Volunteer Articles

American Idol Gives Back

By Sue Avison December 2008

This article has been published at Evidence of Humanity.

Adrienne is a fifty something wife, mother of two adult children and trained Kindergarten teacher who suffers from a chronic lung condition and migraines. Yet she has recently returned from six weeks volunteering in Kenya working with HIV/AIDS orphans.

I met Adrienne last week and talked to her about her Kenyan experience. As the interview unfolded it soon became clear that this quiet, petite unassuming lady had a real depth and determination about her. I asked her what inspired her to volunteer and I was taken aback when she said American Idol. Adrienne likes to watch American Idol and when they advertised the "Idol Gives Back episode", it caught her attention. The donations were going to the poor and needy children in the USA and the needy children and their families in Africa. "I had been a little interested before then in Africa and the HIV/AIDS orphans and I thought; this will be interesting and challenging and I need to watch it."

As Adrienne watched, she had a real sense that she was called to go to Africa. She felt as if God was saying to her, "I want you to be there with them". "So it was to me very black and white, very overwhelming." She felt that so many things from the programme reached her on an emotional level as well as an intellectual level and the desire to volunteer became very strong.

As the desire grew, Adrienne pursued a few avenues and discovered that Colin Salisbury, founder and CEO of Global Volunteer Network went to the church that Adrienne had newly arrived at. It was her answer. "This is how I'm going to get to Africa. I found out they had a programme in Africa and a chance to volunteer in orphanages with AIDS orphans. I thought 'wow', this is the way to go."

Adrienne wasn't an ideal candidate to volunteer. She suffers from a chronic lung condition which can be tiring and debilitating at times. She is also a migraine sufferer. These migraines are often brought on by broken sleep, not uncommon in long distance travel. She was also anxious about travelling by herself such a long way.

"So I had to come to terms with that and weigh up the risks and figure out if I was going to do it with these things that concern me," she said. However since Adrienne was so sure that she was meant to do this she thought; "the reason I was going was more important than the things that might be difficult for me. So I worked through these issues and knew that if I planned well, especially for my health, then if something did happen I would have done my best to make it not so difficult."

Plan she did. Not only did Adrienne plan for her health issues, she spent many months reading up about Africa, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and preparing resources to use for teaching the children.

The 2007 figures taken from Avert, an international Aids charity estimate that in Kenya there are 130,000 to 180,000 children under the age of 15 with AIDS and 990,000 to 1.4 million AIDS orphans under the age of 18.

Global Volunteer Network provides opportunities to help develop communities through their partner organisation in Kenya. Volunteers have the opportunity to be involved in a variety of work, including education and training for children from under-privileged backgrounds and HIV/AIDS counselling. They offer a children's programme, teaching programme, Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp Program, HIV/AIDS Program, Medical/Health Program, Maasailand Program. All these programmes are in locations in the suburbs surrounding Nairobi. Visit www.volunteer.org.nz/kenya for more information.

Adrienne was able to choose where she would prefer her placement to be and what she would prefer to do. "I spent most of each day in the classroom. I did one to one work and I also did up the front classroom work as well", she said, "then after school I was involved with special activities with the children."

Being prepared is important, but Adrienne also notes that it is important to be flexible because things can be very different to what you expect when you get there. She is aware that everyone brings something different to volunteering and it is important to value the "seemingly little things you do with the children. Cuddles, talking, playing, those little things, the personal touch. The people who work in these orphanages work very hard long hours day after day with seemingly no break and they are doing their best. I think one of the most valuable things volunteers can do is to give more of that personal touch, more of the availability of time."

The children's determination to make the most of today and tomorrow, while coming to terms with their traumatic past had a big impact on Adrienne. "That determination they have and that hope. That gutsiness."

Adrienne's volunteering experience didn't just begin when she signed up. It began with American Idol. It was the time spent before she left for Kenya, preparing, learning and planning. It was the time spent at the orphanage and it is the months afterwards. The six weeks in the orphanage was just part of the story for Adrienne. What she experienced before and after have high value for her and she is determined to do more. "In some ways it was just a peek around the door". Adrienne wants to do more and knows that next time it will demand more of her.

What would she say to those who have some doubts about volunteering? "Don't let the 'oh buts' put you off". She recommends that you find out how you can make the best of the things that concern you. "It's worth the risk and the challenge for the experience. It's way, way worth it. You know what it's like, the more risk you take, the greater the experience. Life is full of risk."

Related Programs

Kenya Make a difference in the lives of under-privileged children and adults by providing education and counselling in schools and orphanages, HIV education, and medical care.