After the FSD workshop, I realized that my expectations while in country were not mindful of the sustainability of their community after my departure. I now have a new understanding of the goals of an international volunteer, and how I can translate this into my own short-term service work in Ghana. Instead of going into Ghana believing that I can teach and run an entire classroom with a new set of rules, exercises and activities, I want to keep the community and the culture center stage so that I do not simply impose our Western ways of teaching onto them while I am there. The Ivan Illich article clearly stated that the intentions of many international volunteers are usually not what the community needs or will prosper under. To be an effective international volunteer, listening to the needs of the community and keeping their values intact while in country will go much further than simply having “good intentions” to change a community.
My personal goals while in country will be to assist in the Deaf classroom in a way that will help the community remain in control (i.e. the teachers). I believe that by helping to establish a daily routine in the classroom that will simulate the design of the cultural routines of the community, the special needs children will be able to make a smooth transition into adulthood by simply adapting the routine that they will come accustomed to. This will hopefully help them to assimilate into their culture and their families with little difficulty.
My goals are big for such a small amount of time, but by making the community the head designers of this curriculum; I will leave knowing that they will be implementing the schedules independently.
Maya.