VOS

So after the Men’s Health Conference in La Esperanza my next project was going to the VOS (Volunteers Offering Support) training. This was to be held in La Tigra, a wilderness reserve located just east of Tegus. With the Men’s health conference ending on Saturday morning and because I was supposed to have to return to Tegus on Monday for the VOS training I got permission to go straight to Tegus for a couple days before the meeting, thus saving myself 13+ hours in buses for what would have only been one day in site. Fortunately I know some people in Tegus and they let me stay there for a couple of nights, getting to explore the city a little and get some relaxation time. The VOS conference was interesting, I wasn’t completely sold on it at the beginning, it is essentially a network of Volunteers that are available to talk about whatever with other trainees and volunteers that are going through rough times, we offer an ear to listen and a promise not to share any information with other volunteers or staff. VOS people are nominated by their peers and the project managers so it is an honor to get nominated. I was a little incredulice to the effectiveness and necessity of this program but as the training went on I realized the usefulness of it and I learned some new techniques on listening and caring for others. This training session lasted till Thursday morning, after it finished I quickly hopped onto a bus back to San Marcos because my family was coming in early on Friday morning.