At Red Bus, our aim is to produce materials and resources that can result in sustained and effective development in the communities where we work. Our founder Rob Ansell spent 6 months in Kenya with the Roko 20 Academy ( http://roko20academy.weebly.com ), not only teaching, but also building a website and training teachers so that the school could grow and improve after he had left.
This week, our topic of mental health initiatives has shone a light on some really great interventions that exhibit this dedication to sustainable developments involving local communities. First, we saw how the UNHCR has been working to train Rohingya refugees to provide mental health aid in the refugee settlements. Actions against Rohingya have led to tremendous tragedy, but it is initiatives such as this that can mitigate the worst of the effects and help rebuild communities. We also saw the excellent work being done by Essam Daod with his organisation, the “Humanity Crew”. Essam’s experience with Syrian refugees led him to realise the importance of reframing the trauma children experience during their journeys out of Syria. His organisation promotes and facilitates the incorporation of mental health aid workers in refugee rescue missions, and helps to reduce the negative mental health effects on children so that they can continue to grow healthily. Finally, we heard from Dixon Chibandra from Zimbawe. Dixon has been working in his home country to train grandmothers to deliver “talk therapy” to people in their communities. The grandmothers form an integral part of the community and can work with those suffering from trauma. All of these initiatives have been effective for their focus on developing a sustainable solution to problems in communities suffering trauma and are designed to make precise, long-term solutions to problems. If you want to find out more about the initiatives mentioned, check out the links below: www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2018/5/5b066a544/rohingya-refugee-volunteers-trained-help-others-distress.html www.ted.com/talks/essam_daod_how_we_can_bring_mental_health_support_to_refugees www.ted.com/talks/dixon_chibanda_why_i_train_grandmothers_to_treat_depression
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As Chris is otherwise engaged these few weeks with a tiny baby (Hi, Fiona!), this is Rob stepping in at the last minute for a fill-in blog post.
So, there’s actually loads I can write about, but a good place to start, I think, is our idea behind Red Bus Books. And I’m pretty sure It’s a good idea to limit myself to a couple of hundred words for this one. Red Bus Books isn’t sexy volunteering. It’s not a multinational NGO. It’s not even a photogenic gap year. It’s a few hard-working, committed, dedicated people who believe in what they do and in what we do. I have a lot of respect for people who devote their time and money to deserving causes and worthwhile projects in Africa, Asia, and anywhere really. I understand and can even see the benefits of instagramming this. On one project I worked on at my day job in Shanghai, using social media attracted the attention of other schools, who also got involved in the project - leading to a far greater impact than we’d initially imagined. Anyway, Red Bus Books isn’t like that. We meet mainly over WeChat, sometimes in a coffee shop, and, when we’re lucky, at a place we can get a gin and tonic. Last week we met over some 串儿 in a backstreet behind a Burger King somewhere in the southern suburbs of Shanghai. That’s as awesome and romantic as it sounds. But, what really happens is that we throw ideas around. Some good, some terrible. Some amazing but not feasible. Then we go away and we work. We sit at computers, snatching a few minutes work here and there when we can. Our main meeting place is probably Dropbox. We research ideas and we create things that we think will work. Because we know that education can change the world. We have seen the huge benefits that come. We are convinced that the work we do here can make someone’s life a little bit easier on the other side of the world. It can help a child to learn, or help a teacher to teach. That’s what we’re thinking with everything we create, and when we see those hours of work come to life, it makes it worth it. This week at Red Bus we are recognising the important contributions volunteers make to the lives of others all around the world. As a young, start-up charity, Red Bus relies entirely on volunteer work to make progress and in this blog entry we highlight some of those who have made a difference to our cause.
Our most successful projects to date have been our guides. Aside from our management team, we have had help from the likes of Alan Crocker, Sean Julien and Lucas Pfaffenroth, all of whom have contributed chapters or even produced entire books for our gradually expanding range of teaching guides (all of which will soon available on www.smashwords.com). We have also had help from the amazing graphic designer Daniel Nilsen. Despite his own busy workload, Daniel took time out, free of charge, to help us out in designing our new logo in February of this year. Check out his designs here www.azurebot.com. Finally, there have been the army of smaller helpers. Family members, friends and others who have helped us to proofread, have spread the word for us on social media or who have taken time out to attend one of our meetings. All contributions, big or small, long- or short-term are really valued. Of course, we are always looking for more help, and whether you think you have a skill to offer or are just enthusiastic to get involved with the cause of bettering education globally, please do get in touch! |
AuthorsChris Wood. Robert Sealey. Rob Ansell Archives
October 2018
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