1st May 2009

I write this from some friends' house in Manila.  I'm here because I've worked myself to a frazzle and need some downtime.  So far, I've slept too much, ate a lot of bad food, watched some movies and blobbed out on the Internet.   What made me so frazzled?  Well, all of this:

RYE School

• The RYE School Proposal
  I need money to get the RYE School built.  A lot of time went into producing this proposal for a Korea-based Human Rights fund.  I am almost certainly wont get any of the $US47,000 on offer, but at least I have a kick-butt proposal that can be used for various grants.
  
  
• Computer Demonstration Day
  The demo day was crazy.  People are so keen to learn about computers.  Currently, we have four computer classes.  One kid who is part of the English program was in tears when some of his classmates formed part of a new computer class and he didn't.  I'd love - of course - to include him as well, but I just don't have the resources.
  
  
• RYE School Summer Classes Underway
  It is great to have classes actually being taught now.  I'm pleased with how all the systems that I worked so hard on are coming together.  The systems are not perfect yet and need some work, but they'll be nigh-on-perfect soon.
  
  One thing I don't personally want to do is teach.  Don't get me wrong, I lurv teaching.  It is  one of life's great joys.  But just about anyone can teach^*, but there are certain things that only I can do.  Those are the things that I need to work on. 
  
  And one of things that I am working on are systems so that I can make myself redundant here in the Philippines so that I can move onto other countries and projects.
  
  
• School Supplies Donated
  I love Korea.  I miss it so.  So it was especially nice when my good buddy Jyoung-Ah Kim visited me with school supplies in tow.  She was like cool breath of fresh air which reminded me of all the good times I had in Korea.  I got to know Jyoung-Ah during my work with the 2008 production of the Vagina Monologues.  She was the superstar responsible for the production.  I was her go-to-guy for pretty much everything except acting.
  
  As she left on the ferry, I couldn't help but feel a little abandoned on the island.  But, on the plus side, I know of five (!) other friends and activist types who are visiting me here.  Woot!
  
  
• Student Stats
  I love the rather odd game of cricket.  One of the reasons I love it is that is measurable in so many ways; it is a statisticians dream sport. 
  
  Maybe this is why I was so keen to measure the students in every possible way. 
  
  It is serving as a great motivational tool for the students.  They know they are being measured and they know that the better they do, the more chance they have of being sponsored.
  
  I love it when a plan comes together
  
  
• RYE School Site
  Yay!  I found somewhere to build the school.   Actually the Meaningful Volunteer website is a little out of date.  I've actually found three sites onto which to build the school, each with their own pluses and minuses.
  
  
• RYE School Building Plans
  Steve - the very first Meaningful Volunteer - worked hard on the RYE School plans and they look damn fine!
  
  We're obviously working hard to get it done right and need to organize things like architect plans and building permits.  There is a lot of red tape, but hopefully all worth it in the end.
  
  
• Picohydro and Green Energy
  I'm forever flip-flopping about whether to power the school via solar energy or hydro energy.  Fortunately, a green energy expert is coming from South Korea to help me out!
  

Project Lifecycle

• All about the local health care centers
  A lot of Project Lifecycle work is documenting what we discover so that others don't have to.  It is not as glamorous as giving HIV talks or helping the elderly to read, but it is very important.  In fact, I'd go so far as to say those two aforementioned glamorous links are actually damaging the communities and not actually helping them.
  
  Making a replicable teaching system is easy compared to making a replicable sexual health system that introduces a new contraceptive method, but as I progress on this project I see ways of producing a "Barangay (village) Packet" that will enable new volunteers to introduce the method into other barangays.
  
  
• Sexual Health Surveys
  It is good to have something tangible for all the work Ingrid and I have been doing.  We made some mistakes with the surveys, but these will be documented and talked about in the academic-style paper we are producing.
  
  Here's a little sneak peek for all you dedicated crazymalc readers.  The graph shows the number of days between one child being born and the start of the next pregnancy.  It is interesting to note that about 40% of women are getting pregnant again within 18 months of giving birth.

Project Mangrove

• How we will save the mangroves
  I think if someone did a survey of mangrove projects around the world, a first approximation would show that all mangrove projects are crap.
  
  I hope to not repeat the same mistakes with Project Mangrove.  Hence all the detailed project planning.

*Gasp*  Busy.  Busy.

I am happy with the way all the projects are progressing. 

If I could wish for anything for Meaningful Volunteer, it would be for more volunteers to help me with this stuff!