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.

What is in it for the World?

Is it a diabolic predilection that feeds into the rhetoric, completely covering the bane at hand or it is just mere human nature to create ideal situations as these and complicate them ourselves with interspersed idealistic interests. The Syrian bloody endemic began three years ago. Then, it was just a growing child realizing his/her capabilities and in a catalytic attempt trying to expand his/her prejudication. This has appeared to be one very long confrontation as like a parent unwilling to yield to the stubbornness of their child, the incumbent regime has solemnly vowed to crush any attempted effort at emancipation. Now of course the conditions are not any better than they started but this could have been curbed or even relegated to a less ridiculously debilitating situation than it is today. It is frustrating to learn or rather note that these things happen unfortunately as time elapse. Whenever they are of a bigger scope, so that material assets are lost, they garner enormous attentions and even influences. This however was thought to be by and for the Syrian people. I for one will, as much as possible avoid the possibility of conflict in the resolution of an issue, but for the relentless nature of our species I sometimes hesitate. I however think there are peaceful alternatives to any given situation.

The free Syrian army as this 'rebel' child will call itself, in defiance of the Incumbent Assad regime has sworn  to depose all that resist the 'revolution'. Now in his own words, a man many exhort as the brain of peace, a resolution of indifference in a dichotomized world of black and white, Nelson Rhuhulhalha Mandela states "During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to see realized. But, my lord, if needs be it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." With emphasis on the very last sentence, “...if needs be...I am prepared to die”. If I am to choose sides, I will go for that of the free Syrian army, the rebels to oppression. Not that they are right, but that they have the guts to stand up against authoritarianism. I will hope that the free Syrian army were more like Mandela in their approach to resolving giant of a problem. Nonetheless this civil war as was labelled has spiraled into an unimaginable catastrophe because, whereas it was an organized opposition in the beginning between two factions, the imaginary lines that outlined their differences has meandered into more than a tunneling tributary. Islamic groups with self proclaimed goals completely unrelated to the safety and development of the country and its people have joined the fight. I can honestly confirm that initially this was not as big an issue but now my loyalties will not as much lie with the rebels, if I am to choose.  

But my main question here is what is in it for the world? This broadens the scope of the discussion from Syria, to central African republic to Indonesia and then Ukraine. Some say the Arab rising initiated by Tunisia had something to do with the instability that shook the entire Arabian peninsula. I join these noble folks in affirmation, but I conclude that this has actually been the trend in ages past. One thing (and here I may sound completely off topic) like capitalism can change the outlook of the world for a lifetime, causing a people to be suppressed and treated as nonentities. Another thing like nuclear weapons, can literally wipe the human race off the surface of the earth. All these are not frankly, at their pinnacles yet, but if the trend is not averted the next generation will not be around to marvel at the decay we have brought on our own selves. It begins with globalisation then as one arm is infected the others blindly follow its peril. Just imagine what would have happened had Egypt instead of jumping into chaos, analyzed an approach that is conditioned for Egyptians and their land what I will term ‘Egypt-specific’. No one can stop globalisation, hence nationalisation without ethnocentrism must be preserved. Nationalisation in that each state looks out for herself in development and advancement, perhaps with the help of the other but never entirely copying the others approach. The trend can easily be overlooked because on the surface it looks like a wave of good, sweeping across troubled lands. Globalisation is great, as it ensures communications, interconnectedness- a way to share knowledge for the betterment of the human race. An Akan proverb simply puts it as "sense varies in all heads". Nonetheless, we need to revise the trend, that is what the world can draw from the past and ongoing struggle. But how do you break away from this purposefully structured architectural construct of high and low?

IN RESPONSE TO IGNORANCE

A guy (ignorance) let out his inconceivable feelings towards the idea of race, in response to kids who were involved in the notoriously deadly outburst of “knockout games”. The poster commented that this issue with the kids of today was getting out of hand, and  in response ignorance replied that this has been a black issue and would continue to be…It was something I could not be silent about so I had to take him to class, here’s my response to the three part comments ignorance made…

"Kids?"   White Americans are doing awesome on average. Stop blaming kids. It's blacks. It's been blacks. It will continue to be so.

RESPONSE: Blacks? Maybe you are right. Maybe too its some sort of design. The continuous finger pointing, "you are wrong because you are black" indoctrination you have received since childhood. We are repetitively shown that imagery, that ideology that what is black is bad. Like I said, maybe you are right, but if you are then this design is working. So here, Blacks have had enough, you either offer a helping hand or not. Perhaps "kids", both white and black should be the focus because factually American education is on the decline and unfortunately that affects both black and white.

Whales and squirrels bleed red to. The fact is that blacks DRAW blood far,far,far,far,far more than anyone else. It isn't hateful to desire not to be a victim of the primitive negroid's animal instincts.

RESPONSE: You seem to miss the point. If I lived in a world where all I am shown is "bad black", or blacks "drawing" blood then my ignorance (which MAY not be my fault) is as a results of what I am fed. My limited perspective of things is as much a design as what I am shown. I also contradict myself when I point fingers at others as primitive, because of their skin color as I tend to still think in the past when other humans were made slaves and labelled "Negroids". What I need is a broader perspective, to look at the problem which by all means is a 'human issue' other than the rather one sided, narrow minded view, because I feel it is my prerogative as I am not black. 

If I lived in a world where I was shown whites to all be racist kkk members and privileged rich people, wouldn't I become rich and murderous? Wait, it's not happening. The TV isn't voodoo.

Blacks are the same in EVERY SINGLE COUNTRY THEY INHABIT. This includes India and China where black constantly riot and fuck everything up,sell drugs, and generally don't fit into civilization.

Blacks are the only "humans" who lack neanderthal DNA. This genetic link is probably the reason they are so less intelligent than anyone else. And, yes, they are unintelligent. Even after years of pumping billions of dollars into the school system and providing special programs for blacks they are unable to close what we call "the achievement gap."

You're looking to justify the excuses that skool and talmud vision tell you for why blacks are so dysfunctional but those excuses are just that. Excuses.

RESPONSE: Homo erectus’ predated Neanderthals and are considered ancestors of Homo sapiens. All humans are known to be of the Homo sapiens species. There has only been the proffer that Homo sapiens in Europe and western Asia gained Neanderthal gene through hybridization or more recently as suggested by some Cambridge professors, mere liaisons between the two groups. Whites share more similarity with Blacks than with Neanderthals, and even so accordingly sub-Saharan Africans have 4% Neanderthal gene in them. Either way it’d be better not to assume whites as having originated from Neanderthals as we know these became extinct most probably in competition with us (Cro-Magnons in other words their intelligence was no match for our species). The underlining factor however, is regardless the school of thought the modern humans we see today are products of the Homo sapiens species that have so far been concluded as having originated from AFRICA.

Now on intelligence, here is a piece of the puzzle that is missing…some scholars having dissected the flow of knowledge from antiquity, have pointed at the fact that the refined ideas of modernism we see today have very Afrocentric roots.  You can find this in Martin Bernal’s Black Athena and G. M. James’ Stolen Legacy

These MAY be excuses, but they are facts. I don’t see as much racial reading into why so many white kids take up arms and cause atrocities of unimaginable contempt to human life. To mention a few, the Columbian shooting and the fairly recent mass killing of innocent children in Sandy Hook are typical examples. Now there could be an argument of ‘black kids do the same too’, but then again the issue is “Kids”.   

Now, I don’t believe we live in a world where ALL whites are shown as privileged KKK (though there may be those ignorant enough to indulge). If that was the issue things will be interestingly different…My point here is this is a design in the way of thinking. Racial differences, intellectual differences, differences, differences – those make us human and instead of pointing fingers and strangling each other there’s a better alternative which is more civilized; work together as humans to solve these problems. Now continue to push at race and you will not like the results.

Conflicts in the Central African Republic

                                            

My heart ached when I read about the ongoing chaos in the CAR.

 I was undoubtedly infuriated by every single word that I read, Muslim, seleka, Christians, overthrow, militia, my mind was a flurry of questions why, why, why. It felt as if I was being tortured into anger for the mere fact that I exist. My surrounding grew hotter and my breath shorter and faster. A rebel group called the seleka’s took over power from the incumbent around March the reports read. Then in a matter of sheer stupidity and greed, they embarked on a killing and persecution spree, raping and torturing young women and men respectively. Taunting children and flaunting their future into antiquated septic tanks that will most eventually result in perforations in any hope, that there was in being developed. As per any force, their actions resulted in a similar reaction from the Christians as in attempts to avenge they also took up arms and are repeating the fury of stupidity but out of hurt and anger. As appalled as I am, I am searching my mind for a resolution, but I honestly do not see one that can conjure a peaceful satiation for both parties. Well, I still hold on to the belief that there is always a peaceful alternative to solving an issue, regardless. Yet, how can this be done? France has deployed walking guns, to aid those of the AU peace workers. Though I favor resolution without arms I agree this should curb the religious madness in this region, where there is no apparent concern for human life. I am glad the international community is putting an effort to assist, something the media is not doing as much. 

Reference;

1. http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/central-african-republic-s-michel-djotodia-i-can-t-control-fighters-1.2455936 

2. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.aspNewsID=46676&Cr=central+african+republic&Cr1=#.UqTrjvRDuSo

3. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/centralafricanrepublic/

Surf

Have you seen the roar of the sea 

or seen the reflection of blue and its transparent scenes. 

When it begins with ripples on its surface that rumbles to a massive wave. 

These are definitely appealing to the surfer. 

Picture this! A surfer stands by his bright yellow surf board, fathoming a rush of white and blue water, 

as he stands soaking wet his excitement is visible in his pose, like that of a kid in the midst of amusing elements; he does not know where to start. 

The salty taste does not deter him,

nor the slap of the waves perturb him. 

Just so he may feel the cohesive force the water molecules has to offer. 

Here wind and sea show a force akin to rain and thunder, 

but this surfer is not running into shelter,

as it is more an invitation to slither.

So, take action like the surfer!

Something similar to air sale

Once in a little while, these days, a revolutionary discovery rocks the Internet especially, and then every other place. These discoveries range from cosmetic regalia that feed into our own satisfactions to in this case medical discoveries that will undoubtedly improve the health sciences by more than a nudge. Currently I read a phenomenal medical discovery that I cannot desist from thinking about. Imagine being able to supply yourself with oxygen without the daily hassle of chest heaping, air sucking and lung- capillary interchange. Lung cancer becomes an issue of “well let's prevent the cancer from spreading"- without wasting time thinking about access to oxygen by the rest of the body. Indeed the results of such a discovery can be fairly concluded as consequentially beneficial but before I dive into my highly quintessential notion of mechanically or manually available oxygen let me explain the discovery itself. I was recently reading TechWench, a website that deals with quidnuncs in their terms like me by providing news about gadgets and etcetera, when I came across the topic -Scientists Invent Oxygen Particle That If Injected, Allows You to Live without Breathing.

 If really I am a quidnunc and of course one with an interest in medical science you can imagine the rush of hormonal excitement that blasted through my grey matter and the bulge that showed the whiteness of my eyes. But of course I am exaggerating, yet I was very tantalized and begun to think of how this was possible and what this really meant.

 The great benefit for reading my report here is the unconventional mixture of perspectives that fully dissect issues such as these in order to avoid inundating with unnecessary conclusions, which may turn out to be redundant, or does it?
So the body obtains energy through a sequence of chemical activities that involves oxygen, that said, any active occurrence within the human body will require oxygen. Most of us probably learned that we obtain oxygen by breathing, but considering the air we breathe is composed of a variety of gases other than oxygen it will be enlightening to divulge the rather complicated process oxygen finds its way from air into our cells. When air finds its way through the nostrils it goes through the larynx and then the trachea which branches into the left and right lungs. Connected to the branches, or the bronchioles, are small air sacs, called an alveolus. It is here that lung capillary interchange occurs. There is a rich supply of capillaries covering the alveolus that makes diffusion of oxygen in and carbon dioxide out relatively simple.
 Fortunately the gases in air are proportionally distributed so as to make life a possibility in the biosphere. The largest gas volume of air composition is nitrogen with a whopping 78.08%, then oxygen with a surprising 20.85%, followed minutely by 0.95% argon, 0.033% carbon dioxide and infinitesimal amounts of neon, helium, krypton, nitrogen (1) oxide, hydrogen, xenon and ozone. Yes all these are present! And to throw in questions that would keep your neural guards in disarray - is there a possibility that these percentages can change and what will this mean for the existence of life? 

Then to cause more shamble, there is news of 'air pollution' which is really a euphemism for changes in gas proportions that are necessary for the sustenance of life on earth. The NY times reports that there is a fearful increase of carbon dioxide emission by 400 part per million a day which may look small on a larger scale but is akin to a doctor finding a genetic disposition to a cancerous gene which has the grandest possibility to disintegrate a complete progeny generation. Clearly this seems a little further from the topic but it ties into one perspective.
Nevertheless the human body being as exceptional and equipped as it is, filters air for oxygen through the use of partial pressure. Oxygen and the other gases bounce off the walls of the alveolar at specific rates depending on their concentration, which for oxygen is known as the partial pressure of oxygen (PO2). At a certain partial pressure oxygen is allowed across the membranes of both the alveolar and capillaries with carbon dioxide facing a similar ordeal but in an opposite path. The mechanism that maintains gaseous exchange is known as diffusion which requires a concentration gradient in order to be initiated. Typically a PO2 of 100 mm Hg  and PCO2 of 40 mm Hg signifies rich oxygen within the alveolar, which merits an exchange from a rather low PO2 = 40 mm Hg and PCO2 of 45. So oxygen diffuses from the highly concentrated region which is from the alveolar to capillaries and then Carbon dioxide diffuses likewise but in an opposite direction.
Incidentally we can conclude that it will be brilliant to live completely devoid of these processes described above, yet have access to oxygen whenever necessary.  The discovery of readily accessible oxygen for respiration is by most accounts more a blessing than it could ever be a bane. The oxygen is collected in small lipid pockets that can freely flow in any blood vessel. Aside the many health benefits, military uses have already been projected as pointed out by Damien of tech wrench. Just allow your imagination to take you through a world where you do not have to breathe to live. I am positive your mind may miss one other essential aspect of the discovery that this may lead to an epoch of air sale. This however is what we do not see coming... Should indeed our balance of 'clean air' become compromised as time is evidently leading to, there will be a point where people will live completely on injected oxygen for basic survival. Time leads to such a situation slowly like a snail, and until prevented will surely be a reality just as injected oxygen now is. Of course the Boston doctors that made the discovery had their motives embroidered in the medical sciences. One of the doctors even told the story of how a young girl with pneumonia died due to complication with her lungs that was not quickly resolved.
Now if people are living on injected oxygen for basic survival the worse that I can conjure happening is the annihilation of a complete race because they are either deprived or do not have access to oxygen. And for that I will desist from elucidating as politics tends to end up being nasty and grandeur.
To be vividly clear this unfortunate ordeal has already been set in motion so this medical discovery is not the trigger for a world where air is sold, but if care is not taken and our actions revised - it may not be today but a generation will inevitably depend on injected oxygen. Coupled with the greed and disparity in human characteristics many will surely die. So if you will, help save the world, from this particularly inescapable demise. This is a situation where prevention helps save from a dangerously evasive method of cure.