Slightly Frustrated

Some random pictures to get us started before I start ranting and raving. Students practicing healthy habits at the handwashing station the school principal built (using his own time and physical labor : )

A great idea by some of our teachers to hang soap in pantyhose so it doesn't get lost. Builds up a nice lather too!

Me with some students at one of our schools in the mountains.

So during one of my school visits today the principal asked me to go to a meeting the the president and right-hand man of the parent's association. I of course agreed, knowing how valuable face time is to building "confianza" or repoire with the community.

*Sidenote about "confianza": this idea doesn't really exist in the States outside of the realm of personal relationships/friendships. However, here in Guatemala, a lot of one is able to accomplish in their two years of service depends on the confianza or personal relationship they have with their communities and colleagues.

In the states, one is judged by their resume, accomplishments, recommendations etc. Their WORK. But here, even if you were the former president and you started working in a little town with the locals, you would be judged based on your relationship with your co-workers or neighbors rather than your credentials. I had always heard about this phenomena but coming from the states, it's just so hard to imagine that anyone would judge you based on something other than your accomplishments and education. Sometimes its frustrating.

Back on topic, why I'm irritated.

So during this meeting, I carefully laid out the need for and explained the key aspects of the program: If you ask any 5 year old what they should do before they eat they will tell you "wash your hands". But how many of them actually do it? To be healthy in word and in action, the students will all have a toothbrush and toothpaste to school so they can start practicing healthy habits. Also, we will be checking different aspects of their personal hygiene every day to encourage them to come to school with clean clothes, a clean face, hands and nails, etc. (in more detail of course). I wrapped up by asking for questions, concerns or doubts.

Do you know the ONLY question they had?

"So basically all your're bringing is moral support? Are you gonna do any projects or give an economic aid?"

I was half furious, half full of pity, half angry at foreign aid policy (I realize that's a lot of halves but I was feeling a lot of things). They warned us about this in training. All over the world but specifically here in Guatemala, international aid policies and well-meaning but completely ignorant foreigners have ruined any sense of personal-investement or stake in the future that Guatemalans had/could potentially have by creating a reliance on hand-outs.

It's sad to see how much damage can be done when people have a "receiver" mentality based on a constant stream of donted resources. I mean I've certainly done my fair share of donating: clothes, toothbrushes, old electronics, so don't get me wrong, I'm not throwing any stones. This is just something interesting to think about for anyone who still reads this blog: what kinds of traits we are fomenting in the people we are trying to help?

When we tell the teachers that the parents will be responsible for buying their children toothbrushes and toothpaste etc, there are always a few in EVERY group that are quick to inform us that the parents will be unwilling to cooperate or to suggest we look for donations from Colgate the (monopolizing) toothpaste company in Guatemala. Some even angrily ask us why the government isn't providing the children with toothbrushes. This is NOT the government's job! Each parent needs to invest in the health of their children because, in the end, the government won't be there to pay to extract teeth, to buy giardia medication etc.

Being an outsider, it's pretty easy to see how years and years of thoughtful donations has done severe damage to the Guatemalan mentality, making it extremely difficult for sustainable progress to occur.

This damage can even bee seen in terms of non-tangible resources. We always begin our meetings by explaining (in various ways) that we will not personally give health lessons to the students or train the parents 0n health concepts on behalf of the Health Center. Why? Because when we return home, the teachers and professional will not be able to carry on the work because we organized and did everything ourselves. Therefore, it's better for everyone in the community that we train the professionals to give any necessary workshops and build up the knowledge base and competency of those who will remain in the community.

Despite explaining this multiple times in various ways, the idea has yet to sink in for our teachers and Health Center that we should not and are not there to do their job for them. It's very difficult to get everyone on the same page. In the past, the presence of volunteers/aid was a clear indication that the locals should step back and allow the more knowledgable, better equipped foreigners to handle everything. After working only a few months in development, I can see why this is indeed easier for the volunteers.

Training professionals requires patience, extra resources and a fair amount of time in both the long and short-term. But avoiding the necessary has not only stymied real and sustained progress but ingrained in Guatemalans a mentality that the onus lies on the volunteer and that the outsider is more capable than the local.

So now that that's all out...I feel only slightly better. But the real question is where do we go from here?

That's tough. But one thing I do know: from now on I will think twice before donating material resources. It's important to be mindful of the long-term effects of our actions, no matter how generous or pure our intentions. Giving "stuff" is hard to label as bad when people need shoes and toothbrushes right? I would say not exactly. The average family living in the villages that I've lived in/visited buys Coke or Pepsi products regularly, has a TV (many have cable) and buys other non-necessity items. Receiving the necessities via donation more deeply ingrains in every generation the idea that things like toothbrushes, shoes, combs, etc are not the parent's responsiblity to buy but rather a right that each has to receive free of charge.

My suggestion--besides giving up a few weeks, months or years to participate in sustainable change--a great way is to donate to organizations that are investing the time to train professionals and locals to get what they need for themselves.

I hope this has been infomational. Perhaps you've even started you thinking about the impact our donations have on local mentalities and are evaluating the type of volunteer services that you have given/hope to give in the future. If so, I can rest a little easier knowing that at least the word is out and maybe, just maybe, we can start doing things the right way.

Thanks for listening to my rant : 0)

Yuna