Hope Shines Inc.

Hope Shines Inc.

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Volunteer and Translator Orientation Day

Michael
Board member and 3rd year volunteer

This is always such a different experience year to year.  What the new volunteers, translators, and even what campers we're working with changes the dynamic with what every person brings to it.  The curriculum changes yearly, as well, and this year especially is a very full one, mainly because we're working with older kids this year who enjoy the full day and its fun challenges.
Stephanie's done an amazing job of organizing such a great week ahead, and we also learn year to year what works well and what can be improved upon, which includes input and feedback from the volunteers' experiences.

But with all of this taken into account, I can honestly say that I'm thrilled we have such an amazing group of volunteers and translators this year.  Hope Shines hosted our welcome buffet dinner this past evening, and I was actually surprised to see everyone actually hanging out and talking with each other for such a long period after dinner was over.  Usually people part ways soon afterward, but I think the fact we all stayed on for so long is a very good sign... We were all engaged in each other and anxious to get to know one another.  I feel a great energy and chemistry with this group, and that's a beautiful thing.

Presidential Palace visit, no cameras were allowed inside the palace compound.
The day itself prior to dinner was full and went fast.  After the orientation and briefing on the week ahead, we visited the Presidential Palace Museum, which was a first for me.  It was a guided tour through ex-president Habyarimana's sprawling mansion inside and the grounds outside, as well as the remains of his plane which was shot down, crashing in his back yard grounds in April of '94, starting the war and genocide.  The entire tour was incredible, and a piece of important history which really wasn't all that long ago if you think about it.

From there, we went to the Genocide Memorial, which I'd visited a couple times before.  They've not only expanded the gift shop, but now before you enter the memorial, you watch a 10-minute video clip of snippets of interviews with some genocide survivors.  This was very heartbreaking and moving, and really sets the tone for what the visitor is about to see entering the interactive memorial itself, along with the mass graves of hundreds of thousands of victims.  It's a very heavy and sobering experience, but so important to know what happened here.

So much has happened in one day that it feels like it's been three, but in a very good way.  That said, I know the week will fly by and it will feel like it's only been three days by the end of it.  We're all very excited, and I'm thrilled to be working with such an amazing group.  I feel proud, blessed and fortunate to be here with everyone working with Hope Shines, and the impact it has on the kids we support, as well as all the joy it brings them.  

Hope Shines Camp 2015 TEAM!

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