FOG - Dom's January 2001 Report

D o m ' s J a n u a r y 2 0 0 1 R e p o r t

Current Location: Home / Projects / El Recreo / Reports / March 2001

[This letter was sent to us by Dom Dowling - an Australian volunteer who was introduced to Generando Vida by Rob. He stayed there in December 2000 and January 2001, volunteering in the projects and helping where he could. After the earthquake in El Salvador he left El Recreo to help out in El Salvador.]

December 2000 - January 2001

I am currently in Nicaragua working in a barrio in Managua. The barrio itself is classed as being in the very high / extreme poverty status, with very sad and prolific trends of unemployment (about 80%), drug and alcohol abuse and addiction, single-parent families, hunger, loneliness...... All somewhat (!) different to the life and exposure i feel very lucky to have experienced thus far... both at home and in my travels......

So what am i doing? I am working as part of a team of volunteers in various components of the program here..... The program was established and is run by four sisters of the order "Our Lady of Sion"..... i have been spending part of my day at a house where old folks come during the day for company, games and lunch...... i help out in the kitchen, as well as playing games, and generally just being around... chatting, etc..... it is very relaxed.... and am enjoying the chance to wind-down and just let each day happen......

In the afternoons i have been spending time at the school which has been set up to provide the kids of the barrio the opportunities to learn which we all take for granted...... as you can imagine, my afternoons are a little more frenzied than my mornings...... the kids have so much energy... but are also very welcoming and open.......

These two programs had a break over the Christmas / New Year period.... so this afforded me the chance to work with the 'youth at risk / drug addicts' group..... this program operates a house where the kids come to hang-out, take some classes, play games, learn some skills, and be exposed to a different way of life to that of drug addiction....... this also represented a very challenging work, and i've enjoyed the learning and sharing of this time.... whilst being fully aware of the short-term nature of my stay, and the limitations of this......

Highlights: the thing that i am enjoying most about my time here is that i feel very comfortable.... i feel that i am serving in a very practical and simple way..... i am enjoying each day as it comes, and remaining open to all that is around...... i feel that i am living my faith, and being true to me and my beliefs....

The other highlight is experiencing the warm welcome and comfort i feel here, in a barrio which is not really regarded as a safe place to be.....

Challenges: seeing so much need, and being limited in my ability to respond to it all....... i'm really conscious that i am only here for a short time... which is not really enough to make the sort of contribution that i desire.... needless to say that it has really set a fire alight for this type of work..... and there are so many people who need love and respect in the world (and down-town Sydney is no exception!)..... so we'll see where that calling takes me in the coming years!!

I am also finding the language a real challenge..... it is really quite different to A CLASS="g" HREF="/Glossary/index.html#CostaRica">Costa Rica.... a little "lazier", more slang and folk who have not had a great deal of exposure to foreigners and their needs for slow and clear discussion (especially the case when dealing with the old folk and children in the barrio)

No doubt you have all heard of the terrible earthquake in El Salvador (Saturday 13th January) and the heartbreaking situation of many of its victims - who have lost loved ones, homes, food, water and possessions..... As reports of the situation in El Salvador have come through, i have felt a very strong and decisive "calling" to head to El Salvador to aid in the relief operations. I am very lucky that El Salvador is close, and my commitments here in Nicaragua are such that i am available to make the trip north....... and i have received very strong support from the folk here also.