LearnServe International » Paraguay

Tolerance and Understanding

russom — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:38:42 +0000

The people of Isla Pucu, Santa Ana and San Jose are tolerant and understanding. They communicated with us even without having a common language we can share. This helped us to bond with these students. Relationships were developed quickly without thinking about who and what we are. This helped me to realize that people are people. Everyone can experience the same feelings, thoughts and emotion. Coming on this trip helped me realize my capacity to empathize. While doing the tasks, I often asked myself, “Am I doing this because I was told to do it? Or am I doing this because I am passionate about volunteer work and I want to help improve the lives of many?” I’ve concluded that I was doing it because my passion and that of my fellow LSI peers.

-Niacka

Fourth of July Goodbyes

russom — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:10:09 +0000

For our group, the 4th of July was a day of mixed sentiments. During the evening, the three groups (LSI, Santa Ana and San Jose) came together to celebrate the week’s accomplishments. The groups put on acts along with the slideshow showed of how much of an impact we had made in those few days. The acts depicted just how much need and desire there was on behalf of the community leaders of the Santa Ana community to make change. We could see how deeply the community leaders cared. After the slideshow of all the photos from the week, we ate and did a rendition of the national anthem. The students from Santa Ana had kindly put up American flags and patriotic streamers.

Despite the cheer from the dance and celebration, this was our farewell to the kids of Santa Ana. At the end of the party, we finally had to say our goodbyes. Emails and addresses were exchanged and promises were made to come back. Even though I was leaving, I was still comforted that despite the immense poverty in Santa Ana, we had made a difference, and so had the students from the community center. In the environment group, we showed the kids that they don’t have to have fancy equipment to have fun during recess. We created an entire playground out of bottles and tires, showing them that they can use resources from their school and community to make something really valuable to them. I feel reassured knowing that despite our work time ending, the Santa Ana students will continue to improve and strengthen their community.

-Max

Sense of Accomplishment

russom — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 04:17:17 +0000

During the two weeks I have been here in Paraguay, I have learned so much. Through trips to Isla Pucu and Santa Ana, I learned that I have a good life and that I should not take it for granted. This trip has opened my eyes to see beyond my enclosed surroundings. I learned the value of friendship and you do not have to know the same language to share memories. I feel like I have a sense of accomplishment because I helped children who live across the world from me. The joy we put on their faces gives me uproar of happiness.

During the week, my Sports team took many walks through the Santa Ana neighborhood. On these walks, I saw different walks of life. It felt like the best thing was being able to give clothes to low-income kids. I truly feel like I have done something special in the lives of the children, and I also think that by helping, I have helped future leaders of Santa Ana and San Jose as well.

-Austin

Health Day

russom — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 04:08:08 +0000

When I got to Paraguay, I thought that I had an idea of what to expect. I thought that people would be poor, but not at like this. I discovered a new side of poverty. Last Friday was Health Day at a local school. At first, I didn’t really want to go because I heard people had lice, and I wasn’t interested in getting lice. At the school, the older students played with and attend to the younger kids until snack time. During snack time, everyone got in line and one by one, they started washing their hands. We gave each child a bag of soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and other toiletries. All had huge smiles on their faces. They knew that they had someone that really cared. What impacted me the most is that these kids walked the streets with not shoes and dirty clothes, going from car to car asking for money. I left both sad and terrified about their everyday lives.

-Perla

Field of Dreams

russom — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 02:29:52 +0000

As our time in Paraguay comes to a close, I can’t help but be impressed by the maturity and commitment of the LearnServe students. Working with the students in the medio ambiente group (environment), I saw a drive and motivation that really struck a chord. Upon arriving at the site, there was a swampy, rocky field covered in trash that served as the playground for one of the primary schools. It was no playground. The children entertained themselves by fighting, pushing, or trying to play futbol in any open area. Using mostly recycled materials, such as tires and bottles, a playground was slowly erected. Our students worked tirelessly to hang a giant tire swing to a tree, a regular swing made of tire from another tree, a rope swing on a branch. They also dug trenches into the ground to build a bench and a tire pyramid, which was not easy considering the ground was 20% dirt and 80% rocks and trash. Then everything was painted to give the area a bit of color.

On the last day in Santa Ana, the students were supposed to be participating in a sports day. However, after seeing on Thursday that not everything at our site had been finished, this group of incredible students decided to miss out of the futbol games and relay races to build a soccer field, complete with goal posts and all. Their dedication paid off when the students were released for recess and were given a chance to play on their new playground. The excitement in the air was almost tangible as all lined up to use the new equipment. Giving the students a new playground is not just giving them a place to be kids. It gives them motivation and hope to see that a group from as far away as the US cares enough about them and thinks that they are important enough to come down and work this hard for them. The LSI students, along with our counterparts from Paraguay, really made a difference in the lives of those school children.

-Talia Shnider

Soccer, San Jose & Santa Ana

russom — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:51:00 +0000

Soccer isn’t a sport in Paraguay, it’s a way of life. I have not found one person who doesn’t like soccer here. Everyone has a favorite team, whether it be Olimpia or Cerro (the two major teams here) and plays soccer in the street, in the park, and in the house. So, when Paraguay played Japan in the round of 16, everyone went crazy. People tied Paraguayan flags onto cars, painted their faces, and wore their favorite jerseys. At 10am, all the groups stopped their work in Santa Ana to watch together, crowded around a couple of televisions. I take that back - the whole country stopped working to watch. During the game, I heard no cars in the street. Everyone was inside their house watching the game or listening on the television. Whenever Paraguay got the ball on offense, people screamed “Vamos, vamos,” and when Japan got the ball on offense, everyone screamed “No! Para la pelota!” I have never watched a more exciting game of soccer in my life. The best part of the game was the shoot out. Everyone was nervous, yet excited. Some kids started singing songs about Paraguay, others chanted “Paraguay!” and others just stood quietly and anxiously. Before every kick, the group became silent, only to cheer immediately afterward when Paraguay scored. This happened four times, and at the fifth time, everyone jumped out of their seats and started dancing, because Paraguay had just advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time. People were cheering, crying, laughing, but most of all happy. Everyone in the building had a big smile across their face (only to have it disappear when they realized Paraguay is playing Spain in the next round). The streets exploded with noise too. Honking cars and cheers of “Paraguay, Paraguay,” erupted everywhere, and did not stop. The whole day was crazy about the game.

The San Jose and Santa Ana students we are working with are very different. the San Jose students attend a private Catholic school, wear nice clothing, have big houses and learn English in their spare time. The Santa Ana students live in a village with sewage in the street, a couple of pairs of clothes, and limited access to schooling and medical care. One of the things they both share though is soccer. San Jose students play on the school team, and the Santa Ana students play in the street, but both love the sport. Everyone has a jersey of their favorite player and wears in one game day. The people in LSP are the odd ones out. Soccer isn’t as popular in the US, but we still serve as a mediator between the two groups in work and in sport. Both groups want to share their love for the sport with us and watch us enjoy their pastime. So, during the game we sat with both groups, cheered on Paraguay and celebrated with them. By helping them realize that they are alike in more ways than they think, we brought together two very diverse groups.

Contrasts

russom — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:45:56 +0000

Paraguay is a wonderful country which, like most of its Latin-American counterparts, is full of stark contrasts. Here, there is very distinct contrast is between the rich and poor. The poor live a lifestyle that many of us in North America would consider absolute misery. Paraguay has beautiful landscapes amidst the very humble homes made of wood and tin; gorgeous government buildings; spacious school buildings with a heavy shortage of textbooks, supplies, and technology needed to enhance the learning process for students.

Meeting the Paraguayan families, students, teachers, and community leaders, listening to their stories, and working along side them has probably been the most exciting aspect of this trip for me thus far. It has been especially touching to see the dedication that the teachers/community leaders have shown (and continue to show) to the young people. They care about the future of their students and program participants and really work hard to see them reach their fullest potential. It has really honed in the thought that–regardless of our race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, or gender–people are people, and we all have hopes and dreams, which can best be realized with the help of others.

The LSP10 group has really worked hard to make a positive and strong impact in our short time here. What’s most amazing, though, is that we have probably learned more from those with whom we have been working than they have from us. We have learned how to be grateful for and content with what you have while working hard to get to what you really want! This experience has definitely helped me to rethink my priorities.

-Janice

Distinctions

russom — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 01:25:52 +0000

Last Wednesday (June 30^th), I joined the sports group. One of their objectives was to donate clothes and other items to the needy of Santa Ana. These clothes and various items come from the donations from Learn Serve volunteers.

While walking with the sports group, I noticed a drastic change between the Santa Ana and San José communities. The Santa Ana community lacks a sewage system and pools of water flood parts of the roads. Also, there are many stray animals and the people lack proper clothing and shoes. Many of them are literally live on the side walk and there are others who run a ¨shop¨ at corners of side-walks, selling anything from common items to food. I’ve paid great attention to the poor quality of infrastructure that is present in Santa Ana. There are many who live in shacks for homes.

The students from San José live privileged lives. The things that make up Santa Ana are not present in the communities of San José. Some of the students live in mansions and have maids and butlers while the Santa Ana students don’t have nearly as half of what the students from San José have. However, the San José students want to help their fellow citizens. The collaboration of these different classes is wonderful.

-Niacka

A Jarring Reality

russom — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:50:07 +0000

Time is flying by here in Santa Ana, the poorest neighborhood in the city, located just a quick 10 minute drive from the hotel. Whereas our time in the schools of Isla Pucu was a little more focused on relationship building and simply spending fun time together, here in Santa Ana we are hard at work all day here diligently trying to complete the projects by the end of the week. The time here in Santa Ana is giving students a good perspective on just how impoverished some people live. I think it was harder for students to understand the poverty in Isla Pucu because the simple, slower-paced lives of people in a very rural community was so different in itself and people came off as very happy with their lives. One student noted that he wished his whole school was here for the experience, because it is something you simply have to see with your own eyes and it leaves you changed forever.

Here in Santa Ana, students are taking in a strikingly different reality than what they know and have seen so far, especially as it relates to our discussions about poverty. Not only can they now compare the rural poverty of Isla Pucu to the urban poverty of Santa Ana, but they can also compare the class differences of their San Jose High School host families with their Santa Ana lunch families. The life and environment here in Santa Ana is jarring. As my lunch host mother put it, ¨The homes and lives of the poor are messy.¨ Today the mother and I spent two hours in conversation at lunch about poverty, politics, education, etc. She talked about the ignorance of people in the community because of the lack of education and opportunity to leave the neighborhood for a better life. I have found that our students are coming to the same conclusion and are finding a lot more value in the quality of education they get in the US.

The other aspect of our time here in Santa Ana that stands out to me most is the good examples of leadership that our students get to see here at the community center. The projects we are working on are completely student-led. Santa Ana kids spent the week before we arrived planning out projects that best fit the needs of their community. Now that we are here, they direct the work, organize students, keep projects on pace, and are hard at work themselves. The leaders of the Santa Ana group are truly inspiring in their drive to make change in their communities. My hope is that their model leaves a lasting impact on our students to do the same.

-Caitlin Reilly

Connecting with Host Families

russom — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 04:12:47 +0000

I’m pretty sad about leaving Isla Pucu. The people here were cool, and I got connected to them quickly. I enjoyed every minute of being there and even though leaving was hard, I now realize it would’ve been so much harder if I stayed any longer. Traveling there was such a pleasure, and if we had stayed longer I honestly don’t think I could leave. I’m really nervous about going to Santa Ana because if I get as connected there, I won’t be able to leave Paraguay without being in tears.

Tonight we had the dinner where we first met our new host families. These are students from the Colegio San Jose who join us to volunteer in Santa Ana as a kind of exchange as well. When I first got to my host family’s home, I was excited but extremely nervous because were told that these students came from rich families, and I didn’t think that was something I could connect with. When I met my host brother, I didn’t think we would have anything in common, but we had more in common than I thought we ever would. We like the same music, games and have a similar sense of humor. Meeting the parents was just as surprising. I didn’t think that I would be as accepted as I was, and I really didn’t expect for my host brother to actually want to share a room with me and get to know me.

I’ve learned from the host family experience that everywhere you go, someone will remind you of something dear to you. I’ve learned that people can build trust extremely fast, like genuine trust. I’ve learned that even in two weeks you can build the kind of relationship where you’ll stand up for someone the minute they need support. And most importantly, I’ve learned that LSI is a family.

-DiAnte’