Volunteer Update: Challenge One, Challenge Two

Lately I have been posting a lot about the places we've traveled and the sights we've seen so our family and friends can be updated along the way.

Today I want to update you on the real work we've been doing in the community, which many times cannot be photographed.

Our intention for this trip was to volunteer our time and skills to a less fortunate area. San Antonio Rio Hondo is a village of 500 people located thirty minutes outside of Orange Walk Town. Rod, our host, worked here with the Peace Corps several years ago and has resided here in the houseboat for the last four years.  He has worked to bring a library and internet to the area and is working to develop farming and trash collection systems as well as encouraging women to create crafts for fair trade.

When we decided to visit this village and Rod, I had this idea in my mind of people meeting regularly at the community center, gaining skills and making a better life for themselves.  I imagined being introduced to a crowd and having an audience to invite to skill-building workshops.  I imagined a bustling library and a demand for sewing equipment.

What I have found is real life.  People working, and washing, and cooking, and just trying to make it.  I see generations of families living the way they always have.  I see a small village separated by houses, each family sticking to themselves, TV's blaring, just like in some of our neighborhoods back home.  I see people just living their day-to-day lives, not worried about "making it better."  And who are we to say it's not ok just the way it is?

One book I read in preparation for this trip was Ripples on the Zambezi by Sirolli, an Italian aide worker who found that many aide operations assume that the western way is the better way and actually harm communities by offering help that is not useful.  He says the number one rule for aide should be "If they don't ask for help, leave them alone."  I wonder how many of these people here live perfectly happy lives without us.  I think many are either happy with their lot or possibly unsure of how to change or unwilling to find out.

Think about it- we are all human.  How many of you accept your life as-is, with all its challenges?  How many of you know there are things you could do to improve your life- lose the weight, get out of debt, go back to school, get a different job, sell something, make new choices, think of a new creative solution?  All of you?  Good.  Now how many of you are truly motivated to DO those things, especially HARD things like getting out of debt or losing weight? How many of you know what you could do but don't do it?  Because its difficult, extremely difficult to change.  To summon up the extra energy it takes outside of your daily day tasks and choose a new path takes courage, motivation, and hard work.  A good friend of mine once told me "Many people miss opportunity because it's disguised as hard work."

And now you see.  Change is hard.  For everyone, everywhere.  Especially in the midst of laundry and dishes and work and school and rent and kids and illness and LIFE.

This is Challenge Number One: Awareness, Change, and Motivation

There is no line of people at my door in the morning saying "Help!  I need to change."  But there are a few people who DO want to change, who are passionate about new ideas for themselves and their community.  These are the people I am looking for.  One by one I am meeting the locals (since there is almost no community events) and listening for enthusiasm.  Remember, this is their life, they know no different.  Who cares if their showers are cold or their houses are hot?  Who cares about bug bites or trash on the streets?  For many it has always been that way.  They grew up in this village, got married, and live in a three-walled shack across from their family like the woman in these pictures.  (Notice, however, the satellite TV dish.) 

This brings me to Challenge Number 2:  Priorities and Choices

Beyond knowing the problem and being motivated to fix it lies Priorities and Choices.  It is the same back at home.  We try to tell people it's unhealthy to smoke, yet many people do anyway.  Or they're overweight.  Or they spend too much and rack up debt.  Or they are stressed out but don't make time to meditate.  Often information and resources are available but people still don't change. Sometimes the first thing that needs to change is priorities.  Here the wages are low, yet most people have TV, even the family in this three-walled house.  Often they lease the TV or take out loans with interest for them.  They buy disposable diapers for their babies.  Many families survive on just the husband's meager labor income.  Many would like to send their kids to school but it seems too expensive.  Now I am not denying things are tough and many lower income families (everywhere) seem to have limited choices.  I agree that part of the problem is simply education (money management education for example) but education does no good for people who are unwilling to learn or unwilling to change. 

Again, my mission here has become to find those people who are enthusiastic, those who are passionate and motivated, those who have chosen change as a priority and are willing to work to get it, and help them grow.  Help them grow a garden or build a house or learn a skill or start a business. Help them do something different and set a good example for others.  Help the reach their highest potential.

I think this community has many resources available and many people who could do great things.  It may be the third world but there are still so many options for growth (sometimes many more than at home!)  I do not support the idea that things are harder here just because it's the third world, or because they are poor, or because whatever.  There are resources and choices abundant everywhere.  It is up to each person to reach out and take advantage of the resources and support available to them.  Nobody can change another.  You must change yourself. 

It's funny to me to be so far from home in such a strange place with seemingly different challenges on the outside but the SAME human challenges on the inside.  Fear, despair, apathy, greed, hatred, delusion.  Like Dr. Seuss wrote in Horton Hears a Who "A person's a person, no matter how small." I hope that by alleviating some of these human challenges through support and guidance the people around me (everywhere) can follow their passion and live a fulfilled life.

In conclusion, even though I can't take a photograph of my work, know that I am here supporting change, encouraging change, facilitating change for those interested.  And hopefully this will create the best kind of change- lasting change.