Decisions, Decisions!

Well I had decided to do another degree in September but South America is calling me! I really feel that I will not be content until I have gone there. I have found so many projects that I could become involved with in Columbia and Peru. There are lots of volunteer projects that will provide accommodation and food and it really isn't necessary to pay thousands of pounds to an agency to arrange this. All it takes is a bit of guts and a fair bit of preparation...the guts ive got, my organisational skills could do with some work!!
I have had no transport since January so I have been unable to do my outreach work with the girls. I have missed this so much!! Back on the road now and I have spent my time collecting clothes and toiletries so my hallway looks like a jumble sale, there are bags everywhere. Cant wait to see everyone again! I have missed them!
I spoke to someone who has told me that the 19 year old girl who was leaving her boyfriend, that I helped is now smoking heroin. She went back to her boyfriend despite my advice and he has been giving it to her. Her mother has begged her to stay away from her boyfiend too.This is a girl from a good family, she is well mannered, friendly , articulate and beautiful.  This is how easy it is for young women to be sucked into a world that is beyond most peoples comprehension. It is so easy to think that this could never happen to our daughters or young people that we work with but it can. I do believe that ultimately we choose our own fate but we have to educate our young people about what is a healthy relationship because the consequences can be life changing. We must also let them know that it is never too late to get out, and this is why the outreach work that SWISH does is so important. SWISH is there when everyone else has given up.

Do we care?

Today I dropped a 19 year old girl at her boyfriends house to pick up her belongings...her boyfriend has smashed her phone, spat on her, stabbed her in the arm and tried to strangle her in the past. she isnt sure if she will go back to him or not..i hope she doesnt.i have certainly tried to persuade her to do something about it sooner rather than later. the situation she is facing is an all too common one due to lack of self esteem and a controlling boyfriend in her life. it took me a long time to realise that you can have control over your life and that no young woman should ever put up with that kind of behaviour from another person.her last boyfriend raped her after she had split up with him, she is still struggling with that and the impending court case so i can understand why she is feeling so unsure about whether she has made the right decision.
On a brighter note....!!... we watched a video today at uni about young carers, it was presented with a talk by a young man who is involved with supporting young carers.It has opened my eyes to the challenges that young carers face. It was something that i was totally unaware of and has really shocked me. the video achieved everything that it was meant to by making me understand in the space of a few minutes that understanding and support is needed for the young people who have this burden in their lives. video was a powerful way to get this message across and has certainly given me food for thought!

Strange day indeed!

Today I found out that the job I wanted delivering sessions to young people was mine! Great news! Not sure how i will fit in uni,my mentoring,my mentor coordinator job and my outreach work but its fantastic as everything is falling into place. I also found out,on facebook, that an old friend from when I lived in Thailand lost his fight with cancer today. I had been reading his blog and exchanging comments on facebook with him only last week so shock and devestation are the only words I can find to express how it feels. He lived in Kanchanaburi with his English wife Helen, they had an amazing spa retreat in the jungle and everyone knew him. It was a small ex-pat community next to the River Kwae and they offered me friendship and kindness in a foreign land where I was totally on my own with no family to turn to at a difficult time in my life. this is the link to his blog describing the last weeks of his life.. RIP Craig
      http://mingimper.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/changing-gear/

Back to reality!

First day back to uni after a summer of mayhem, partying and fun! I have bumped off a few much needed brain cells along the way but it's been worth it! We have moved to a new campus in Atherstone and despite my initial reservations I am happy to be here and get stuck into another year of learning. The first year of uni has changed my life in so many ways and I cant wait to see what this year brings!