Adolescents trained to organize and lead children, who gain positive identity, learn and defend human rights, gain self-esteem, identify and advocate for change in their impoverished community
Theme: Human Rights Location: Ecuador Need: $66,518
Previous Posts
::Photos Photos and More Photos::
::Of love and parasites in a Guayaquil winter::
::Fuera Lucio - Overthrow of President Gutierrrez::
::On our own doorstep::
::Bizarre Week::
::Lindo Quito::
::Mom takes over the Blog::
::Luz y Sombra (Light and Shadow)::
::Tables, cows and movie stars::
::Introduction to my Blog::
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Gringa in Guayaquil
Sunday, July 17, 2005
La nina and the rest of the kids
“Close your eyes,” Jose Luis said, then led me down the hall of Mi Cometa. I heard him unlock a door, and felt the door frame as I shuffled into the room I knew belonged to PAIC. PAIC stands for Programa Animación Infantil Comunitaria (Children’s Community Animation Program) and is the program I helped get going and coordinated since October when I arrived in Ecuador.
Jose was my right hand (19-year-old) man all year, and for the last six months we have been creating a leadership structure within the group of youth leaders. And as the time got closer for me to return to the US, we reorganized things so they and Jose took on more and more responsibility. The last month I was in Guayaquil, I spent my time primarily working on my photo essay, and served as an advisor to Jose and the teenagers running the program. I also traveled some, wanting to see more of the beautiful country before I returned to the United States. The day Jose led me into the PAIC office I had just returned from one of my traveling adventures, and he was excited to show me what he and the kids had done in my absence.
“Open your eyes now!”
I opened my eyes to see a room transformed – the previously bare walls had been painted bright orange and blue. A plush couch and two chairs were set up in one corner, designed to be a hang-out for the teenagers. In another corner a little office was taking shape, a bookshelf, donated table and laptop making up the workspace. I giggled as I remembered how a few weeks before I was the lone adult at a slumber party the youth leaders organized.
I suspect slumber parties have been imported to Ecuador via the media, because none of the 15 teenagers had been to one before, and no one brought a sleeping bag. Several parents expressed concern that the boys and girls were staying in the same space, and I promised to protect their daughters. We watched a movie, ate chips and told ghost stories, and at the end of the night I arranged a row of boys to sleep along one wall, a row of girls sleeping along the wall next to me. After I don’t know how many hours of them giggling and screaming about la nina (the girl), a ghost rumored to live at Mi Cometa, we finally fell asleep on the sandy cement floor with sheets over the top of us.
The PAIC office was a different place this morning, and I thought la nina would probably not like the cheerful atmosphere and bright colors. Jose told me that a group of kids had spent two consecutive Sundays painting, and how they told him they weren’t leaving until it was finished when he wanted to leave. We sat on the couches and spent a few minutes grinning as we talked about how much our 15 youth leaders have grown over the past 9 months.
14-year-old Ana worked closely with me before she took charge of the administrative aspect of the program (she now sends me monthly reports), and she has helped stretch the money my friends generously donated for the program before I left for Ecuador . When I first arrived Ana was a timid, studious girl who rarely left her house; she is now looked up to as a leader amongst her peers, and recognized by those who work with her for her intelligence, insight, honesty and sharp wit.
Ana with one of the kids
Ana and Jose are joined by 20-year-old Julio Cesar, they are the PAIC Leadership Team, and now that I have left Julieta, one of the founders of Mi Cometa, is their advisor, bringing her wealth of knowledge to the program. Thank you again to those of you who donated money for this children’s empowerment program back in September before I went to Ecuador! The money you donated has bought soccer and basketballs, art, office and training supplies, legos and the paint that has brightened our workspace. It has enabled us to take the children on field trips and the youth leaders on retreats, to organize parties for the kids celebrating the holidays and the International Day of the Child. It has paid Jose Luis a small salary so he could work full time on PAIC.
The kids coloring
Retreat and Camping Trip for the Animadores...
Field trip to a water park
- posted by little monk @ 2:23 PM
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