This morning during our planning time my boss asked if everyone has their information collected to send out to the sponsors. Everyone has been talking about this, and working on it for weeks. Since we are an NGO that survives on the support of donors, we have to fill out reports so they know what we're doing. It makes sense. (It also motivated me to do a newsletter for my supporters, which I haven't done since I got Chikungunya.)
My boss told my coworkers that my photos saved them. She said they all take photos of the backs of people's heads. The kids are not smiling or looking at the camera and the quality of the photos is poor. She said none of my coworkers had any useful photos at all. She said the thing that speaks most strongly to the sponsors are photos and she is grateful for the photos I've taken. Without my photos they would have had nothing to show the sponsors all of the cool stuff we've been up to.
Then she encouraged coworkers to invite me to events within their communities so I can capture photos of everything we are doing. (I'm already invited to one on Monday, which will be fun!) She told the whole program that I have a degree in psychology, journalism, and I am a gifted photographer. She said I have a lot to offer and they should take advantage of my knowledge and talents.
Later in the meeting my boss's assistant raised her hand and told everyone that she wanted to recognize me for the great job I am doing in the literacy class. The lawyer started nodding in agreement. My boss's assistant visited the literacy class last week. She said she is really excited to see women she has served for 12 years actually reading. She can't believe the progress they've made! It gives her great joy. She could also tell the students really like the class. She asked everyone to give me a strong round of applause. Everyone clapped for me!
Then two of the psychologists talked about a training they attended last week in San Pedro Sula, a city three hours away. My boss stopped them in the middle of their report and told them she is really happy that they went, but I am a psychologist (by Honduran standards because I have a bachelor's degree in psychology) and I should go to all future trainings as well. Fun!
I love the program I serve. I love the way that I'm serving and the people I'm serving alongside. It's awesome that they appreciate me as much as I appreciate them.
