Reflections on volunteer in Cartagena, Colombia

One step a time:

Everything starts as a bulb that lights. It may flicker a few times, or shine bright with the high of a surge then POOF! explodes. Yet when a bulb lights, its bright white gives a glimpse of the future. So should you properly manage this light, this bulb that flickered in the extremities of the neural entwines in your head, you will realize that a flicker does not mean it’s broken, but that you are starting something that you may need to put a little more attention to.

So once upon a time I had an idea to volunteer with children in Colombia, which begun as a flicker – Just an idea. I had been a member of six individuals from United States and Puerto Rico, who were fortunate to gain a need and merit based scholarship to do research in Cartagena, Colombia. For two months between 3rd June 2012 and 29th July 2012, my crew dubbed The CUNY LSAMP group worked with five other students from the Universidad de Cartagena on the quality of water and soil in different impoverished neighborhoods within the city. We were divided into a group of two and four, with each individual from LSAMP paired with students from the Universidad de Cartagena. Eduardo and Heidy would be my partners as we took soil samples from a small town called Zapatero to our labs, probing for materials that were unsafe for the inhabitants. I think the greatest joy one can find as a human is to help another. Truly, the feeling is spectacularly pure and outstanding; especially when the recipient does not have to pay…the satiation is infinite. I could see something in the faces of the individuals we helped as we explained our work to them. If you look closely into the eyes, albeit the soul of an individual at the receiving end of any aid of sort you see humanity, true appreciation no matter how hidden. Perhaps anyone searching for a cure to the madness the world sees today will find the cure in this- loving thy neighbor as thyself.

As part of the program we were assigned to a school in a town called Manzanillo. Without an itinerary we were tasked with teaching these students English and engaging them in an exchange of ideas by sharing our experiences with them as they did theirs. We listened, I listened to one of the youngest speak – not above ten years old. He said he wanted to be a pilot. Now this young boy had not been in an airplane before but he had seen some fly, and was marveled by it. This triggered a light in the darkness that was caused by the lack of resources, darkness where everything stayed stable, stagnated by the greed of others, because they refuse to give – because they refuse to help another. What did our presence do for this young boy?  Frankly only time will tell, but what we shared with him will remain with him for a long time. I remember as members of our group sat in a semi-circle with some of these young kids including the young boy, and showed some of the different types of planes that were built in the past and some of the new ones that are being built. A single light may shine the path, but many will illuminate and provide a better view for the next step. We taught the children a bit more of what we knew. Those who needed help with math, biology and English were not disappointed. They were even fortunate to learn some astrology from our coordinator, and scored us disgracefully in soccer.  So this young boy and his mates learned about ongoing activities world wide, what they needed to do to get there and the fact that these dreams of theirs were reachable. Our endeavors came to a close with a report on our findings in the towns which we delivered to a foundation called ProBoquilla.

These reports were then used to substantiate the efforts to provide aids to the towns that were affected by contaminants like fecal coliforms due to improper maintenance of septic tanks. The experience however left a lasting impression on me, one that kept pushing me towards another visit to Cartagena, Colombia.

So during the summer of 2013 I worked as hard as I could to save up some money with which I partnered with A Broaderview Volunteer to find an organization that works with children. A broaderview volunteer is an American based Non-governmental organization (NGO) that assists individuals who are interested in volunteering in ‘developing’ countries. I had researched ways I could undertake this project as officially as possible and found that working with organizations with already established reputations in the field would promote the success of the project. I had the zeal, the will, and the plan that was to make this lighted bulb one that was to leave an illuminated reservoir of information and un-padded experience for the children and myself. I however thought that no matter how indelible a mark my session with these children will be, I could be of practical help if I donated something to them at the end of my volunteer. I created a go fundme donation page, and marketed the idea to family and friends. Frankly I had not expected to exceed even fifty bucks but to my surprise I was able to raise more than nine hundred dollars. I believe in hope. I believe in the common good of all humans. Just as man is capable of an unthinkable evil so is he even more a greater good. In lieu of my inability to show enough gratitude, I will list the following individuals some of whom are close family and others close friends, who donated in support of my project:

John Boateng

Nana Nsaiah-Kordie

Leeann Moses

Mamoudou Diallo

Michael Boafo

Yaw Diko

Agnes Osei

Nana Agyenim

The only barrier that was to impede the progress of the volunteer was language. Yet that was countered by my one week class in Spanish with Milena Saavdera as organized by a broaderview volunteers, with of course the help of Karen Tarazona Barrios who was always by my side. On my first day I met with the director of the foundation and drew an intensive program that was to be carried out in two weeks. At 7:30am every morning I would walk from the host family to the foundation, then by 8:00am watch as these children ate. By 8:30am I lead the children through a bout of activities that may include English lessons, cultural education and exchange.  No, the children did not sleep at the foundation. The name of the foundation, Semillas de esperanza means seeds of hope.

During her description of what the foundation was all about, the director explained that these were at risk children between the ages of 7 and 17 who had been exploited and sometimes pushed into hard labor by their parents and precarious circumstances. The task of the foundation was to find these children and groom them for what they were meant to be- the future. So the foundation created programs that assisted these children with their academics and other extracurricular activities that spared them the harsh treatments of the streets. During my first meeting I shared with the kids my dream of becoming a doctor and why helping others was of immense importance to me, then I asked each child to share their dream. Each of them had a vision. Some doctors, others lawyers and entertainers. I went on to explain why I believe action is one of the most important aspect in attaining a vision, a stimulus to why I was with them.

The two weeks I shared with these kids were definitely worth it. At the end of the program I was shown a new construction that was to replace the foundation’s old premise. The project had begun yet was slow due to lack of funds. I analyzed the place and observed ceiling fans would need to be installed, this was confirmed by the director. So with the support I had I purchased 10 ceiling fans towards their new building. By now I am convinced you have as much interest in what I am doing as myself.

I am very excited with our new project which will send medical aid to Ghana. We are still in the program design stage but you can be the first to either donate or contribute to making this a success.  Here I will give you a brief summary about what we are planning:

We are locating certain remote villages in Ghana in a considerably deplorable state of health, once located there are two likely paths we hope to take:

1. Look at endemic disease cases within this neighborhood and assist in proper diagnostics and treatment

2. Do a medical screening where the diseases identified, will be addressed, where short care is required or patients will be assisted in obtaining proper care.

These seem simply broken down but are far sophisticated as far as logistics and its execution, but your assistance will determine which path we will take and the ease thereof. My first project was like a dream yet with your assistance it became a reality. I already set the ball on this project rolling as I have medical students who are friends looking at the villages we will work with. The idea is there is nothing like a small donation. Thank you so much and come back to get updates.