Ally Rouge, aka Alice, is currently volunteering in Hawassa, Ethiopia with the VSO ICS programme. Alice is from Gloucestershire but is now working in the Ebenezer Grace Orphanage as well as working on issues such as child rights and education.
Over the coming weeks we will be posting her progress here on NotGoingToUni.
We start with one of her posts from the time leading up to her trip, fundraising and meeting other volunteers....
Alice
Unfortunately even though I have had an exciting couple of weeks, I haven’t found the time to update my blog. Between training and fundraising for Ethiopia, work and Christmas preparation I don’t know how I have found the time to do anything!
Firstly I am no longer going to be volunteering in Addis Ababa, I found out a couple of weeks ago that I will now be based in Hawassa. I am very happy about this news as Hawassa seems to be more rural which is what I wanted to experience and there is a beautiful big lake through it, which is referred to as ‘The Lake of Love’. I will still be departing on the 23rd of January and working on the same topics, so it’s pretty similar to what I already knew!
I am also pleased to announce I have completed my fundraising! It was a lot of fun but also incredibly tiring. Here is how I did it:
- Donations from friends and family
- Auctioned a signed Gloucester Rugby ball courtesy of Glevum Windows and raised £60
- Hosted a raffle with prizes donated from local businesses
- Cake sale at a Christmas Market
In total I have raised £856.00 so far, however I know a few of my friends have been doing little bits at their work places so I should have a few more bits floating in.
When I was first tackling my £800 target I was a little bit worried I wouldn’t make it, however I am surprised how easy it has been, so many people are passionate about what I am doing and have been so interested in helping me. I even had a couple of strangers approach me and give me donations, which really made me even more inspired to make a difference.
I have been on a training weekend in Birmingham now with around 30 other VSO youth volunteers, it was a great way of meeting other young people with similar interests and finding out a bit more of what to expect. I only met two other people from my team, they were brilliant and I am definitely even more excited!
Sadly Gloucestershire College have decided not to take me back after my trip so I will be leaving my job on the 11th January, that gives me eleven days to get everything sorted between leaving and flying and gives me a bit of time to catch up with friends and family before I embark on my adventure!
After so much going on I am looking forward to a chilled out Christmas with my family
Merry Christmas!
