Blog Archive

Last week presented a host of new opportunities as we began to find a routine, and a balance between helping in any way we can and avoiding encroaching on the lives of the La Carpio locals. We are also working on our tans in the hope that we will appear less like really pale “gringas.” Although we are with the kids in the Montessori School on a daily basis, we also find ourselves doing odd jobs in the community, since Gail reaches out to help anyone who needs it.

There is 8 year-old Angie who just completed her chemotherapy after losing her right arm to a cancerous tumour 2 months ago. Although it has been a short time since her operation, she is already doing very well, and appears to be managing to have a relatively normal childhood. Times ahead will remain challenging for her psychologically, as the entire experience has left her prone to periods in which she struggles to stay positive now that the adrenaline of basic survival has receded. We have attempted to brighten her surroundings, painting the walls of her backyard sky-blue with big white clouds. Angie’s resilience, honed at such a young age, is truly uplifting to both Claire and me – we hope that by giving her fluffy white clouds, bright colors, a playground in your backyard, and two new best friends we can help brighten even her toughest of days. Angie is now looking forward to her new prosthetic arm and being able to finally play with her siblings (who will move to La Carpio from Nicaragua as soon as Gail is able to send money to have their papers processed). Every day in La Carpio, Claire and I witness the powerful effects of the simplest of gestures.

Today, one of the teachers in the Montessori School named Estella (a single mother of five young children) was noticeably upset when she arrived at our door. At the first measure of circle time, the head teacher explained to the kids that some days we wake up and feel sad, and that is what had happened to Estella. Then she had all the children blow a small kiss (un besito) into a little box and give it to Estella while all 17 kids literally dog-piled her with hugs. The effect on everyone in the room, not the last of which on Estella, was incredibly emotional. It was an expression of love in its purest form, untainted by cynicism or mistrust.

We are slowly learning to live in Costa Rican style - “pura vida”; anything goes, and it’s all good!
 

January 18, 2010

In the last week we have settled in to our home-stay in Santa Anna, a small neighbourhood in the Capital City of San José. Our host family is incredibly kind, welcoming and helpful. Norma and Fabio are very patient as we attempt to become more proficient at speaking Spanish (because they speak very little English our transition to Spanish has been quite speedy, mostly out of necessity). During the week we are working in La Carpio with the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation (CRHF), headed by Gail Nystrom. Our first week has been a very intense introduction to the area, but in order to provide context to our daily work, it is first important to describe the history of the La Carpio community, as well as the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation.

The community of La Carpio originated over 20 years ago when Nicaraguan refugees began squatting on Costa Rican-owned land in an effort to escape civil war, displacement through natural disasters and the devastating effects of desperate poverty and hunger. Using the limited resources available - usually only plastic and corrugated iron - the Nicaraguan people built makeshift housing. Out of their toughness and resilience grew the current community of La Carpio, which today numbers 34,000 people. Although there are treaties that have been signed with the Costa Rican government guaranteeing education, health care and decent housing, there is a vast difference between the materials promised and the services provided to this group of largely illegal immigrants. An increased level of prejudice toward Nicaraguan immigration has made it even more difficult for residents of La Carpio to receive health care or education outside of their community. To make matters worse, the task of finding a job that offers wages necessary to support a family is becoming more and more daunting. The Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation has been working with the people of La Carpio since 1997 in an effort to shift these chronically impoverished people into a comfortable, upwardly-mobile community.

Due in large part to the work of Gail Nystrom, many people in La Carpio have greatly improved their lives. The CHRF has built three learning centres—the Montessori School (which also serves as a community centre), the Model Education Centre and another daycare and educational facility in an area called La Libertad. Each of these facilities provides concrete daily schedules based on the educational level of the children attending, and also includes meals and snacks for the students.

There has also been a dramatic increase in the number of healthy children in the community. The CHRF has constructed a permanent medical clinic run by a qualified doctor. Gail has designed and implemented many other projects in La Carpio. Residents now take part in the building of home furnishings such as bunk-beds as well as programs that assist women in starting their own businesses and finding housing for street children. By focusing on the importance of increased autonomy for women, education for children, improved hygiene and skills to take advantage of available resources, her work has contributed an incalculable improvement to the quality of life for a great number of people.

Last week Claire and I worked mainly in the Montessori School helping the women (all are locals being trained to teach) with their students, as well as touring the other projects and getting settled in the area. It was a very intense week as we got to know the staff (speaking only Spanish—there is only one woman who speaks a very small amount of English) and interacted with the children, while at the same time trying to process the entire experience!

We are looking forward to another week - hopefully feeling a bit more stable with a little more experience under our belts!

On another note, we have all been discussing the earthquake in Haiti that has devastated Port-au-Prince in the past week. Partners In Health is an organization that we may possibly be working with soon, so please send any support that you can to this incredibly well developed organization.

Topic: A Busy Term!

After a relaxing break, we are back and ready for a busy run to Ski Week. Grade 12s have the option not to go to Ski Week and, instead, may look at universities for next year. I’m going to miss going to Ski Week this year, but at the same time, I’m excited to look at my future possibilities. But, before we can all pack up for our Olympic break, I have basketball games and a drama production to put on for the School! The Senior Girls’ Basketball Team has been extremely busy with games and tournaments. We have many more games, home and away, and our showcase game against Brentwood, our rival school, is fast approaching. Also, the School’s drama production, Dark of the Moon, is presenting the week before we leave. I’m getting very excited to present the play to the School, but a bit nervous at the same time! With Mr. McLeod’s amazing guidance, we have been able to pull this show together in four short months. Although the end of the winter term will be busy, it will be full of achievement and satisfaction; I’m looking forward to the weeks ahead!

Emma V., Grade 12, Kaye's