Volunteering at the center for homework help and preschool, Deporte y Vida, in Villa El Salvador has been and extremely impacting and influential experience for me during this semester.
I've continued to help the kids with their homework twice a week. One thing that seems really unfortunate to me is that although some of them really want to learn, they do not have the resources. Either they have poor teachers, do not have books, or lack the time to do the work. Sometimes kids come to Deporte y Vida and drop off their homework, while they go home to cook for their family or care for younger siblings or such and return later hoping that someone has completed it for them. While the children are silly like other kids that I know and love to play, they seem to be more aggressive and also they are wise beyond their years. It is a bit odd to see children acting like adults a such young ages, but I believe that is the result of their environment.
We were asked to paint a mural of nature on the the outer walls of the "baño seco" (dry bathroom) of the school. We drew a picture with a pond, bushes, a tree, mountains, flowers, a dragon fly, fish, butterfly, bird's nest, and chickens. The colors are quite vibrant. The children were so impressed and just watched us with enthusiasm the whole time. We wanted to let them help, but we were lacking in supplies and if we let one help they would all have wanted too and that would not have worked. Possibly they can each paint a flower the last day if they want to or something like that. Unfortunately after we finished for the day and were cleaning up, some of the kids' excitement and curiousity got the best of them, causing them to run up to the wall and touch the paint leaving handprints in our work or peeling off nearly dry paint.
I went to a hardware store the evening before, and bought several colors of paint, paint thinner and a few brushes. We didn't have containers to mix paints in, nor did I think to purchase stir sticks. I'll have to get a few other things for this next week to finsh the project. My hands are green and blue and it is really awkward doing things in public with hands that look like the Hulk's. People look at me wierd, as if my hands are really dirty, which I understand, but they are just stained.
We have only painted one day so far. When we finished painting, the teachers and Señor Victor who maintains the place, so very kindly wanted to share their food, Papa a la Huancaina, with us. They dug a pit, built a fire, and cooked the food for us. It was such a kind gesture that even though it caused us to leave 1.5 hours late (making me quite a bit late to class at the university) we handled the situation in a peruvian manner, not worrying about time but about the people, the kindness of the gesture, and food.
The generousity I see as these people will do anything to help out a neighbor ("vecino") and will give anything and everything they have astounds me. They continue to demonstrate that those who have hoard, and those who have not give. The notion of giving when one can and that one will never be in need, continues to be reenforced in my mind each day that I go. I am amazed at how much the people of Oasis, Villa El Salvador a sector that just 4 years ago was desert and now is sprawling in homes have taught me and will continue to do. Although they are not rich monetarily they are rich in spirit.
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