Couldn't have been better!

Yes, tis true that our comrade Rose, was quite poorly yesterday and he did indeed look peaky - I was pleased to hear though today he was feeling much better as he had got some much needed kip - the late nights and early starts are indeed finding all of us struggling to accommodate it at times, so its not just Ben who is finding them a challenge it has to be said.

Yesterday we went to a Boys Town project sponsored by Madras Club and I think it was fair to say it was a tear jerker for us all. The boys go to school locally and learn trades so that they can support their family, and then their neighbour and then the community - the Rotary Club believe you start with the education of the child. The little curious sea of faces was a pleasure to see when we first got there and I maybe felt my ovaries popping around for a while there! Carl like myself found our floodgates opening once we watched the DVD and the whining of Mariah Carey came on - make from that what you will!! On the way back from there we stopped at a creche and as usual Carl's world recognised charm worked for him when he made a small child cry simply by being near them and looking at them - I think we may need to pass on some counselling services for the little girl as I fear she may be scarred for life....

Today, after being stuck in a traffic jam for over an hour (never a good idea when you are feeling somewhat "unsettled" shall we say) we headed off to our second vocational visits. Mine was am-a-zing!! Not only did they welcome me with a big board to say I was their honoured guest - hopefully work are taking note here for every time I go to one of my services in the future, they also asked, as their guest I give out all the women's certificates for their achievements over the past 3 months.

ANEW is a centre for women 18 upwards that come from poorer backgrounds to learn a trade in optometry, English, Rickshaw driving, Nursing, etc which they study for 3-6 months. At the certificate giving ceremony they also had 3 young women come back and talk about the difference it had made to their lives going to ANEW and to use this time well - for some women they are the only support for their family. It was great to also see that ANEW have employed previous users of the service.

Afterwards I was asked to talk about my job and take questions - there is a myth we don't have domestic violence in the UK so they were surprised to learn the statistics and a lot of the women then came up to ask me questions. I was seriously impressed by the work ANEW does and you can see the women really benefit from it. I shall be keeping in touch with them on my return to the UK without a doubt.

Later tonight we give our 3rd presentation in a row but we are still not any less nervous about them I have to say. Tomorrow we have a long day but at least we have our evenings free to spend the last night with our second hosts.

Over and out y'all!!