HIV/AIDS Childcare Volunteer Program

Shania Hedley Start Date: Mar 11, 2019 - End Date: Jul 8, 2019
  • Nairobi, Kenya

My Travel Story

by: Shania Hedley Start Date: Mar 11, 2019 - End Date: Jul 8, 2019
My entire life I have dreamed of travelling and exploring the world. As I grew older I began to learn about poverty, illness, abuse, war, starvation, disease... the list goes on. I really struggled to understand why so many people experience one or more of these daily. My heart hurts for these people... all I have ever wanted was to help make a difference to these peoples lives. 
As I progressed through university training to be an Early Childhood and Primary School teacher I kept being faced with these same challenges, meeting children who had taken refuse in Australia from war, children who have suffered abuse and neglect, children who were isolated due to language and culture barriers, children who suffered injury and illness and so many more. My compassion kept growing and growing for these children who just needed someone to be there for them, someone to care. 

In 2016 I was lucky enough to be selected by The University of Newcastle to volunteer my time overseas teaching in Zimbabewe, Africa. All the research I did nor all my prior volunteering experiences could not have prepared me for the things I was going learn in Africa. I was blessed with the most beautiful children who everyday put the biggest smile on my face, I have never ever seen children so grateful for everything I did for them, I truly felt that I made a differnece to their lives. In conjuction with these overwhemling feelings of happiness I also witnessed things that broke my heart time and time again. I quickly learnt that many of the children I was teaching were orphans, or had contracted HIV/AIDs from birth; I learnt that the one small bowl of porage they would eat for lunch would propably be most of those children's only meal for the day; I saw children coming to school everyday in the same dirty clothes and no shoes; I saw these children learn with nothing but a pencil and paper, no toys, nothing to explore. These children had been deprived of basic human needs. 

Leaving Africa and coming back to my overly abundant life in Australia I struggled to deal with the guilt of all the things I had experienced, I was constantly reflecting on all the things those children were deprived off and how unfair it seemed. I started to ask questions like "Why was I so lucky?" "How did I get born into this abunant life style?" "What makes me so special?" This is when I realised that I have the power to make a difference. I came to the understanding that I was given an opportunity to make this better and save children who are disadvantaged by many of these circumstances none of which they choose for themselves. 

After graduating with a Bachelor of Teaching at the end on 2018 I have decied to follow my dream of making the world a better place and helping these children who need it most. In May this year I taking a one way flight to Nairobi, Kenya where I will start my mission to give these children a better life. I will be working with children who have been directly effected by HIV/AIDs, children who have been orphaned and caring for children who desprately need love and compassion. I hope that my first few months in Kenya will lead me to the next step of my journey so that I can continue to contribute to making this world a better place. 

I am trying my absolute best to save up every cent so that I can volunteer my time for as long as possible. I would be truly grateful for any finacial support that anyone could give as every cent will go a long way. I really believe I can make a difference to these children's lives and I am so grateful to be given this opportunity to begin my journey in Kenya.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and I hope you consider contributing to my mission.
  • Nairobi, Kenya

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