“Women hold up half the sky.” – Mao Tse-Tung

Rostro de Cristo (Face of Christ)Duran, EcuadorJuly 2011  

I had never before recognized how strangers—who soon turned to friends—could have such a strong and boundless love despite distance, language, or circumstance. The people of Duran open their hearts and homes to strangers. They showed me how to appreciate my life because I had somehow forgotten how lucky I am. The people of Duran, Ecuador changed my life. It is because of this experience that I decided to go on the trip to South Africa. As much as my heart strings keep pulling me to go back to Ecuador, I don’t know if that will be a reality for me any time soon, or ever again for that matter. However at the same time, I know that the same invisible thread that pulled me to Duran was again pulling me to the people of Johannesburg and Cape Town. 

South AfricaMay 2012            

I had a lot of fear before the South Africa trip. A lot of this fear had to do with going to the unknown. I did not know how this trip would be different. I was not sure how the other people on the trip would react to me—the only freshman going on the trip.  For some reason I did not feel confident with myself that I would be able to help the people of South Africa as much as I did the people of Ecuador.           

Shortly after arriving in South Africa, I realized how wrong I was about my fear. The only thing to fear, truly, is fear itself. I just know that in my heart, being in South Africa was right.             

The experience that affected me the most was at the last school. I still do not know this child’s name or have a picture of him, but I swear I love him. All I hope is that when he comes home from school every day there is someone there to hold him, at least for one minute. Every person who I have told about my trip has heard about this little boy and every time it leaves me in tears. If I had the power to go back there and hug him one more time, I would not let go. I saw something really special in this kid. He was only two or three, but I know he has the power to be really smart. All the kids in that school have the potential to be really smart. Sadly, there were barely three books to read from and only just a few toys. I am so glad that we donated so many goods to that school. I believe they needed it more than any of the schools that we went to. Because of our donation, the kids will have food in their tummies, pajamas to sleep in, books to read—all things that are necessary for a child to grow physically and mentally.           

If I could do one thing to change the situation of one of the areas that we visited…there are so many possibilities that I would not even know where to start. I wish that I could scoop all of them up and just bring them to New York to live with me, but realistically, I would carry out my lesson plan from the school in Cape Town. We taught the kids how to make postcards. I think it is really important to keep alive the relationship with the people we have met. The most important thing is to keep a smile on those kid’s faces. I do not want them to forget that they changed my life once again, and to them I am forever indebted. Furthermore, if I could, I would teach kids—from elementary to college—about microfinancing and the Girl Effect.

Microfinance is also the idea that low-income individuals are capable of lifting themselves out of poverty if given access to financial services. Kiva is an amazing organization where people can make loans to those in need. You can also receive updates on the progress and receive your money back. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. What I like about Kiva is that you can see where your money is going and how much more the person needs before they reach their goal. If I could, I would have my future students get involved with Kiva. This way, my students could find people in Africa or Ecuador or wherever they wish and form a relationship with them through microfinance. Even if it is not the same person or the same school, I want to make sure that I continue to stimulate their economy. If we stimulate their economy, we can lower diseases such as HIV, send kids to school, stop crime, and make better living circumstances.

The Girl Effect is another organization that I feel strongly about. Statistically girls are likely to reinvest 90% of their earnings to their brothers, fathers, and community; whereas boys only invest 40%. Ninety-six million girls in developing countries are illiterate. The statistics are shocking and I could go on with more devastating ones. I believe that if more money is invested in girls’ education, they can change the world. Beauty and strength will fade, but being smart will not escape a child who has been given the opportunity to go to school.

I think that communication (like pen-pal letters), microfinancing, and the Girl Effect (which is about girl and boys) are three things that any of us sitting behind our computers browsing the internet for hours upon end can do to change any community, not just ones that I have seen. They are simple ingredients that will become the solution to the trials and tribulations that people are facing around the world.

Despite poverty and oppression, the people of Ecuador and South Africa see the true meaning of life—they value family and loved ones above all else, they see the face of Christ even in the darkest of times, they laugh, they smile, they are life. It’s so hard to sum up my entire experience. I cannot truly express it all in words, but I do what I can when people ask me about my trip. As I click through the pictures or I recall a moment, I feel the blood pumping through my veins. We make life what it is. Humans are the ones who create world problems, so it’s up to the rest of us to fix them. People are not going to stop caring for the poor and oppressed; and life for them will get better. Nothing is going to stop us from fighting for them. Nothing is going to stop me from fighting for them. 

Grading 

I believe that I deserve an A for the class because I put my entire heart into the experience. As I expressed in the final reflection, social justice is something that I am very passionate about. After St. John’s, I would like to go back to school for a degree in Social Justice. I hope to one day be an active participant in a non-profit that I feel strongly about, or perhaps start my own non-profit organization. This service trip was another stepping stone in my educational awareness about poverty and oppression; it was part of putting another piece of my goal together.