Indiana University Athletics
Catching Up with Nicole Redder
9/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Sept. 27, 2010
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -
Nicole Redder, a senior attacker on the Indiana women's water polo team, is coming off a successful 2010 season in which she started all 32 contests for the Hoosiers and recorded 15 multi-goal games. The Grandville, Mich. native finished second on the team in goals (54) and steals (56), while also dishing out 27 assists. She was named to the CWPA All-Western Division Second Team and Eastern Championship All-Tournament First Team.
Redder, a human development and family studies major, spent the month of August in Africa where she took part in a unique internship at the Good Shepherd Orphanage in Kasoa, Ghana. Redder spent time teaching children at the orphanage, which is home to around 80 children between the ages of 1-16.
As the Hoosiers continue their fall practice and conditioning, Redder took time to describe her experience in Ghana for IUHoosiers.com:
My internship in Africa was such a unique and wonderful experience. I stayed in Ghana for four weeks, while I interned at Good Shepherd Orphanage. It was my first time traveling outside of the United States and I really enjoyed myself and learned a lot. The biggest shock occurred during my first day there, when I realized that there would be no electricity, running water or flushing toilets. I didn't even have lights or a pillow in my room for the first couple of weeks. I would be lying if I said it was not overwhelming at first. However, after a few days I found myself feeling more comfortable and adapting to the very different lifestyle in Ghana.
My first week consisted of familiarizing myself with the language and culture of Ghana. My internship supervisor organized a lot of traveling to different nearby cities. We went to a natural bead market, a few regular markets, botanical gardens, museums, a pineapple farm, and some local orphanages. It was really nice to be able to explore and get comfortable with the area before I started working.
The start of my second week marked the beginning of my official internship. I was placed at Good Shepherd Orphanage. Good Shepherd Orphanage was set up to cater the needs of the helpless and disadvantaged children of Ghana. The Orphanage was established in the year of 2002 with about 10 orphans, now there are over 76 children between the ages of 1-16 living at the home. The center has simple accommodations for the children and the long term goal is to establish a basic schooling background, and also to look after the children inside and outside the home. Apart from sheltering orphans, the center also successfully established a public school for about 300 poor children of the surrounding area.
I was placed in one of the fifth grade classrooms. It was exam week so I spent a lot of time supervising the children while they were testing, grading exams and filling out report cards. After exam week the children started summer break. I fell in love with the kids immediately. It was hard not to because as soon as I came into the classroom all of the children would crowd around and want to be talked to, held or played with. They were very open and welcoming.
During my third week, since it was summer break for the children, I started working at the actual orphanage. This was a lot harder than working at the school. The conditions that the children are living in are upsetting. During my stay there was an outbreak of ringworm and a handful of the children were suffering from it. It was heartbreaking to watch the children try to take care of themselves. While spending time at the orphanage I was involved in a variety of different tasks. I helped clean, shower and feed the children, taught daily hygiene, entertained them, and spent time nurturing and caring for the kids.
My last week in Ghana was by far my favorite. Summer school classes started and I had the opportunity to teach a group of fifth grade students. I taught math everyday for about two hours. I felt really lucky to have the chance to do this.
On the weekends I was free to travel and explore the country. I visited Kumasi, Cape Coast and the country's capital, Accra. I went on a canopy walk, a hike, visited a few slave dungeons, a fish market, and a national park. It was really nice to have free weekends.
Overall, my trip to Africa was an amazing experience and I am so glad I had the chance to go. I fell in love with the children and miss them so much now. I would love to go back some day.
