Why Volunteers Keep Pets?

Banji

So here I am looking forward to walking with my doggie friends – Dimko and Banji. Mutts, of course are very common in my neighborhood. Dogs are not neutered because there is an underlying anxiety that they will no longer be ‘real’ dogs. Never mind the irony that people use silicon and botox to enhance their appearance or use contraceptives and other procedures to prevent reproduction. So late spring the community is flooded with some of the cutest sweetest little cats and dogs. Just want to bend over and take them home!

Banji

My neighbor now has two of these dogs –a few months old and quite an odd pair –Dimko with curly black hair with a delicate patch of white on his front legs, proportionate build and quite a sweetheart. Banji on the other hand turned out with short legs, glossy black short hair, one erect ear and one folded over and quite a character.  For the first couple of weeks when I passed him on the road, he would run scared and refuse to approach me.

Soon Dimko and Banji joined my friend Cena and I for a walk. As we climbed up the mountain trail we met a dog that protected his turf fiercely. Whereas, Dimko went gamboling around and made friends immediately, Banji scooted home and would not join us on that path.  Indulging him we set off on a different trail and Banji happily led the way, looking back every so often to make sure we were following.  Reminded me of a little child.  Banji now keeps a look out for me as I walk past his house and follows me up and down the street, but never loosing sight of his home.

Girls Leading Our World

Children's' Resort Campsite

One week ago, I was at a camp resort waiting for approximately four score apprehensive young women coming from all across the country.  Many were leaving their family and friends for the first time and while it seemed safe and exciting when they were with their friends, it was daunting to be among new faces and expressively required to speak only in English!  Each small group of 10 multi-ethnic campers was selected with care from a cross-section of the country and ethnicity and that they were not from the same village, town or city. Led by a stranger with a funny American accent, which they could not always understand, they were taken to their rooms after registration to unpack and get ready for a round of evening activities!

Dawn from the terrace Pelister National Park

Meanwhile, a group of select Macedonian young women (of different ethnicity) and Peace Corps volunteers who had arrived a day and an half earlier to prepare for 7 days of activities from 7 am to 11 pm daily for these young women, quickly assembled on the terrace.  To the amazement of the new campers, we performed a newly learned dance revue, choreographed to the tune of “Vogue”.  Not perfect by any means, it was meant to convey, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” which is the essence and spirit of the camp that seeks to empower young minds.

As a junior coordinator last year, I had the privilege to watch 80 campers bloom and glow with self-confidence and this week reestablished my bond with the campers returning as Counselors in training or Senior Counselors. They were representative of the enduring transformation one week of Camp GLOW had on these young women. 

Throughout the week, watching the metamorphosis of the campers from uncertainty and tentativeness at the beginning to being completely at ease with oneself in the space of week is an amazing, awesome and a rewarding experience!

Wall for kind words envelopes

Listening to the words of coordinators, counselors, instructors, counselors in training and campers at the emotional closing ceremony, which involved sitting in a circle in the dark and speaking only when the person next to you lighted your candle, stirs powerful emotions and makes for a lasting memory.  Though a light rain this year forced us to move from the outside assembly to the darkened dining hall, the spirit of the moment remained unchanged. Listening to each one talk about what a life changing experience this has been for her and acknowledging her own transformation, her fears and feelings openly is the crowning glory my service as a volunteer.