24 Days After

It is like I still live at Clearpool, wake up in the morning and take the van to go to Green Chimneys. The first thing that I will do is to turn on the lights in the horse barn and all the horses will start to look through the windows who is coming, surely Christina, Sam or one of the fellows who know now how to feed us. I will do everything to get quickly the food to the horse outside and then inside and they are happy to see that young people getting more and more accustomed to the morning tasks at the horse barn.

Lessons Learned

Time goes very first and soon this experience will belong to the past, but before that, I would like to share with you some bits of what I learned here, besides the formal fellowship trainings. All the hands-on activities combined with invaluable formal trainings, workshops, meetings, and modules made this fellowship a rich learning experience, but beyond that I want to share with you other things that you learn or gain as bonus from a D&F fellowship.

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Meeting different people:

This fellowship has allowed me to meet and live with 14 people from 10 countries. It’s funny how at the first time you feel very different to these people and how you feel very similar at the end!

Time to Say Goodbye

This is my last blog as Dekeyser and Friends fellow. We have just had beautiful Thanks giving dinner prepared by Rodger (a cook at Clearpool  Summer Camp and a wonderful person). It is sad to say goodbye. Tomorrow we will travel to 14 different locations and of course we will stay in touch but it will be different. But it’s also good motivation to visit 10 countries afterwards.

Challenge Documentation

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Finally the yurt challenge is coming to an end. In the past few weeks, all of the areas have come together with their final products, and they are looking beautiful. In the inside, the curtains are hung, the floor is … Continue reading →

How Dreams Come True

The Dekeyser&Friends Teaching Project is almost over. Next week we will fly back to 10 different countries. Before that we will present our DreamPlans. Some fellows were inspired by Green Chimneys and they want to do something similar, some want to start social businesses, others want to create something totally different. At the moment most of my co-fellows and I are stressed about finishing our DreamPlans. They all know what they want to do but putting dreams into presentation format with budget is not an easy task to accomplish.

The Lens of Perspective

It’s easy to complain, whine and indulge in self-pity. All too often the predicaments that I find myself in seem truly insurmountable and irreparable:

NO HOT WATER? AGAIN? REALLY? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO TAKE A SHOWER?

Or even better than that, after our recent snow storm:

NO WATER (HOT OR COLD)? NO ELECTRICITY, INTERNET, CELL PHONE COVERAGE, OR HEAT…..FOR MANY DAYS????

But when the going seems tough, I’m trying to remind myself of the importance of perspective. Working with the kids here at Green Chimneys, many of whom have suffered abuse and all of whom are dealing with behavioral and/or emotional disabilities, has provided me with a reality check regarding what is acceptable and what is worth getting upset about.

Project Challenge Documentation – Week 8

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Time is passing by so quickly. There is hardly any time left for the inauguration of the yurt. All the groups are working hard and fast to finish all their tasks.

Here is an update on what we did throughout the week:

The Garden Group were glad to see that the snow had almost all melted away. Most of the plants seemed to have withstood the snow storm. They also spent time clearing up the branches that had fallen and were blocking the path to the yurt. Work on the wood sign with the name of the yurt began.

The Outside Group continued to cut out the wooden figures of the children. They also spent time painting the children of the world with beautiful bright colours. Once the figures are all ready, they will be placed on the lattice framework surrounding the bottom of the yurt.

The Inside Group finally finished sewing endless yards of blue fabric. They also fixed curtain rods and wire to help put up the curtains. The design for the center floor mural was finalized. The template for the yin-yang floor mural with the quote within was drawn with chalk on the floor. Once the paints are bought, the mural work will proceed even further. The treasure chests which were ordered finally arrived.

Challenge Documentation: Week 7

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The previous week, before the snowstorm, we were able to accomplish the following things:

The Garden group was able to mulch on time and this kept the plants safe when the snow came.

The Outside group continued to trace, cut and sand the children of the world that would be placed in the lattice found under the yurt.

The Inside group finally finished the signage design  of all the continents. The tables arrived at Green Chimneys and are waiting to be assembled and arranged in the yurt. Still sowing the drapings and still waiting for the treasure chests.

Despite the challenges, we are still on time with our deadlines and we hope to have a successful opening day that some of us have started to plan.

Catherine, Raquel and Yegor.

When You Believe

Since I was very young I always dreamed of making an international career in conservation. I always have been active in conservation related issues in my country: I studied conservation biology; I have been a member of different conservation associations and after my bachelors degree I started working in a research institution in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, which is East Africa’s largest protected high-altitude rainforest. My job and my everyday life suggest me that I’m on the right track towards my goal; however I know that to achieve my dream of an international career I have to be exposed to the international stage

Two years ago one of my professors suggested I present my research at the prestigious Student Conference on Conservation Science New York (SCCS-NY), explaining that it would be a great opportunity that would put me into the spotlight of the scientific world and would enable me to meet people that can help me in my professional career. In fact, this is an international conference designed for graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and early-career professionals pursuing or considering the field of conservation science.

The Little Things

Life isn’t always survival of the fittest. I think that sometimes it’s a matter of appreciating the little things.

Let me clarify those two statements by giving you a few examples.

See, when you find your fund-raising dinner, planned months ahead, get cancelled due to the upcoming snow storm, how then do you respond? Your stomach was already set and ready to have a taste of those appetizers, viands, and desserts from around the world. It wouldn’t have been just the food that would be pleasing to the eye but you would’ve seen your co-fellows wear their national costumes too. But now you have to appreciate the little things. Instead of hating this whole fiasco, you get caught up in the absolute beauty of the snow.