31 Oct THINGS ALWAYS END UP DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU THINK
Hakuna Matata Home Visit – 26.Oct. 2017
Namaste – I’m a student of Social Work at ASH Berlin University of Applied Sciences. Currently, I’m working with SAATH as a volunteer for the Hakuna Matata and Danfe projects. Last Wednesday I got the chance to experience a home visit. Home visits are arranged on a regular basis for those kids who are part of the Hakuna Matata project. Actually, I already gained a lot of practical experience as a childcare worker back in Germany, where I’m working in a youth welfare with underage refugees. Hence, this was the very first home visit in my life, and on the top of that, I have experienced this in another country.
As a student of Social Work, you learn a lot about theories but nobody prepares you for the “real life work” outside the university. I was really nervous and excited because I should lead the interview with the clients. One day in advance I prepared some questions and presented them to the team members of SAATH.
For the home visit, I was accompanied by Ms. Ayeesha Joshi. For her, it was also the first home visit. In fact, I was impressed by the hospitality and openness of the clients during the conversation. My prepared questions, like a leitmotif, were all forgotten because it was an open talk between us and our host.
“To be independent of others” – this was the lesson learned from our clients – a very important lesson for life! This simple phrase changed my opinion and showed me how unimportant my problems are. It first comes always differently and secondly, never as you think; and here the circle closes. Hakuna Matata means “Don’t worry be happy”. It became my new mantra.
Written by Marika Riep.