riday, September 25, 2009
Demise of My Friend Joseph Chaw
Shock, Darkness, silence, wonder, hands on cheeks, shudder, shaking lips that propel tears to flow down the face, astonishment and other such fill Ndanda and Tanzania after the news struck ground of the demise of our Joseph.
In that box, At a tender age of about 23, Lies a great Swimmer, Educationist, Upcoming Scientists and mathematician of our time, Positive minded friend, writer, reader and listener, debater, Teacher and all-seasoned company, a fellow volunteer whom though we route from different continents but decided to offer our skills and change lives for no-pay but survival to make sure we bring about sustainable transformation in Africa.
Though I am VSO (Volunteer Services Overseas) and Joe WAS American peace Corp, volunteering and making sure we make a difference unified us and was the pivot reason why we all met in Ndanda. Joe and I only saw each other that Thursday the 18th Sept 2009 evening when you visited my house in search of information (as was your character) this time to go for holiday and one of the destinations was white water rafting in not only my country Uganda but Jinja where I am born. I was glad to get you the route-map and contacts to Uganda. Little did I know the inevitable visitor (death) was just knocking and was stationed just up that mountain in Mbinga village where you found him.
I remember all the time we shared most so when whenever the gallant peace corps in the area came to visit, you cooked from my house, shared the internet, watched movies in my house, shared books, remember when we sat till late ours during the OBAMA debates, with the Dutch Dr. Francijn Van Eeklen and the Scottish volunteer Dian Milan and many more. The swimming lessons you gave us in Mtwara, the stories you told us about JF-Kennedy (RIP) and other Americans, Running and mountain climbing, to mention but a few.
Piet Hein Meckmann the Hospital Administrator of St. Benedict’s Hospital, Dr. Mia Hensburg of St. Benedicts Hospital, Suzan Held Germany Pharmacist, Rashmi Choudry the Indian social worker at the Ndanda parish, Elias and Bernice, Cristiana Cavareli and Family the Inter-team volunteers from Switzland where all shocked by the news of your demise.
We want to take this honor to pass on our condolences to the Parents of Joseph (Who hoped in their son to take on the mantle from where they would leave it), the President of the United States, The Senator of the state of New York, The Management, staff and fellow volunteer community of American Peace corps, the Headmaster, fellow staff and students of Ndanda Secondary school (where Joseph taught Physics and Mathematics) friends, colleagues and all that knew Joseph that people will never remember you for the time you live but what you do while you live.
GOOD NIGHT JOSEPH AND MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN ETERNITY.
FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY-Ugandan Motto
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
10-4-2009 Ray's talk
When Joseph died, everything was black. I now know that you can die of a broken heart. We could not sleep, we could not eat or drink. I always wondered when I went to someone’s funeral or wake , whether I made a difference.
I can tell you now that you, our family and friends helped us to live.
On the behalf of the Chow Family, I want to thank everyone for their incredible support.
Thank you so very much.
Our son Joseph
Initially, even though he worked so hard, he had no success. He was always the youngest, smallest in his class.
As parents, we send our kids out into the world. We cannot be with them. We can only hope that they make friends and succeed.
When he went to Fordham Prep a magical transformation into a wonderful, caring, athletic, beautiful young man began. That growth continued at Amherst. He had such fantastic friends. We were so happy.Joseph worked so hard. He was called “Speedy Joe” by the Amherst swim team, because he was the slowest on the team.
He lived every minute of his life.
He really was the “Little Engine that Could.”
Joseph took all of what his family, friends, teachers and coaches had to give, internalized it and passed it forward.
When we heard that he was going to Africa with the Peace Corps, we were really worried. We were worried he would stick out.
We worried that he would be mugged, kidnapped, or robbed, and that he would not succeed and integrate into his community.
Joseph told us not to worry. That the Peace Corps told him that all you had to do was make friends and that they would keep him safe.
He was confident that would happen.
When we met with Andrea, we were able to see videos, pictures and remembrance book from Tanzania. He had lots of friends. He had succeeded.
With the death of Joseph, there has been lots of grief and sorrow.
Donna and I want you to release your grief and sorrow. We will hold onto that. It is a parent’s burden and prerogative to do so.
Instead, we want you to celebrate his memory.
If his memory helps you do better, if it helps you live life more fully, if in the dark, his memory gives you a little light, or helps your flame burn a little brighter, if you take this and pass it to your friends and family, then a little piece of Joe will live on.
If Joe were listening now I can just see how he would react.
He would smile that big smile of his. Then he would do his high pitched giggle. Then he would break out in his loud laugh.
Then he would raise his hands in mock exasperation and go AARGH!!
Then he would lean forward and with great gusto he would say to me. “Dad, That was CRAP!”
Before Father O’konsky gives the final prayer, I would like us all to clap for Joe. The Applause will help send his spirit up to heaven.
I can tell you now that you, our family and friends helped us to live.
On the behalf of the Chow Family, I want to thank everyone for their incredible support.
Thank you so very much.
Our son Joseph
Initially, even though he worked so hard, he had no success. He was always the youngest, smallest in his class.
As parents, we send our kids out into the world. We cannot be with them. We can only hope that they make friends and succeed.
When he went to Fordham Prep a magical transformation into a wonderful, caring, athletic, beautiful young man began. That growth continued at Amherst. He had such fantastic friends. We were so happy.Joseph worked so hard. He was called “Speedy Joe” by the Amherst swim team, because he was the slowest on the team.
He lived every minute of his life.
He really was the “Little Engine that Could.”
Joseph took all of what his family, friends, teachers and coaches had to give, internalized it and passed it forward.
When we heard that he was going to Africa with the Peace Corps, we were really worried. We were worried he would stick out.
We worried that he would be mugged, kidnapped, or robbed, and that he would not succeed and integrate into his community.
Joseph told us not to worry. That the Peace Corps told him that all you had to do was make friends and that they would keep him safe.
He was confident that would happen.
When we met with Andrea, we were able to see videos, pictures and remembrance book from Tanzania. He had lots of friends. He had succeeded.
With the death of Joseph, there has been lots of grief and sorrow.
Donna and I want you to release your grief and sorrow. We will hold onto that. It is a parent’s burden and prerogative to do so.
Instead, we want you to celebrate his memory.
If his memory helps you do better, if it helps you live life more fully, if in the dark, his memory gives you a little light, or helps your flame burn a little brighter, if you take this and pass it to your friends and family, then a little piece of Joe will live on.
If Joe were listening now I can just see how he would react.
He would smile that big smile of his. Then he would do his high pitched giggle. Then he would break out in his loud laugh.
Then he would raise his hands in mock exasperation and go AARGH!!
Then he would lean forward and with great gusto he would say to me. “Dad, That was CRAP!”
Before Father O’konsky gives the final prayer, I would like us all to clap for Joe. The Applause will help send his spirit up to heaven.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Kyle's Beautiful October 4th speech
I could not be more proud of anyone other than my brother Joe. He lived his life to the fullest. He was so much to me, a role model, an inspiration, a friend, a brother. He is irreplaceable.
But, I won’t miss him, I wont miss my brother Joe; I won’t let myself miss him. It’s sad he died on the doorstep of a promising life, and that we won’t grow old together, have kids together. His potential will remain only that, potential. But I cannot miss what I have never truly owned, the future.
I won’t miss Joseph, his smile, his laugh. They may have left this earth, but they have not left my memory, a perfect memory of a perfect brother, which I will always hold close to my heart.
I won’t miss Joe, my role model, my hero, my friend. I know I won’t be able to chat with him about sports and friends, family and life. But that doesn’t mean he can’t guide me. I will still look to Joe for advice, reaching for his memory, carrying him with me. Never letting his life fall from mine, forever lighting my way.
I won’t miss my brother Joe. His soul lives on. Every time I feel a strong wind, hear the leaves rustle, see a passing cloud, ill know he’s there with me. While his body’s gone, his soul’s eternal.
I won’t miss Joe, because he’s not gone. Myself, and everyone here today, we all carry pieces of Joe.
I won’t miss Joe, because he’s not gone. He lives on forever in the lives of those he touched and loved.
Thank you
And now I present Andrea Wonar Gian, Director of peace corp tanzania
But, I won’t miss him, I wont miss my brother Joe; I won’t let myself miss him. It’s sad he died on the doorstep of a promising life, and that we won’t grow old together, have kids together. His potential will remain only that, potential. But I cannot miss what I have never truly owned, the future.
I won’t miss Joseph, his smile, his laugh. They may have left this earth, but they have not left my memory, a perfect memory of a perfect brother, which I will always hold close to my heart.
I won’t miss Joe, my role model, my hero, my friend. I know I won’t be able to chat with him about sports and friends, family and life. But that doesn’t mean he can’t guide me. I will still look to Joe for advice, reaching for his memory, carrying him with me. Never letting his life fall from mine, forever lighting my way.
I won’t miss my brother Joe. His soul lives on. Every time I feel a strong wind, hear the leaves rustle, see a passing cloud, ill know he’s there with me. While his body’s gone, his soul’s eternal.
I won’t miss Joe, because he’s not gone. Myself, and everyone here today, we all carry pieces of Joe.
I won’t miss Joe, because he’s not gone. He lives on forever in the lives of those he touched and loved.
Thank you
And now I present Andrea Wonar Gian, Director of peace corp tanzania
Sunday, December 6, 2009
He had started his essay for medical school
My introduction to Peace Corp Volunteer work in Africa had a rocky beginning. After spending my first three months training to teach science in Kenya, there was political upheaval and social unrest; my first assignment’s site was in the heart of the unrest. The United States Government decided to evacuate all Peace Corp volunteers, and I never really began my project in Kenya. From Kenya, I was lucky enough to be relocated (after several months) to Ndanda Secondary School in southern Tanzania. I was the first Peace Corp Volunteer at the site, and the school is seriously understaffed. Before I arrived, there was no Physics or Calculus teacher for the “A” level curriculum. For that reason, the school had a terrible reputation for teaching maths and sciences. Consequently, I spent my first year at Ndanda Secondary School learning how to teach introductory college level physics and calculus, and adjusting to a new culture, language and education system .
After almost a year, my comfort in the culture and Swahili language skills had advanced enough to allow me to look to fulfill another Peace Corp obligation, Public Health advocacy. Through another one of my school assigned tasks I was teaching physical education once a week. Since about 100 students typically come to the class, I had started running with the students. One of the students Lenigius , told me about the newly student organized club “FEMA”. He explained that FEMA’s role was to fight the spread of HIV by promoting healthy lifestyles and clean environments. The club needed a “mwalimu mlezi” (faculty guardian) for advice and to liaison with the school
administration. He invited me to a meeting of the organizers and showed me a list of documents and names and a club charter signed by the national chairperson. We began meeting every week in whatever classroom we could find.
Highly-motivated leaders and a groundswell of interest from the school
community differentiated FEMA from the schools previous extracurricular
activities, none of which lasted more than a few months. Although, none of the
students were infected, Tanzania is a country where almost 10%
of the population is HIV infected; all of the students have personal knowledge of just how devastating the disease can be.
At one of our first meetings more than 100 students came to watch some short television dramas about various facets of HIV,. Afterwards many students attended our
events, and I saw boys at our concerts who had otherwise skipped classes for
months. After some early stabs at lecturing on health issues I let the
club chairman, Mussa, run our meetings and settled into a role as
advisor and coordinator. Faraji, our vice-president, returned from
a conference in Dar es Salaam with a love for “energizers”, such as
instructing the audience to spell F-E-M-A by waving their butts in the
air. Soon, club members were called to perform at every school
function, and we began monthly concerts to educate their classmates.
With the help of a Peace Corp grant and a local NGO, we organized a weekend conference for the regional A level schools which was 10km run followed by an AIDS awareness presentation, HIV testing and condom demonstrations.
We have just elected new leaders and are trying to found new branches in other nearby secondary schools.
In college I was active in student government, the swim and water polo club, and the Newman society. I was a student among students. Now, I am the professor and advisor. The club has taught me how to lead, not to control. I cannot dictate my needs and wants, but have to inspire through teaching and behavior. I have learned the importance of interpersonal relationships, and allowing others to have their own thoughts and ideas. These attributes directly cross over to the practice of medicine.
More than any other profession, health care is about interpersonal
relationships and allowing the patients to have an understanding and stake in their own care. I realize now that I learned this as a child when to earn some extra
money I would work filing charts at my father’s Internal Medicine
office. I would quiz him about the names on the medical charts and
he would answer with stories of individuals with their own careers,
families and life circumstances. This knowledge of the individual helps my father in his diagnosis and care of his patients’ illnesses. In order to cure sickness doctors must
first understand their patient.
Additionally, my time in Africa, especially my work with the FEMA club, helped me understand the importance of groups. Health care is a community value, not only an individual service. My students, who at night must study under streetlights
because the school cannot afford to pay the electric bill, still put
in hours of their time to reach out to their fellow students to improve
public health in their community. I was inspired by these student efforts to
identify and address problems in the community. As an outsider
with a two-year contract, it took some time to find my place in the
school; however I am proud of my role as teacher and advisor. Peace
Corps service has taught me the value of communities, and the importance of individual activism in that community. I am looking to begin a career in medicine when I return home so that I can continue to help solve society’s most pressing problems by using science, leadership and education .
After almost a year, my comfort in the culture and Swahili language skills had advanced enough to allow me to look to fulfill another Peace Corp obligation, Public Health advocacy. Through another one of my school assigned tasks I was teaching physical education once a week. Since about 100 students typically come to the class, I had started running with the students. One of the students Lenigius , told me about the newly student organized club “FEMA”. He explained that FEMA’s role was to fight the spread of HIV by promoting healthy lifestyles and clean environments. The club needed a “mwalimu mlezi” (faculty guardian) for advice and to liaison with the school
administration. He invited me to a meeting of the organizers and showed me a list of documents and names and a club charter signed by the national chairperson. We began meeting every week in whatever classroom we could find.
Highly-motivated leaders and a groundswell of interest from the school
community differentiated FEMA from the schools previous extracurricular
activities, none of which lasted more than a few months. Although, none of the
students were infected, Tanzania is a country where almost 10%
of the population is HIV infected; all of the students have personal knowledge of just how devastating the disease can be.
At one of our first meetings more than 100 students came to watch some short television dramas about various facets of HIV,. Afterwards many students attended our
events, and I saw boys at our concerts who had otherwise skipped classes for
months. After some early stabs at lecturing on health issues I let the
club chairman, Mussa, run our meetings and settled into a role as
advisor and coordinator. Faraji, our vice-president, returned from
a conference in Dar es Salaam with a love for “energizers”, such as
instructing the audience to spell F-E-M-A by waving their butts in the
air. Soon, club members were called to perform at every school
function, and we began monthly concerts to educate their classmates.
With the help of a Peace Corp grant and a local NGO, we organized a weekend conference for the regional A level schools which was 10km run followed by an AIDS awareness presentation, HIV testing and condom demonstrations.
We have just elected new leaders and are trying to found new branches in other nearby secondary schools.
In college I was active in student government, the swim and water polo club, and the Newman society. I was a student among students. Now, I am the professor and advisor. The club has taught me how to lead, not to control. I cannot dictate my needs and wants, but have to inspire through teaching and behavior. I have learned the importance of interpersonal relationships, and allowing others to have their own thoughts and ideas. These attributes directly cross over to the practice of medicine.
More than any other profession, health care is about interpersonal
relationships and allowing the patients to have an understanding and stake in their own care. I realize now that I learned this as a child when to earn some extra
money I would work filing charts at my father’s Internal Medicine
office. I would quiz him about the names on the medical charts and
he would answer with stories of individuals with their own careers,
families and life circumstances. This knowledge of the individual helps my father in his diagnosis and care of his patients’ illnesses. In order to cure sickness doctors must
first understand their patient.
Additionally, my time in Africa, especially my work with the FEMA club, helped me understand the importance of groups. Health care is a community value, not only an individual service. My students, who at night must study under streetlights
because the school cannot afford to pay the electric bill, still put
in hours of their time to reach out to their fellow students to improve
public health in their community. I was inspired by these student efforts to
identify and address problems in the community. As an outsider
with a two-year contract, it took some time to find my place in the
school; however I am proud of my role as teacher and advisor. Peace
Corps service has taught me the value of communities, and the importance of individual activism in that community. I am looking to begin a career in medicine when I return home so that I can continue to help solve society’s most pressing problems by using science, leadership and education .
Daniel - October 4, 2009
This is the only speech I have ever made regarding either of my brothers. In fact, I always imagined that my first speech to them would be one filled with embarrassing stories and told on their wedding day. Instead, I find myself wishing that Joseph were here to hear the things I have to say about him.
Sea turtles in Hawaii, blizzards on the Matterhorn, bears in Alaska, and Kilimanjaro, the roof of Africa represent just a small fragment of what Joseph got to see in his life. Even though his life was tragically cut short, he experienced more then the vast majority of people ever will. His life was lived to the fullest till the very last moment. Still, he never took these fantastic experiences for granted. He never took anything for granted. Joseph knew how great his family and friends are, he knew that most people couldn’t even imagine the opportunities and support that he was given. I think that Peace Corps was his way of giving back to the world that had been so good to him.
I don’t really want to talk for that long, but I did want to share something that I think sums Joseph up as a person. Joe always went 100%, and, I’ll be the first to admit that he worked harder than me at most things. Swimming is an exceptional example of this. Joe would wake up at 4:30 in the morning and practice for 2 hours THEN hop back into the pool in the afternoon for another 2 hours after going to school all day. To top that off, he would always be the leader of his lane and push himself harder than most. On the other hand, I would occasionally swim in the morning, but more often opt for the extra sleep. Then in the afternoon I would unwillingly attend practice where I was always in the back of the lane goofing off. However, in spite of all his effort and my complete lack of focus, I would somehow always destroy Joseph when it came to race-time. Being a competitive family in some regards, I never let him forget this. However, he never gave up or stopped training. He worked hard and I watched as his hard work paid off with his 4 years of Varsity swimming at Amherst. He even eventually beat my times, although that was long after I had stopped swimming. Joe put his heart into everything he did, and swimming is only one example of this.
He was not a stereotypical big brother in many respects, and recently I talked with Uncle Frank about how I blazed my own path most of the time, which is a reflection of the differences in our personalities. However, I do look up to him as a big brother, I aspire to be as good a person as he was and to work as hard as he did at everything that I am passionate about. I know that I will miss Joe everyday of my life. Yet, when I think back on the memories we shared, I do not feel sad, instead, a smile often stretches across my face or a laugh escapes my lips. I am proud to have been able to call him my brother.
Sea turtles in Hawaii, blizzards on the Matterhorn, bears in Alaska, and Kilimanjaro, the roof of Africa represent just a small fragment of what Joseph got to see in his life. Even though his life was tragically cut short, he experienced more then the vast majority of people ever will. His life was lived to the fullest till the very last moment. Still, he never took these fantastic experiences for granted. He never took anything for granted. Joseph knew how great his family and friends are, he knew that most people couldn’t even imagine the opportunities and support that he was given. I think that Peace Corps was his way of giving back to the world that had been so good to him.
I don’t really want to talk for that long, but I did want to share something that I think sums Joseph up as a person. Joe always went 100%, and, I’ll be the first to admit that he worked harder than me at most things. Swimming is an exceptional example of this. Joe would wake up at 4:30 in the morning and practice for 2 hours THEN hop back into the pool in the afternoon for another 2 hours after going to school all day. To top that off, he would always be the leader of his lane and push himself harder than most. On the other hand, I would occasionally swim in the morning, but more often opt for the extra sleep. Then in the afternoon I would unwillingly attend practice where I was always in the back of the lane goofing off. However, in spite of all his effort and my complete lack of focus, I would somehow always destroy Joseph when it came to race-time. Being a competitive family in some regards, I never let him forget this. However, he never gave up or stopped training. He worked hard and I watched as his hard work paid off with his 4 years of Varsity swimming at Amherst. He even eventually beat my times, although that was long after I had stopped swimming. Joe put his heart into everything he did, and swimming is only one example of this.
He was not a stereotypical big brother in many respects, and recently I talked with Uncle Frank about how I blazed my own path most of the time, which is a reflection of the differences in our personalities. However, I do look up to him as a big brother, I aspire to be as good a person as he was and to work as hard as he did at everything that I am passionate about. I know that I will miss Joe everyday of my life. Yet, when I think back on the memories we shared, I do not feel sad, instead, a smile often stretches across my face or a laugh escapes my lips. I am proud to have been able to call him my brother.
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