The weather is cloudy, but I’m trying to keep a sunny disposition (the cloudy part of this post is much longer than the sunny part, but just try to make it through).
Recently, the past four weeks, I’ve been struggling. Truly, struggling. So many questions… Why did I put so much trust in the Board of Education? Why did I blindly believe everything they said? Why didn’t we have them sign a freakin’ document agreeing to their terms back in February? Would it even have mattered?
….
Back in January, when Nick and I returned from America, I went to my counterpart and discussed the idea of Camp GLOW. She was so. excited. The next day, she’d already scheduled a meeting with our director to discuss it and then the next week we were already meeting with the board to discuss optional means of funding (my CP is amazing). The board shocked us all when they agreed to FULLY FUND travel (to and from the camp site, which is 4 hours away) and room and board for ALL 90 (their number) girls from Karaganda Oblast (including volunteers). Not only was this what I’ve been working toward MY ENTIRE SERVICE, but it was finally happening. A totally sustainable project… entirely funded BY THE COMMUNITY. ENTIRELY. It’s amazing. Truly amazing. Instead of being ecstatic, I should have been suspicious. I should have questioned, instead, I let it ride and hoped for the best. Hoped they would keep their word. Hoped they would see the value in teaching girls from the community how to be leaders in the world.
Last week, the board pulled 2/3 of the their funding. Leaving us with only funding for room and board and the camp. Looking back on it now, I should have just thrown a temper tantrum and cancelled the camp (maybe then they would have realized their importance in funding the camp… maybe). Instead, my counterpart and I have been trying to find money EVERYWHERE we can… it’s exhausting. I can’t tell you how many nights I’ve gone to bed at 7:30 or 8 just because I can’t think about it any more. I can’t tell you how many mornings I’ve woken up at 5:30 and have worked STRAIGHT on this and then had to go to school to still teach lessons.
…this story doesn’t have a happy ending. We had a meeting with our girls yesterday (all 78) and they each had to pay for food and travel. It’s exactly what the board wanted. They requested that each girl paid for her own food and travel and it makes me so angry because THEY said they would pay for it and then they didn’t. WHO DOES THAT?! What kind of ORGANIZATION does that? WHAT KIND OF ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN DOES THAT?!
…oozhas…
So, that’s the cloudy part. The sunny part is that I’ve got the best support network in the world. Nick has been so, extremely helpful at keeping me sane. Hannah has been there every single step of the way, even though she wasn’t obligated to. The volunteers working on the camp are working hard to make everything great and I’m so appreciative of their speedy replies to emails. My counterpart, who has done more for this project than I can even fathom still has a smile… so. Who am I to complain?
Camp is in one week. There is still so much to do. But, they’ll be done with a genuine smile because I’m still super lucky to be working with such amazing people. You live, you learn.
Have a wonderful day. 
