To get to one girl's home, we had to cross a wide strip of desert that was uninhabited due to the presence of power lines (which don't supply power to most of the nearby buildings). It was somewhat surreal to be walking across the hot sand, surrounded by jagged mountains with a view of huts scattered few hundred meters in the distance. The juxtaposition of the stark beauty of the natural surroundings and the despair of the sporadic trash heaps and ramshackle homes was jarring. Magge has used the term "post-apocalyptic" to describe her barrio before, but until yesterday, I had thought that was too severe a description for my barrio. However, as we walked, I couldn't think of a more appropriate way to describe the area. I wouldn't have been completely shocked to see Mad Max come out from one of the homes, which are made from reeds and plastic tarp, rather than the concrete slab constructions closer to the school.
The most amazing part, however, is that the kids were completely oblivious to the conditions. They were running, laughing, playing tag and using abandoned contruction sites as play complexes. I'm sure that as they grow older and become more aware of what they do and do not have, most of their attitudes will change, but for the moment, it is refreshing to see their innocence.
That's enough of clichéd, heartrending prose for one week. I will try to get back to my usual schedule of eating weird animals and making fun of other tourists.
* Note: This picture is of a home in Magge's barrio, not mine, but it is typical of the homes in the barrios surrounding Trujillo.
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Jeff and Magge,
ReplyDeletePuts a bit of a lump in your throat. If we can help financially in some way - supplies for the school or something, let us know.
Dad
The joys of being a child: simply live and play to one's heart's content. Those days for us seem so far away... It is hard to imagine the state in which these people live. It's one thing to read about such living conditions it's another to actually witness it first hand. Truly heartrending - Yes, Jeffrey, you are making me count my many blessings. Thank You! xo
ReplyDeleteFinancial support is a tricky proposition. I was thinking of sponsoring one of the kids I often work with, but after talking to some other volunteers, I'm not convinced that the money would be completely for the kid's benefit. It appears that a good chunk of it would get diverted into the organization's general use of funds. That's a South American non-profit for you.
ReplyDeleteI've bought some supplies for my school directly, rather than donate money.
My first trip to Latin America was to Panama when Josh was 6 months old. Jim and I were working with the US employees in the Canal Zone to help with the transistion to Panamanian rule. We were invited to an elegant party in Panama City in a penthouse apartment over looking the Panama Canal. The route to the party was through the bario, cardboard homes everywhere on top of one another. The juxtaposition of the cardboard homes and the penthouse has never left me. When I was a young woman I wanted to fix every cardboard home there was, the older I have gotten the more I realize I can only fix what I can touch. It sounds like you have already begun to figure that out, so good for you. But count your blessings, hug the folks you love, and make as big a difference as you can. I am so proud of the two of you.
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