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27 July 2010
Tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Devereaux Swaim but at school, I´m known as Seño Vero. I´m an 18 year old North Carolinian (from the States) and went to Guatemala during my gap year between high school and university. After spending a month teaching English in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I came to Guatemala to work at Escuela Proyecto la Esperanza (and completely fall in love with everything about Guatemala and the school). I love the Spanish language and my goal in life is to be able to speak completely fluently. Although I can already read, write, understand, and speak at a higher level than I was able to when I first began learning the language, I´ve still got a ways to go. Not only do I love the language, but I´m totally fascinated with the entire Latin American culture and especially that of Guatemala. Although I´m still unsure of my plans following graduation from university, when I begin my studies this coming August, I´m going to study Spanish. During my time studying at university, I hope to be able to return to Guatemala and the school whenever I have vacation time (and money to pay for the flight!!). We´ll see what happens!
Since when have you been a volunteer and how did you hear about the school?
In September of 2009, I started work with a third grade class at the primary school. I was a volunteer in the classroom until the end of November of the same year and, in the following February, I returned in order to continue working for three additional months with the same students, who are now in fourth grade. I heard about the school through APPE Spanish language school.
Describe what you do in the school during the week.
In the classroom, I help Profe Hugo correct the students´ work, keep control of the children when Hugo has to leave the classroom for some reason or another, and I attempt to explain mathematic concepts, because the kids still have a lot of difficulty in that subject. They find multiplication and division particularly tough, so many times I have to sit with them and work through each problem that they´re given in an attempt to help them understand how and why we do math. In addition, I´ve made quite a few posters, illustrating different concepts from maths, language and communication, and citizenship. I help give out the snack during the morning and juice during lunchtime.
What else have you managed to do during your time as a volunteer?
Often, I´m asked to help out in the office of the school. There, I help translating various documents or making brochures and flyers for the Foundation. The first time I came to the school, I was able to accompany some other volunteers to visit and carry food to the homes of several of the poorest families in the school, many of whom live in Vista Hermosa (an extremely impoverished neighbourhood located in the mountains of Jocotenango). When I returned to Guatemala the second time, I brought with me money that I had raised in the States in order to be able to help out the families of the students at the school. I bought and delivered food for several families, provided four families with beds, and bought sheets of metal with which six families were able to repair their roofs. In addition, I was able to use some of the money that I raised, in addition to some of my own money, to pay for the sponsorship of two boys from my class—Guliber Morales Elías and Hector Anibal Xobin.
What do you like most about the school?
I love the happiness and joy of everyone in the school—students, teachers, and volunteers. Everyone is so happy to be in the school and it´s seriously contagious. The students form friendships with both their classmates and their teachers, and the teachers show joy in teaching the students. During recess, the courtyard is full of smiling faces. Everywhere you look, children are running and playing and sharing snacks and it´s a lovely sight to be seen. I enjoy every single moment that I spend in the school. It´s for this reason that I spend as much time there as possible. I usually arrive at 7:30 in the morning and don´t leave until somewhere around 4:45 in the afternoon. I can´t get enough of being with the students and teachers of the school.
What have been some of your best moments as a volunteer and why?
The day that I returned to the school for the second time, after two months of not being there, was one of the best days of my entire life. I had waited to return since the moment I left to go back to the States, thinking every single day of the students and the teachers, who are some of my best friends in Guatemala. Another awesome moment was the conversation I had with the two boys I sponsor, who hadn´t before realized that I was their sponsor. Since my nickname at school is quite a bit different from my real name (Devereaux is strange even to us English-speakers), they hadn´t made the connection between the name of their sponsor and the ¨gringa¨ that worked in their classroom. When I told them the news, Hector and Guliber looked at each other, and then at me, faces completely shocked. They asked me excitedly to write down my real name, as it is in the States, and when they saw that it was indeed the same name as their sponsor, they couldn´t stop smiling. Aside from this, I truly enjoyed the day I spent with my students last fall, playing football in a horse field in Azotea for hours as a way to celebrate the final week before exams started. And I love all of the holiday celebrations that we have at school---Carnival Day, Children´s Day, Valentine´s Day, etc.
What have been some of your most difficult moments as a volunteer and why?
For me, it is unbelievably difficult to leave from the school when my time here is up because I´d honestly like to stay here forever instead of return to the States to start university. Aside from this, the only true challenge or frustration I´ve come across has been finishing spending the money I raised. I knew what I wanted to do with it and how to spend it, but I had to wait until we had compiled a list of families in need of beds and roof pieces. After this had been done, I had to wait for a day when a teacher or other staff member was available to accompany me to go buy and distribute the items. This waiting was only frustrating for me because I was afraid I wouldn´t have enough time to get it all done before having to return to the States. Fortunately, I ended up having more time than I´d expected because I changed my ticket to go back home one month after I´d originally planned. This change was absolutely necessary, since I never want to leave from Guatemala and was able to put off my duties back home for another few weeks (:
What suggestions would you make in order to improve the school in the future?
Honestly, though I´m sure there are many things that could be done to improve the school, I can´t think of a single one. It seems to me like the teachers are extremely well chosen and qualified for their work. And a great variety of classes are offered at the school so that the students can receive a great education to well-prepare them for life. I´m amazed at how well the school runs and the pace at which the students learn and can only tell you guys to keep up the good work. Thank you so much for all that you do.
You sponsor two kids at the primary school, how has it felt to be able to meet and develop a relationship with your sponsor kids?
I realize how truly lucky I am to have been able to spend so much time in the school and actually develop a strong relationship with all of the children in my class, and with my sponsored children especially. I love sitting with the children and talking about their families, friends, favourite things to do and whatever other detail of their lives that comes up. I feel as if I get to know the children better every day. And I´m constantly learning from them—there´s always something new they can share with me. As I already said, the day that Hector and Guliber realized I was their sponsor was one of the most unforgettable moments of my life. It made me feel so happy that I was able to be their sponsor and I´m just hoping with all of my heart that I´ll be able to be their sponsor at least until they graduate from sixth grade.
What message would you give to people that are thinking about coming to Guatemala to visit the Project, the kids and/or be a volunteer?
If it´s possible, do it. And, once you´ve arrived at the school, make the most of every single moment that you spend there with the children. Feel free to ask whatever question comes to mind because, with curiosity, comes learning. There´s so much to learn at the school, not only from the teachers, but from the students as well. Get to know them and find out their stories. It will mean so much more to you if you do. And, who knows? Maybe you´ll end up like me, totally in love with every single aspect of the school.
What advice would you give to volunteers so that they can get the best out of their time as a volunteer?
I highly recommend raising money before arriving to the project so that you´ll be able to make a donation to the foundation and/or families of the students. No matter how small an amount of money it is, you can definitely make a difference. And it´s worth it, particularly if you get the chance to visit some of the families of the students in order to see how they live. And spend as much time as possible with the students in the school. If you don´t know how to ask your teacher, ask him or her. There´s always something that can be done to help out the school or the Foundation and you just need to ask to find out what you can do. Make an effort to get to know each and every child in the classroom to which you´re assigned and form a friendship with them. During recess, play with the children as if you were still a child. Enjoy your time at the school. This project has seriously changed my life and I hope to continue returning here for the rest of my life. Perhaps you´ll have an equally as incredible experience. I sure hope so (:
How can the teachers help volunteers so that they have a better experience as a volunteer?
In my experiences, I´ve felt extremely useful and helpful in the classroom. Both Profe Josué and Profe Hugo asked for my help and were always extremely grateful for what I did, even when it was something as small as copying a chart out of the textbook onto a poster board. Aside from being able to help out making posters and other things for the classroom, I think it´s very important to get involved in school activities. Communication between teacher and volunteer is extremely important because that way the volunteers know what´s going on at the school and when. By speaking daily with the teachers, I know about the various special events and activities at the school and I´m able to show up prepared for whatever. For example, if Profe Hugo hadn´t told me how Carnival Day (Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent) is celebrated in Guatemala, there´s no way I would´ve known to bring confetti, nor to wear a costume. And, without these two crucial elements, the day wouldn´t have been nearly as enjoyable for me.
Do you think that you will come back some day?
Since I´ve already returned for the second time, I´m positive that I´ll be back again, perhaps multiple times. Now, I´d truthfully prefer to stay here in Guatemala, working in the school, instead of returning to the United States to study at university. I´m already trying to come up with some way to be here at the school with ¨my students¨ for the end of their sixth grade year, up until their graduation. Hopefully everything will go well and I´ll find a way. But I definitely think that this is just my second visit of many more to come (:
How can volunteers carry on supporting the school once they have gone back to their country?
Keep in contact with the teachers and the Foundation through the internet and email in order to know what´s happening at the school and with the students. If they´re the sponsors of some kids, they can send cards and gifts to their sponsored children and speak with them on Skype. Raise money in order to make a donation to the Foundation so that they can continue doing such an awesome job of helping out the communities of Jocotenango, San Felipe, and Antigua.