on corruption - how so many countries including
Liberia suffer a corrupt voting system putting the wrong people in
charge. "Here at the Social Club," I say, "all will be fair and open,
you can be the future leaders of Liberia and that path begins here. In
a democracy there is one man - one vote." there are murmurs of
agreement and some ashamed looks. we vote again - 18 votes and aboy legally becomes the first co-chair of the BSC.
when I first decided to come here to work with abandoned and vulnerable
children, I thought it would mean wiping a few brown babies arses,
cuddling, washing, and generally being another pair of arms - here i
am, teaching a group of refugee boys the democratic process. that
night, yet again, I am overwhelmed.

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