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25 May 2011
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I left the UK three years ago with the dream of travelling to each mainland country in North and South America on my motorcycle. After clocking up over 65,000 miles I've now visited all 23 countries and I'm still on the road. On my travels I met EFTC’s Guatemala Coordinator Amy Holly and I decided that I would like to volunteer at the school.
Describe what you did at the school as a volunteer.
The new school had only just opened and there was a huge pile of donated computer equipment to sort through. I assisted another volunteer in setting up enough PC's to equip a functioning computer room enabling I.T. lessons to take place.
I sorted the library books into categories and helped supervise the room as we set about demonstrating to the children the importance of maintaining a quiet space for reading. What a success that room has been!
The opportunities to assist the staff and students are plentiful. I helped Patti, one of the school’s Directors, in taking photos of the children for school records and for their individual sponsors; I contributed to English classes with the older students; I helped out with lunchtime duties like washing up or slicing fruit; at the end of each day I removed footballs from the roof; I helped out as a classroom assistant for the youngest students; I translated letters from sponsors as well as sitting down with the children to help them write replies to their respective sponsors; but most importantly of all I played with the children and gave them as much time and attention as I could.
What do you like most about the school?
The community atmosphere at the school is incredible, there is a real sense that everyone at the school is pulling in the same direction. I noticed how the teacher student relationships are very healthy; there is loving, mutual respect. The school provides a safe and secure environment to both play and learn, and I don't think any of this is lost on the children. I took my education for granted; none of the children at the school appear to do that.
What were some of your best moments as a volunteer and why?
The unconditional affection of the children was overwhelming at first, especially coming from a society where physical contact with children that aren't your own is often frowned upon. As soon as I entered the school children flung their arms around me and demanded I play with them. It would take someone with a stone heart not to be won over by their collective charm offensive. Seeing the enjoyment of the simple things that we take for granted was also refreshing. The children seem genuinely excited to brush their teeth or wash when so many of them come from homes without access to clean water. Many families have few toys let alone books so to see such a strong desire to read and improve their literacy by spending spare time in the library also made me feel very proud to be associated with the school.
What were some of your most difficult moments as a volunteer and why?
Seeing the harsh reality of extreme poverty was tough, not just from visits to family homes in the shanty towns but also in the hygiene standards and clothing of the children. Most of the children are perfectly turned out for school, and then you spot a piece of string holding up their trousers. Not having access to running water for a family can make washing a challenge. I first thought one child had a mild form of eczema when I observed her dry skin caused by lack of bathing opportunities. Knowing how important a bath and bedtime routine is for young families back in the UK made the realisation that hygiene can be a luxury a difficult reality check to absorb. On another occasion a six year old turned up to school in a threadbare baby-grow because he had no other clothes to wear. He has since gained a sponsor who also donated clothing to the family. Children in Guatemala die of preventable illnesses because they may not have access to clean water or health care, or in one family’s case, the mother had died due to exposure to fumes from the family stove. Tragedy seems so close to the surface for many in Guatemala and I was pleased to see that aspects affecting the children’s wellbeing outside of the school are also being tackled through the provision of water filters, clean cooking stoves and access to a school run safe house project to house vulnerable children.
What suggestions would you make in order to improve the school in the future?
I noticed that Scholarship students were working as classroom assistants, which I think is a great idea, but I think there is scope to give responsibility to older students too, much in the way that we have the prefect system in the UK. Offering a recognised position to students who behave responsibly would help set an aspirational example to the younger children.
You decided to sponsor two little girls at the school. Tell us about what made you decide to do this and how it felt to meet the girls and their families and develop a relationship with them during your time at the school.
As you can imagine on a journey as long as mine I have observed much poverty which can leave you feeling powerless to effect a change. But spending time with the community at Jocotenango made me understand that whilst as an individual you might not be able to cure world poverty you can certainly make a difference, even if it is for just one child and their family. So my parents and I have committed ourselves to sponsoring two 6 year old girls who are in their first year at the school. It was hard to process witnessing the outward happiness of the children and their families once I had visited their homes and seen the challenge that extreme poverty presents them. I firmly believe that a major contributing factor that can elevate people from a life of poverty is their attitude to education and I hope that by providing long distance support to the families it will enable the children to better the life prospects and opportunities for both them and their families.
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 you do make it to Guatemala be prepared for the outpouring of unconditional love you'll receive at the school. It is hard to believe the background of many children when you're subjected to such a warm welcome. Volunteering at the school is not work, it will probably be one or the best life experiences you'll ever have. The perverse reality is that the more love and attention you give the more you receive back. The school broke my heart and I left feeling undeserving of the affection I received.
What advice would you give to volunteers so that they can get the best out of their time here?
Scrub up on your Spanish; the more you have the better your experience will be, although as I discovered having a limited vocabulary won't prevent you from joining in. Throw yourself into the heart of the school, look for ways to help out and just get stuck in. Engage with as many children as you can, if you have a skill use it. If you can juggle, show them. If you can play football, join in with the kids. Many children, even if they come from a loving family background, do not receive one-on-one adult attention. Spoil them- they deserve it.
Do you think that you will come back some day?
I sincerely hope one day I can return to the school although as ever it comes down to time and money. I formed so many connections with the students that I would love to come back to retrieve footballs from the school roof, cut oranges at lunch time and hug the children one more time.
How can volunteers carry on supporting the school once they have gone back to their country?
Raising awareness of the project through your network of friends and family is easy. You could even encourage the sponsorship of children; something that I think would be of special benefit to families with children of a similar age. You can support the charity’s’ various fundraising initiatives just by spreading the world on social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. Create a JustGiving page for yourself, print up some business cards with the web address on, and the next time someone offers to “buy you a drink” ask them to send it to Guatemala instead.