Have you eaten all your soup?
“It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. You’ve grown. Have you eaten all your soup?” Little kids and adults alike giggle at his greeting. José Luis Echeverria has been involved with Mi Cometa for the majority of its 14 years of existence.

He was first involved in the neighborhood children’s groups that were central to the formation of this community development organization. He later participated in the “School of Leaders of the New Millennium,” one of Mi Cometa’s programs that now provides leadership training to youth in different regions of Ecuador. He was part of the “Children’s Congress,” and traveled the country with 30 other young people gathering data on the needs and desires of children all over Ecuador. Using this information, the group wrote and then successfully lobbied Congress to include children’s rights in Ecuador’s constitution, and helped write the “Code of Children and Youth,” passed by Congress in 2003, which further elaborates and codifies the rights of the child.



It is hard to describe Movimiento Mi Cometa. In its title it is called a “movement,” and that seems accurate. When I try to put its energy into words, I find I cannot separate the organization from the people. They are energetic and determined, and clearly guided by a vision. Cesar, the president of the organization, articulates most precisely what these 14 years have been about. The objective of this development organization in his words is to develop a generation of citizens who exercise their rights. Over the years, this vision has led young people like José Luis to work with children in his neighborhood, in the country, to bring their voices to the ears of the powerful, both in Ecuador and outside her borders.

In 1999 José went to Columbia representing Mi Cometa and Ecuador for the “Encounter of Social Actors of the Century XXI,” a meeting organized by Ashoka. In 2001 he traveled to Chile to represent Ecuador at an Organización de Estados Americanos (the Organization of American States) meeting, where he made a presentation on Children’s Rights to the group, which included people such as Colin Powell. In relating this experience, he tells of how he felt so out of place at first; he was17, and surrounded by foreign dignitaries used to such meetings. That feeling soon faded; he describes how warmly he was received, how those same seemingly intimidating dignitaries gathered around him after his presentation to talk to him further about his ideas, and to invite him to dinner. His eyes glow when he talks about the meeting; it was a beautiful experience in his life.

Around Mi Cometa, José’s friends call him “Flaco” (Skinny), greeting him with a handshake or the traditional besito (little kiss) on one cheek. His gelled hair like brown grass reaches up; long eyelashes frame dark eyes, transparent windows to his thoughts. His crooked teeth are usually involved in a smile, laugh or conversation, and his sincere goodness and charming humor get him out of the hot water he sometimes gets himself into. Kids call out to him when we walk through the barrio, and he often scoops up some little one to question her about the status of her soup consumption. A black leather bracelet wraps each of his wrists, concealing underneith a strip of lighter skin, evidence of the strength of the Guayaquil sun. Although usually in a t-shirt and jeans, teasing people and asking if they’ve eaten their soup, there is something special about this 20-year-old vice president of Mi Cometa.

José graduated from high school last year and hopes to begin school soon to become a lawyer focusing on human or civil rights. Right now he’s working at Mi Cometa full time for the Head start-type program they do, and with me on the Children’s Community Animation Program. He calls me “Jefa” (boss), and I return the nickname, “Jefe,” and we often talk about how lucky we are to be working together. We have the same vision for this project, and I imagine I light up the way he does when he talks of the transformative potential of children. When we discuss the youth in our group of animadores (youth leaders) he often identifies with the shy young ones, saying, “I was like that when I first came here; and they taught me.” We have great hope for the youth leaders who will organize the 3 community groups in the various zones of Guasmo Sur, and after our weekly meetings with them we walk away brainstorming how to draw on their strengths and present them opportunities to grow.

Beyond our common vision, passion for this type of work and direct communication styles, our skills compliment each other. We can both draw on past leadership training and children’s development work, and I get to organize to my heart’s content, as he is a pile-maker. I draw daily on what I learned in my master’s program, analyzing the environment in which we work, gathering input from the community here, defining our program’s objectives and trying to figure out how to measure if we are effectively meeting our goals. I work together with Jose and the animadores to complete these steps as we attempt to create a strong base for this program and empower the children and youth of Guasmo Sur.

José’s depth of experience with human rights and children’s organizations in Ecuador is invaluable, and his sense of humor and friendship have helped lessen the loneliness I usually feel when I go abroad alone. I still feel it, but not as often as I have in the past. My silent retreat this summer, José, Ceci (my “mom” here), the warm community that is Mi Cometa, the kids, and the fulfillment I feel from this work have all helped with the transition. I am amazed at how much my work here taps into my passions and draws on all I’ve studied and done for the past 10 years.

My job description and title has been explained in various ways to me since I began planning to come here, and so when at our last staff meeting Cesar, the President of Mi Cometa, said that I am the coordinator of this Children’s Program, and Jose is my assistant, who will learn much from me, we laughed. Jose began calling me Master Jedi, and himself Luke Skywalker. May the force be with us.
- posted by little monk @ 3:03 PM