Sloppy Kisses

As I walked into the Emergency Center to truly interact with kids for the first time in our program, countless thoughts overwhelmed my mind. I thought about my previous experiences working with children and tried to focus on ways to connect with them. I felt nervous about the language barrier but thought about our two Kriolu lessons in the attempt to compensate for the inevitable barrier. I thought about the single story narrative, assumptions, and other issues we had discussed to prepare for our work. However, nothing could have prepared me for the overwhelming emotional connection I would immediately feel with these kids. Two hours and three sloppy kisses from joyful, curious kids was all it took. And now, as I sit here at the end of our first week, I am wrestling with one overpowering thought: what impact will we have on these children when we leave in six weeks? Will the time spent together, the hugs, the kisses be enough to counterbalance the fact that ultimately we have to walk away from their lives? I believe these ideas regarding the consequences of short-term community engagement apply to all DukeEngage programs, but I find it particularly relevant when the community we leave and the people to whom we say goodbye are largely young children who already have had intimate experiences with neglect. I know that we can have a positive impact while we are here. I am inspired by ICCA’s mission, to protect children and adolescents against situations of personal and social risk through both physical support and policy implementation, and I feel privileged to work with the organization. We will be working at three of ICCA’s centers throughout the remaining six weeks: The Emergency Center, Lem Cachorro, and Nôs Kaza. I am excited to plan activities and empower the kids through love and commitment, but ultimately I worry how that impact will change when we leave. This idea is one I will continue to consider throughout our time here so that maybe we can work to combat the impact of our departure from such a familial community.