They'll keep you on your toes

As a short-term volunteer I find myself doing anything from cleaning up the soon-to-be garden, working with children who have special needs, washing bag after bag of mosquito nets and donated clothing and toys – in addition to the endless amounts of random small tasks. Currently there are about 14 volunteers and because it’s the most volunteers Tashirat has ever seen, they are happily keeping us all busy to catch up on many projects. The work is challenging, but also incredibly rewarding because we all know that we are helping a cash-strapped organization with a great mission to run a bit more smoothly.

I hadn’t had much experience working with children before I came to Tashirat. I want anyone considering volunteering with kids for the first time to know one very important thing: kids can smell a new volunteer from a kilometer away!

Yep, kids are smart. Really smart. And they won’t hesitate to test you. Seeing the perplexed look on your face, they’ll tell you they’re allowed to do just about anything, seeing where you’ll give in and where you won’t. Try to get a clear idea from the organization staff about rules, discipline, diet, schedules, and special needs each child may have. Ask lots of questions and when in doubt, simply say: “Ok, that sounds interesting but let me ask first.” They’ll usually respond with, “Mmm, nevermind.”

It’s also incredibly important to maintain one’s sense of humor. Don’t get frustrated when the kids use up all the limones in the kitchen, claiming they have a cough and need the vitamin C. You’ll feel much better if you instead learn from the situation, mark one up for the kids, and laugh about it later.