When we learned this a few weeks ago, I was informed in a meeting that they wanted me to help with an English Tutoring workshop for the students. Later that week I became the organizer of the entire day. I had to get the bus route organized, set up a lunch fundraiser, send home permission forms and info, and find 5-6 volunteers to teach sessions. The purpose of the day was to train the students by providing them with strategies, knowledge, and resources to use to help tutor students in the school with low English and also to consider careers or side jobs teaching English. All of the preparation work was stressful but turned out well on Monday. However, the day was super stressful for many reasons. First of all, 3 teachers over 90 students is not fun especially when they are dealing with so many changes at one time. They didnt have to wear their uniforms, they are on vacation from normal school days, they are learning stuff they will not be tested on and most likely will not use in the near future, etc. The morning was difficult trying to get them all quiet, then any transition time between sessions was crazy and I was constantly worrying if students were where they should be. Other staff was at school while this was going on, just doing other stuff so they couldn't be available to monitor students. All of the teachers were saying "just make it through the day and it will be a success" because we wouldn't be able to get much more out of the students this week. I did make it through the day and it did get easier as the day went on but I do not want to do it again, at least not without some other staff helping out.
Tuesday's event was service projects around the city to help students complete their required service hours for graduation. The staff was assigned to groups as chaperones. All groups traveled south to the poor part of the city were most of the service projects would take place. Our group went to a homeless and rehabiliation center called Hogar Nuevo Nacimiento (house of new birth). This shelter, which is funded by the government, was very nicely put together and seems to be sucessful in its efforts. The families live their for 6 months while they try to get their life stable for being on their own. Some of the families are their because of economic struggles, 
others because of drug and alcohol problems, and some because their husbands left them on the street pregnant with 5 kids. Each family has a room with a bathroom and a bed for every family member. They are fed and given a few pieces of clothes as well. While there, they are expected to keep their living space clean as well as help out around the shelter by cleaning, caring for the children, and cooking meals. After the 6 months they are expected to move into an apartment and find a job. I am not sure what happens if they do not do this or if they are unable to find a home or job. The situations that these families are in is heartbreaking. Many of the families are single moms and their many children, most moms expecting, and no father because they leave the 
women when they are pregnant and the women always take them back when they decide to return to the family. Other families have both parents but one or both may be dealing with an addiction and not supporting the family therefore they were out on the streets. Then there is Florecita. She is a mentally retarded mother, with one child and expecting a second, both from her stepfather who raped her and is now in prison. She cannot take care of herself because of her disability and definitely cannot care for her children. It is so hard to comprehend that someone could be so sick to do such a thing, but unfortunately it happens.So anyway, I guess I was reminded that a stressful day at school is nothing compared to the lives of other people such as those at Hogar Nuevo Nacimiento. It was a good experience and I am glad that I finally got a chance to get down south outside of my box here in northern Bogota.
1 comment:
Good for people to know.
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