| Ana (Anita) |
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- Political Situation - Barrio |
This section discusses the different programs in the El Recreo community project. The focus is on programs that are new or changing, and on those with which we are directly involved.
We have a new project in the community. A group of opticians from Spain are coming to the Barrio in July and August to teach 4 community members how to give eye examinations and how to fit and choose eyeglasses. Last weekend, Sebastian and Mario, 2 volunteers from this group, visited from another community in El Salvador to evaluate and recommend things we need to get ready. One of the 4 community members will be Stuart, when he returns here in mid-June.
This project promises to be good, as many people we know, including Dona Nubia and Dona Paula, have bad vision. Eyeglasses will help them in their literacy studies. I am really excited about the project.
We are currently looking in Canada for the eyeglass equipment, and also we are looking for eyeglasses or parts of eyeglasses. If anyone has an old pair of glasses, even broken ones, frames or lenses, please let us know. Or even if you have friends who have old glasses. We need a ton of glassses for the project. If anyone is really interested, you could ask a few friends and collegues at work or school, and try and collect a few. Once you have collected a bunch, we can collect them in Toronto, Ottawa or Vancouver.
This month, we installed running water in the Center, previously carried over from the Comedor. This is a great help, especially to the Organic gardening group to water their plants that they have on that side, which are growing quite nicely.
Also, on Saturday, we painted. Previously, the center was a dull cement grey. Perhaps one might say that painting is a waste of money, but colour is important, especially in the classrooms and the library for studying. We painted a light green, since green and blue are proven colours to encourage studying. Outside, we painted peach. It looks really good. Who says poor people can't have a nice place to study and work?
We have another Ana working with here in the community. Anita is from Spain, a teacher and psycologist by trade. Anita is a friend of another Spanish friend of the nuns, and that's how she came to work here for a year. She and I live together, I in the front house and her in the back house.
Anita is involved in many of the programs in the barrio. Her special education class on weekday mornings is perhaps her most demanding task with 18 young people (aged 8-15) who are just learning to read and write. In the afternoons, she gives classes of physical therapy to handicapped children. On Saturdays, she helps Maria Elena with the weekly storytime in the library. On Sundays, she coordinates the youth group, as they go for walks, eat supper together, or work on some project together.
Anita has also been involved with the women's group and gives workshops to our other teachers to improve their teaching skills. (Whew! As if the first part wasn't enough.)
Anita's energy and enthusiasm have been a tremendous help to the community and many people in it. Whenever she is involved in something, one always hears her loud and powerful voice. We are very good friends, and often go dancing together on Saturday nights. Saturday nights will never be the same in Canada.
It's seems I never have anything good to say about the political situation here. But with the right-wing government that was elected last year, I hardly see how that is going to change.
One big event last month was the national protest that lasted 5 days, shutting down much of the country with highway barricades, bus strikes, taxi strikes, etc. It was amazing to see the highway barricades, of stones, trees, cobblestones and people. Fortunately, it was more or less peaceful in all parts of the country. The protest was against several things, but mostly trying to support the people (squatters) who are being removed from their homes (desalojos). The protest was organised by several sectors, the bus lines, taxi drivers, students, businessmen, which were supported by the Sandinista party. The protest was finally ended by dialogue between Ortega, the head of the Sandinista party, and Aleman, with promises to hold off on the desalojos and continue the dialogue for 3 months, to see what can be arranged.
Another sad note was the 6% budget proposal for education. I think I mentioned that one bright note last month was a successful lobby to maintain the 6% for education in the budget. It was passed by the Legislative Assembly, but unfortunately a few days ago, president Aleman vetoed it.
The possibility of the pharmacy shutdown has fortunately not materialized as of yet. We continue to hope for the best.
It's hot. That's your weather update for April. April is the hottest month of the year, before the rains start again in May. Ramin, visiting from Canada, did not enjoy the heat. Even I, supposedly accustomed to the heat, was not happy at noon on several days this month.
Ramin, a FOG member, was here for 3 weeks familiarizing himself a little with Nicaragua, in preparation for his year of volunteering, starting in September. As well, we looked at several possible projects for him. Finally we decided on a project in Santa Rosa, north of Lago Managua. In Santa Rosa, the community is well organised and has some very interesting projects, in credit and capacitization. But the volunteers a little shorthanded due to some political problems and Ramin will be a great help to them there.