IT'S SEPTEMBER, Where has time gone...!?

Hello all!!

Thanks for your continued support and for visiting our blog. We all love to hear from you individually as so much is happening at home. We will soon return to sunny Britain and looking back on the weeks that have passed we can certainly say we have fulfilled many aspirations! We have also been privileged enough to experience things we never thought we would!

The project contacts and everyone at the school have been incredibly welcoming. We have achieved many successful youth clubs with dozens of young people going home encouraged in their abilities, inclusion within their peer groups and a positive outlook about the future. During school break times the focus has been on good behaviour and we have seen many children protest reward (of others) and later go on to receive it themselves due to their changing attitudes and work ethic. Recognition of this and access to a games room with refreshments has been available. It's a great space that we as leaders also love to be in with the kids. 
We have also made some key learning points through the games and activities the children participate in during youth afternoons. One focus has been construction, this coming weeks the children have a chance to showcase their talent and bring along something they have made from recyclable materials! Many of the children are really excited about the concept...and one of us is especially loving the time she gets to make a go-kart! What can we say; creativity is flowing!

         We like plans :)                       GO-KARTS!!!            

Mikuniy as a product is a dream to sell. Each member of the team has focussed on sales, promotion and placed their enthusiasm in being Arnie the Armadillo over the events! We can see a definite growth in confidence and in sales ability individually through the time partnering with Oeser and Mikuniy – Quinutrion. Every Boliviano worth sold goes to the project's great work in the school, nursery, outreach prison service and is invested back into the community. 
Many women have found work in the production and sales oversight. Often mothers need to move away to find work in other cities and sometimes different countries. Mikuniy's vision not only looks to support children in education; but also to secure a stable home life in the way of finance- thus allowing 'mum' to stay at home. Please feel free to contact any of us, Oeser girls, for any product information or to buy your share of this natural and tasty product!

Rockin' Arnie the Armadillo 

The time at the nursery has been especially enjoyable for several of us on team Oeser. We have also especially enjoyed working with Tia Shirley -  a service providing transport to and from the nursery. The children are so precious and we have so many funny and touching moments with individual children. In addition we have partnered with the nursery staff in making developments in learning and disciplinary materials.

Nursery and School 

Before we know it, we will be back home! This final week on project is about consolidating all that we have been working towards. We are excited for the future of the project and the areas in which we will be involved in the coming years elsewhere - using these skills. 

Mucho amor!

Oeser Chicas.x

Hola Amigos,

Just a quick post to exhibit some of the things we have been doing as a team since arriving in Bolivia! More photos will certainly follow in blog posts. I hope you like these as much as we do :)

LOVE the Oeser Team.x

This is our much-loved planning space in the school at project Oeser

Fun at ¡Movimiento!

We love working with these children and young people every Thursday afternoon.

At Arapi Potato Farm  week 1

 

#teamselfie!

DREAM-TEAM

                      

Cleaning projects in the school games area

                                   

THE views!

 

Beautiful weekend weather

MIKUNIY TIME!

  

 

Project and beyond//We love Bolivia!

Hola Chicos!

Following from the last post we really just want to keep you informed on the events unfolding day-by-day in Cochabamba! We are so excited for the potential that the next 6 weeks hold. We are learning to embrace each experience and are so thankful for this beautiful country and all that the people promote.
This week is one of celebration in itself as Wednesday marked the day of independence; on this day in 1825 independence was declared over the people. It was a free country, aside of Spain's rule. Now, in 2014 the occasion is as clearly marked as then - with flags and attire worn to parade the streets with music and a day for the whole family to commemorate. Both Monday and Tuesday were marked with such pride! The children had been practising for several weeks. Such dedication and love is poured out over the beloved country that is Bolivia.

Each and every one of us is experiencing Bolivia through our own eyes; but we collectively have greater understanding. Despite many traditions and shared viewpoints, Bolivians live in a great variety of ways as we do: from the modern daily dress to the polleras many women still adorn, to the ways in which they eat meals in the daily routine.

Bolivian life very often incorporates elements of faith and we have been so preciously welcomed into specific Church families in our communities. God is allowing us to use our gifts in connecting and musical ability to serve. We are developing our Spanish each day and often impressing ourselves with the conversations we are able to have. Challenge is what we love, we said; and challenge is what we face!

A team session with our in-country manager reminded all of us the depth and scale of poverty. It was hard-hitting. 22,000 children die every single day from poverty-related causes. However, we were encouraged by the difference each of us can and will make in our daily lives - which we have control over. We also looked at the Millenium Development Goals and felt optimistic when we heard that since the goals were set things have improved greatly, for example the number of people without access to clean water has reduced from 1.5 billion to 1 billion, at this moment in time. Progress is happening.

On project, a one-off challenge we faced was cleaning the storeroom. Only this storeroom was so dusty we needed masks! It contained lots of broken furniture, old files and a nasty smell, which turned out to be a dead cat!! It was a great afternoon of team building and satisfaction at a completed job.

One of the greatest challenges we have encountered has definitely been in that of our new youth club -

¡Movimiento! Plan in hand we set out to begin at 2pm, but much like the adults, the children in this culture are very much living on extended time! Bolivian time. The first week was eventful. It felt like some of the children had never encountered discipline before! When you don't speak the same language trying to achieve anything can be challenging. However, 35 children attended the first week and this in itself is a great success! Preparation for week 2 was more rigorous and enabled us to have a more structured program; which ran more smoothly. Half of the children got to learn from our tremendous dancing ability! The others showed their competitive side and strength on the volleyball court.

Another responsibility we have while working at Oeser is assisting at the nursery and enabling children to travel to the nursery. This project is called Tia Shirley. We have really enjoyed being part of this and it has been so rewarding. It's such an incredible opportunity for many of these children to attend nursery. The children who attend the school have access to English lessons at various levels. Those of us who've joined the young people have enjoyed these lessons and found them very insightful. We will be more involved with creating learning games and resources for class in the coming weeks.

Aside from our focus on youth and childrens' work, we are promoting Mikuniy -Quinutrion. This has involved sales events and discussing product development. There have been many successes including a one day sales total exceeding the previous record!! We are learning each and every time what works and draws a crowd, for example, perfecting our Spanish sales techniques and attracting attention with Arnie the armadillo! Whilst out and about we have made connections with several local business owners who are interested in selling the cereal bars and supporting Oeser. This includes a new contract with a stall owner to sell the bars at a popular Saturday market and a 5 minute pitch on television! It's so rewarding to be involved in Mikuniy as the profits go directly to the school.

We are learning a lot from our time here and despite difficulties we face we are really enjoying the experience. Highlights from last week include friendship day (Pique Macho for dinner, and exchanging small gifts with the family and our counterpart Bolivian team members) and a visit to Miss Pink (a nail salon supporting victims of sexual exploitation).

Thanks for your continued support and motivation. 

Lots of love and blessings, 

The Oeser Chicas.x

Hola!

We have now been in Bolivia for just short of 2 marvellous weeks! Having come together from all over the UK and meeting with Bolivian partners, we are off to a great start!

Adjusting to some areas of understanding and of the culture have been a small challenge, but we are excited and absolutely in love with this country and all it has to offer. Moving in with host families throughout the city of Cochabamba has allowed each of us to experience the culture and family traditions in a specific way. Much of our free time at home is spent enjoying food prepared by and with our host families and that means lots of beef, chicken, rice and fresh fruit and vegetables. 

Our time at project has been so fruitful already. We have plans in place and objectives which we have set to ensure the next 8 weeks are built up to the best place and the results can be the beginning of change for the community. It's exciting!

Our main focusses for change are the Mikuniy Quinutrion events and raising awareness of product accessibility in the local area. Quinutrion is produced in Cochabamba by Bolivian-grown/sourced ingredients - quinoa, honey and other grain/nuts. This is an incredible product with great capacity for creating change. The reason is not only the health-conscious ingredients or ability to change the nutritional content of a packed-lunch forever; ultimately it allows project Oeser and all that it encompasses to function. Therefore, many children have access to a nursery and school, activities, tuition, leadership direction and life skills including learning English. Please do feel free to Like the Facebook page Mikuniy- Quinutrion and keep up to date with our posts! This is a product we hope many of you will try in the near future. I know I certainy will have some in my suitcase!

The other area, which is a new focus for Oeser, is the youth participation program. This is going to be innovative, fun, creative and engaging and we are looking to create positive individual mindsets in each young person we have a privilege to work with. This in turn will encourage positive citizenship. It can only be an adventure on the way! 

Each day can be a challenge in a new way. Please continue to communicate with us, pray if you will and encourage the best in this process. We are enjoying serving this community. Hasta luego...!

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Muchas Gracias, 

The Oeser Girls.x

And We're OFF!!

Hola!

 

We are ever so excited,... the countdown of hours is on!

 

This week the team of 6 are travelling from all over the UK to meet and journey to Cochabamba for an impacting 10 weeks. It's an understatement to say we are excited. I'm sure each of us holds a few reservations with regards to safety, the changes and challenges we will face along the way; but nonetheless it also packs great enthusiasm and expectation.

 

We'd love to hear from you as we would when at home, so communicate however possible and take a look on the blog and stay in tune with the stories and successes we have to share!

 

Mucho amor,

 

The Oeser Girls.X

 

4 Weeks to Go!!

Hola!

Firstly a massive thank you for your support and generosity for all our fundraising efforts and for your interest in the ICS placement we are doing in Bolivia, with Tearfund.

We are so excited to be a part of it and over the last few weeks have been working hard on our fundraising to meet and even exceed our £800 target. To raise money so far we have held music concerts of both the Jazz & Soul and Orchestra variety, Karaoke-Quiz night, have completed personal challenges of running, local community walks to support and raise awareness of those in water and sanitation poverty, chilli challenge, and days of glorious bake sales and more! As a result half the team has met their target and now it's the final push for a few of us to get there. 

#5Kfor5

Some of the fundraising has been challenging mentally and physically, and have pushed us out of our comfort-zone but personal development is all part of the process and it also leads to success - each and every penny counts!

THANK YOU to everyone who has donated and supported us so far!

Orchestra; with thanks from E.Hyde

The Reason for it all...!

For anyone who is wondering what we'll be doing in Bolivia; Oeser is an educational project that runs a youth community centre and a social enterprise selling Quinoa cereal bars. Our main activity will focus on the following:

• In a community centre: creating a youth club for children from the school and in the local community
• In a business setting: helping Oeser sell the Mikuni products into the local community and increasing sales of the cereal bars.

Our goal will be to plan and lead activities to attract youth with the end goal being to get the youth to take over and run the club themselves. We are really keen to see partnerships formed in their local communities and connections have been made that wouldn't have naturally. For more information on the Oeser project visit: Tearfund Oeser

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”

~ Albert Einstein

As women of faith we are grateful to our creator for his hand in this and for those who are the praying kind, please keep us in your prayers. We would love for you to journey with us over the next few weeks so please feel free to visit the page at any time to hear of our tales from Cochabamba!

Muchas gracias!

The Oeser Girls. x

Pre-Boliva Preparations

For anyone who doesn't know a team of us are headed to Cochabamba, Bolivia in just over 6 weeks to work on the Oeser Project. Oeser is an educational project based in the North of Cochabamba with a school and a nursery. The community is very poor and many children cannot afford school; so Oeser provide grants for them to through a social enterprise called Mikuni which makes Quinoa grain. By making lots of high quality projects the profits raised can be reinvested into the local school and community. 
If you'd like to find out more then visit Tearfund's global volunteering site: TearfundGo.

This post is just an introduction to let you know who we are so we can stay connected while in Bolivia. We so appreciate your contributions and would love for you to be part of our journey! 
Going to Bolivia seems a world away but for most of us we're brushing up on our Spanish and getting stuck into fundraising, from concerts to charity run's. On this blog we'll be sharing all the highs and lows and LOTS OF PICTURES!

Cannot wait! :)