This summer I had the life changing opportunity to volunteer at Save A Child's Heart (SACH) as my summer internship. While many of my peers Interned in an office setting I elected to spend my days at the children's home and in the hospital. A choice that has impacted me in countless ways and exceeded any expectation I had prior. Upon arriving at the Save A Child's Heart Home, I was welcomed by Liyabonga, a 6-year-old from Eswatini. Without hesitation or introductions, he grabbed my hand and challenged me to a memory game. With that, my journey began and I was welcomed into the children's life with less effort than I could have imagined. Any concerns I had about my abilities to work around the language barrier were immediately eased as he introduced me to so many of the children.
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Through my new found friendship with Liya, I was introduced to Snothando (Sno), a 5-year-old, also from Eswatini. Although Sno and I could never communicate with words we fell into a routine of games and dancing. We formed a lasting bond and I will forever be grateful for everything that our relationship taught me. While I knew Sno and the other children were teaching me a lot, I at times found myself questioning whether I was making a difference or not.
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That all changed when I began my shifts at the hospital. At my first shift in the ward, I was walking around looking for a familiar face when I found Liya and his Mamma in a hospital bed. I could tell he was feeling tired and recovering from his surgery, but when we made eye contact his face lit-up. He immediately asked me to play a memory game! I was shocked that my attendance could not only bring him joy but also give his Mamma a break. Watching and growing closer to Liya throughout his journey with SACH gave me a more full understanding of all that SACH does for these children and their families. Post surgery, Liya was a new person. He slowly became more active, challenging me to races and games of tag. His competitive nature and personality grew everyday. Liya’s life was changed. When I was on my way out on my final day, I asked Liyas Mamma if she was excited to go home, she told me she was happy “because [her] baby was saved.”
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There are no words that can express how meaningful my time at SACH was. This summer allowed me to grow my passion for working with children and families in need. I learned invaluable skills and knowledge which will follow me through my future career. I was heartbroken to leave and am looking forward to connecting with SACH again in the near future. Thank you x100!