Having the time of my life!

It feels so weird to think that I only have a couple of months left of my placement. It has been such a wonderful experience and I am so surprised by how much we’ve managed to complete in such a short time. 

There was one other VSO volunteer working at this college before me. She got a lot of the early leg work done which made my job much easier. However, there seemed to be an unwillingness amongst the staff about the project. Therefore, a large part of my role has been engaging with the teachers to get them on board.

Winning over my colleagues 

Myanmar is the first non-African country to take part in this project. Therefore it took some time to adapt it so it was culturally sensitive to the country and recognised the kinds of deprived areas that the midwives were going to end up working in. There is no point in teaching the ideal if the students are unable to use that knowledge because the areas they work in are so poorly resourced. 

Some staff member’s initial reluctance stemmed from feeling patronised or disempowered by the work. I found the best way to tackle this was to ask for their assistance, so they could see that their knowledge and experience was appreciated. One senior staff member was particularly hesitant to use lesson plans. I had tried different ways to address this and maintain her authority in the school with little progress. I had to leave the college for two weeks and asked her to supervise in my absence. When I returned she had fully engaged and ensured that other staff were getting involved.

Being almost twice the age of the last volunteer gave me a distinct advantage. In Myanmar people are very respectful of age and are more likely to take on the advice of an elder. As an older mentor I found staff were more inclined to listen to what I say. All in all, as soon as a few members of staff began to engage, it was infectious and soon everyone was enthusiastically involved. 

I have been extremely lucky to have such fantastic colleagues. We have been racing through targets due to the amount of energy they put in. 

I have learned a lot from all the tutors; about Myanmar, the local culture and customs, the importance of family and the need to look out for each other. Most importantly, they have shown a level of focus and passion for their work that consistently inspires me. The tutors here do not have the easiest life, their hard work often does not get the respect it deserves and this is reflected in their status. Their pay is incredibly low and many need to have second jobs to make ends meet. Yet I have never seen them show anger at the difficulties of their situation, in fact they remain cheerful and helpful. They never seem to tire and are often so willing to learn and grateful for any help or support I give them. I have never met anyone like them. 

Nang Soot 

A tutor who has really impressed me is Nang Soot. She is dedicated to her job, works incredibly hard, and always appears calm. She is always ready to take on extra shifts and cover for colleagues. She never complains, because her priority is to make sure that all the lectures happen and that the students feel supported. I don't think she takes on more to seek favour, because her work and diligence often go unnoticed. It is more that she is just doing what she knows is right. Even at the weekends she is working hard, organising teams of volunteers to clean two pagodas (temples). I have asked her about her incredible work ethic and she told me that it gives her inner calm. 

Inventive teaching methods 

A VSO volunteer at a different college recently shared a great idea with me. One of the key challenges for tutors here is teaching without the right resources. A midwife needs to be able to give sexual health and family planning advice, and whilst in the UK we rely on models to guide our explanations, these simply aren’t available here. 

Sarah’s tip is to use an empty water bottle for a female condom demonstration. By cutting the top and bottom off an empty plastic water bottle and then putting the top through the hole in the bottom, you can demonstrate it perfectly. All the tutors now use it, it’s just a brilliant idea. I hope the photos I took do it justice. 

Feels like home 

Overall, a mix of lovely colleagues and the knowledge that I’m making a difference has made Myanmar feel like home. Looking back I laugh now at my horror on my first day. I thought after four VSO placements nothing could shock me, but hearing that we had to keep windows shut due to snakes did it. Now however, it seems so natural I can see myself forgetting that windows can be open in the UK!

Speak soon 

Carol