New friends, another beginning..........

At last I am able to get photos up and running but it takes a real age so perhaps there won't be so many and unfortunately I cnnot brighten, crop or alter them .....yet. Will try to improve these as time goes on.

The photos have not come up in the order that I put them in but here is a photo of the outside of the VSO compound. A guard is on duty outside and locks are on the grille gates.Much the same as in Africa.
There is a photo of us all and some of the staff at a welcome party held at Arlene's house. She is the VSO Country Director.
and another is a photo of Mick walking on the pedestrian centre path on Carmichael street where we walk from the guest house to the VSO office.

To go back and try to bring you up todate......
We have just completed two weeks of orientation with VSO and it has been really interesting in the main.

VSO has a new strategic plan and focus and the Programme Areas Plans (PAPS) are just beginning to take shape and be implemented. So in some ways we are the guinea pigs.

There are 16 of us altogether. 12 VSOs (one of whom has returned to complete her 2 year term in a new placement having returned to UK when her original one broke down after 6 months) and 4 accompanying partners 2of whom have possible VSO placements lined up but not secured yet.

We comprise 4 Canadians, 4 Americans, 1 Dutch, 2 Irish, 5 English. Two of the volunteers are deaf and have been teaching us American Sign Language. I am a slow learner but can now do the alphabet and sign my name and say hello and a couple of other words.

We are the oldest, two of the women are in their 50s and the remainder are in their mid to twenties and thirties. They are an impressive group of young people. We will all work in the areas of Education and Disability. The overall goal being to improve the lot of the disadvantaged in Guyanese society. Over the two weeks we have got to know and enjoy them all. Most of us will be based in Georgetown and two based in the regions.

We are looking forward to starting our jobs and comparing notes.