October is the month of the environment in Argentina and this week I attended a reunion on the environment and responsible tourism. The talk began with some mini speeches by various important people do with Argentina's environmental plans. The first to talk was the Minister for Education who highlighted the importance of the fact that there is not one simple solution to the environmental problems. The next to talk, and my personal favourite, was a Japanese representative who bravely spoke in Spanish (I would never have had the nerves to do that!).
The Argentinean government has brought over some Japanese experts to help them sort out their environmental problems. I could relate to much of what she said as we both come from countries where recycling is an advanced and established process. She said she was astonished that people do not recycle in their houses here - but that the government pays people to sort out the rubbish. She mentioned programs aimed at educating school children about the 3 R's - reducir, reciclar, reusar (reducing, recycling and reusing). The next to talk was a Province Minister who claimed that he represented the millions of worried Argentines. He highlighted the problems of pollution especially in the rivers due to all the rubbish. The final person to speak was the Minister for the Environment who spoke about ways of promoting awareness and protecting the animals and plants at risk.
The next stage of the talk involved the people that are trying to carry out all the big talk of the politicians. Four women representing various foundations and organizations that promote responsible tourism and sustainable development spoke about their plans and aims. The final person to speak was a Japanese man called Hisakazu Hirai. He gave a very long presentation on the history of waste disposal in Japan comparing it to that of Argentina. In broken English and a little Spanish he explained that the main problem for Argentina was overcoming the prejudices and discrimination that exist concerning rubbish and waste disposal. This he believes can be done through education. He finished with the powerful phrase ‘What is important for the environment is communication and collaboration’. I could not have put it better myself! What became clear to me after all the talks was how incredibly behind Argentina is compared to other developed countries and also the lack of knowledge concerning all things environmental. However what is important is the desires the Argentine’s have to learn and to improve.
Mario is the headmaster of a primary school where volunteers combine teaching English with creating links, cultural exchanges and experiences. Below is a story he told us called “Little revolutions”.
‘I would like to tell you about a small revolution that took place the day of Iain’s arrival. I was going down to the first floor and whilst I was on the stairs I heard shouts from the children that sounded more like football hooligans celebrating a goal. The songs were overlapping with each child singing a different one. I arrived at the ground floor and found children from the 4th to the 7th grade returning from their break time surrounding Iain, hailing him and demanding his attention. The volunteer (who never imagined he would be subject to such enthusiastic demands) was smiling despite not knowing what to do nor understanding why they were chanting his name or fighting to walk beside him. Rather an amazing experience for a Saxon in a country full of Latinos (especially as they are children). Mariela told me that when Iain introduced himself to one of the classes, the children got up and asked him for his autograph. Mariela thought that he did not understand what an autograph was and explained to him that they wanted his signature, as one would ask an artist, a sports star or someone you admire. Iain replied saying that he knew what an autograph was but as he was not famous he did not understand why they were asking him for his. The affectionate Scot became an idol in 15 minutes. The new enthusiasm and motivation that the appearance of Iain brought to the school may seem to be only a small change. However changes like this are very important because when you put them all together they become a revolution.'
Last week I was fortunate enough to be able to witness some Argentinean health education. My boss asked me to accompany him to a local 'jardin' where he and a group of women, the 'promotadores de salud' were going to give a talk about dental care. The women spend their days arranging and giving educational health talks all around the town. I had sat in on a few of the meetings prior to the talk and seen them planning every detail. They made a huge billboard-esque poster showing a playground full of flowers (personally cut by me!) and teeth! This was the stage for the play they had written about dental hygiene - four puppets are playing in the park and one tells a joke. As they laugh they notice the joke tellers black tooth. This leads to the talk given by another of the promoters and Fernando, who used to be a dentist. Using a plastic mouth and toothbrush they teach the children how to brush their teeth, how many times a day etc. Fernando then sang a teeth-brushing themed song which the children adored! The talk finished with the promoters handing out free toothbrushes and despite uttering the fatal words 'what colour would you prefer?', everyone ended up with a colour they liked and the children went out to play very happy!
I was amazed that dental hygiene was a subject that the children needed to be taught about. I was taught to brush my teeth by my parents, I definitely do not remember having people come to my school and teach me how to brush my teeth. However in Argentina dental hygiene is a problem and a lot of people tend not to bother with it. Having seen how many adults and children come into the 'sailta' with awful teeth you understand the importance of trying to educate the children. The amount of effort that was put into the talk was great - from the amazing poster, to the well thought out play, to Fernando's song. Everything was purposely meant to make the children pay attention, learn and have a good time as well which they definitely did!
I was delighted when i found out that a change of plans meant i would be able to attend and assist at my first Voluntario Global fundraiser. At the start, after a lovely day at San Telmo market I met with Paul and Kathryn the organisers of ´Music Is My Sanctuary´ and then went with Olivia, a fellow volunteer, to hand out some flyers. After a little while we took up our post on the door for the duration of the event.
During the evening we were repeatedly thanked for helping out which was funny because to us we were there enjoying food, cocktails and every now and again drawing smiley faces on hands in exchange for donations from happy punters. Not to mention that the whole time we were able to listen to some incredible local bands. Certainly i have never had a more enjoyable job!
The music of the night was an eclectic mix of reggae/rap/latin/balkan/salsa/funk/soul/pop/rock... really everything you could imagine! Many of the musicians played with more than one band which gave the lineup a very cohesive feel despite the different genres of music. I was particularly amazed by one artist whose rapping blew me away. Though i didnt think it would all be my kind of music i found myself pleasantly surprised and the entire crowd seemed to get into the rhythm and echo the energy coming from the stage.
During the evening the venue became completely full and we made over AR$1000 on the door for the childrens home. When the night appeared to be rounding up and people began to leave i was informed that the last and best act was yet to perform though electrical problems were holding them up. With more than two thirds of the audience having disappeared into the night, the headliners finally hit the stage. Made up of eight guys from various corners of the world, Mala Macumba created a sound like nothing i have heard before. I was on my feet dancing and clapping before i could stop myself. The band didn´t seem to care about the depleted audience and i have to admit that i felt almost pleased about it because now the gig had become something intimate that allowed the audience to feed off the happy, buzzing vibes given out by the musicians and singers. I left the Voluntario Global fundraiser that night without a doubt that it had been my best night out in Buenos Aires so far. Particularly because it was the sort of night that i could never have back in England. I only wish i could be here for the next one!
The first thing that struck me when I walked into the house located in the middle-class neighborhood of Beccar was that I felt like I was walking into someone’s living room. It did not feel anything like an orphanage and so it made sense to me that I was informed not to call it one, especially in front of the children.
Admittedly it is a big house, with 15 children living there at any one time; however it seems to me much closer to a foster home rather than an orphanage. The only difference being that instead of parents there are staff and volunteers. I was impressed by the number of people working there and how relaxed the environment was. The first child I met was a little girl who came up to me and asked for ‘un beso’ (a kiss) and was going round the room having different people kiss her and pick her up. I certainly didn’t feel like the children were under stimulated or lacking in attention. This of course would not be the case without the volunteers from Voluntario Global.
I must admit that I find it a little strange that a number of the ´orphans´ are not technically orphans. An orphan is a person who has lost both parents in some way. At this home however, some children receive visits from their parents at the weekends and may on occasion go to stay with their parents for a short period of time. Thus in some cases it is simply that some parents are unable to take care of their children and so the home acts in the same way that we would expect social services to. Also some children who have parents in rehab for example can expect to be returned to their parent(s) at the end of the designated period of time. All of the children come from different circumstances and it is therefore impossible to treat each child the same or expect them to behave the way a child from a stable and supportive background would behave.
We took four of the girls to the local playground where they took it in turns playing on the swings and pushing one another. For an outsider it would be impossible to see that there was anything ´different´ about these girls, they looked full of energy with smiles all round. It makes me happy knowing that such places exist which can save children from an otherwise very unpleasant upbringing and that there are people willing to give their time for nothing to ensure such children never need suffer again.
My name is Jessie and I am currently working on the communications team for Voluntario Global. A big perk of my position is that i get to visit all of the current projects. On Tuesday 24th August I accompanied Kristin and two new Voluntario Global volunteers to their Project in Pablo Nogues which is an English school for children and young adults. The classes are held before or after their normal school or work. Here is what I thought of it...
It was already clear from the train journey up that we were entering a 'different world'. I think this was the first time that I have seen what I would describe as a poor area within Argentina. When we finally arrived at Pablo Nogues station, I was struck by how peaceful the area felt compared to the inner city. The sun was shining, birds were signing, it all felt rather lovely. After the short walk to the gate of the English school I found myself being warmly greeted by Silvia the owner of the school and coordinator of the activities held there. A woman with a big beaming smile who makes you feel important and like everything you say is worth her full attention, I could not imagine a better person for the job.
During the afternoon, Silvia greeted each child with “hola mi amor” and a kiss. This place could not possibly be further from an English equivalent, something I am extremely glad about.
Each child arrived at Pablo Nogues at different times depending on their individual circumstances and proceeded to sit down and join in the volunteer led exercise in progress without any need for coercion. The two new volunteers fitted in right away and I got the impression that the children were enjoying the sounds of the Irish and Mancunian accents which are of course something they are unlikely to hear in any other capacity at any other time.
I was impressed with how well structured the classes were and yet how relaxed the atmosphere felt in the classroom. It is clear to me that not only are the children increasing their knowledge of the English language but they are also learning about the different accents and cultures associated with the various English speaking volunteers who come to Pablo Nogues. In the poorer districts of Buenos Aires the need for variety is much greater; this is why international volunteers from Voluntario Global are so valuable to this project.
Last week, Jesica and Valeria, Voluntario Global coordinators, visited a site that has recently become part of our volunteer network. Another important aspect that we value at Voluntario Global is environmental awareness and sustainable development. We want to learn from the organization that we visited so that we can mirror their habits in all of our organizations. It is an “Ecological Park for Yoga and Meditation.” There, volunteers can help in the organic garden, build environmentally-friendly houses, and participate in yoga or meditation. One can also learn about the oriental culture and live an experience “closer to nature.” This new program offered by Voluntario Global offers its volunteers the opportunity to become more familiar with our objectives as a network of cultural exchange and mutual knowledge. If you have at least a week of free time, don’t miss out on this great life experience.
A United States citizen´s perspective of an Argentine World Cup match.
The Perfect Cross-Culture
It was a lazy Tuesday in the Previgliano household as I dropped my stuff at the entrance of the duplex in Belgrano. My host brother Marco had been let off work for the Argentina vs. Greece World Cup matchup and was already busy in the kitchen – read that as Marco was already yelling wildly in celebration after every successful Argentine pass. Clearly I was late for the action, but I hurried into the kitchen to cheer on my second home. The game was already thirty minutes in, yet no one had scored yet. Of course, I already knew that since I did not hear any honking or see any 65-year-olds parading around outside when I got off the bus. I took a seat at the table and picked up a factura – although Ms. Previgliano, Marco, and his sister all had something on their plates, they were too firmly glued to the television to have taken a bite yet. I was going to ask if there was any marmalade left, but I figured I had better wait until halftime. "Ma! Como no fue adelantado!?" Marco was wrong, the Greek player was definitely onsides, but I was not going to be the one to tell him. "Siempre dicen que Messi esta adelantado! No es justo." I guess I can’t blame him for being so tense. After all, if the United States had the perfect team I would be disappointed by anything less than perfection as well. The halftime whistle sounded and was accompanied by a round of coordinated audible sighs from the Previgliano family. "Parris, vamos a sacar Indio." A quick walk around the block with Indio, the family dog that has to be AT LEAST as old as Maradona, would certainly help to calm the nerves. Marco slipped the dog-sized Argentina jersey over Indio and we were off. We couldn’t pass a single person without either hearing or initiating a conversation on the game. From what I heard, the reason Argentina had not scored was a mix of bad refereeing, Greeks fouling Messi, and a conspiracy against Maradona. I must say that I was not aware of all the forces working against the Argentine soccer squad. Whipping out his cell phone as the ring tone went off, Marco let me know that the second half was about to start. Whether Indio was done going to the bathroom or not, we had to hurry up and get back in the apartment. We plopped down in front of the television just in time to see the kickoff – and to see Maradona cross himself approximately 14 times (I may or may not have actually counted.) If quantity of blessings had anything to do with it, Argentina was definitely going to come out on top. Thirty minutes later, the score was still tied at 2-2. Even with the windows open, I could tell that the neighborhood was uncharacteristically silent. I did not even hear the sound of a colectivo honking at a taxi driver. Another corner kick for Argentina. The ball comes swinging in on a perfect cross and… Demichelis gets a foot on it… but a teammate is in the way. I smiled at the bad luck while the Previglianos let out a string of delicately chosen Spanish profanities, but the play had not ended. As Marco stood up in excitement and disgust at the missed opportunity, I watched as Demichelis collected his own rebound and slammed it into the net. I was trying to get Marco’s attention, but it was not necessary. Through the windows rushed the sounds of air horns, car horns, adults screaming, children screeching, and Coto employees abandoning their posts at cash registers to celebrate in the streets. I followed Marco onto the balcony – read that as Marco yanked me by the arm out onto the balcony – to wave the Argentine flag and sing “Vamos vamos Argentina!” I turned back to the television in time to see Maradona crossing himself a few more times. With two minutes left, it looked as if victory was sure for the Argentine team, but I would not dare say anything to jinx it. Silence pervaded once again as we all anticipated the final whistle. Messi and the rest of the boys seemed to be playing keep-away now just to waste away the clock. That must have been what Greece was thinking too, because they sure were not ready for the shot taken in the 89th minute from just outside the box. The ball rebounded off a Greek and, of all people, Palermo was just in the right place to send the ball right into the back of the net. For this game, no final whistle would be needed to call the game. The neighborhood erupted once more and Marco shrieked through the house shaking his mother, his sister, and me by the shoulders. (He might have even shaken his sister’s baby, but I don’t think it was hard enough to cause shaken-baby syndrome.) I caught a glimpse of the screen as Maradona jumped onto one of the assistant coaches. Despite all of the doubts, he had coached his team through the group stage. The final whistle sounded after 92 minutes of play, and I took to the streets. At first, it looked like a horrible traffic jam with everyone honking, but given then I realized that it was just a giant celebration. People were leaning out of their cars and shouting “Palermoooogolllllll” or “ArgenTIna, ArgenTIna!” As an American, I can’t imagine such a celebration in the United States, especially for a soccer game. I have played soccer all my life, but I realize that the rest of my country does not see it as a major sport. This actually baffles me. Americans are said to be some of the most patriotic people in the world, but have I ever walked outside of my house after an Olympic basketball game to hear my entire neighborhood cheering? No. Have I been dismissed from school because the United States had a World Cup match? No. Have I ever truly felt that the United States was ALTOGETHER “united” under one cause? My honest answer would have to be “no.” Sure, soccer is just a game, but shouldn’t that make it even easier for all of us to support it unilaterally? We may be ahead of Argentina in some aspects of society, but we certainly can’t claim to be more patriotic. After experiencing an Argentine World Cup match with a true Argentine family, I am beginning to rethink what we really mean when we say “The United States of America.” I’ll let you know when we get the “United” part right.
The Paris of South America. The New York of South America. South America's most cosmopolitan city. We have all heard various names for the Latin American cultural centre. Buenos Aires is well-known around the world for its beautiful European-style architecture, legendary nightlife and trendy shopping. However, this is only one face of the city. The great restaurants, hip bars and expensive stores are reserved for rich porteños (Buenos Aires locals), expats and moneyed tourists. When you walk around the neighborhoods of Palermo and Recoleta you see fashion-conscious European and American tourists browsing fancy boutiques, businessmen having lunch in overpriced "fusion" restaurants and Argentinean women with botox faces carrying little dogs. Everyone who comes back from a trip to Buenos Aires raves about the city's fashion scene, diverse restaurants and cosmopolitan vibe. Those people do not get to see the other face of Buenos Aires- the villas (shantytowns). These areas are dominated by poverty and drugs and the police does not even enter. The inhabitants of the villas suffer from social exclusion and lack of opportunities.
On top of everything, the governor of Buenos Aires, Mauricio Macri wants to eliminate the villas and expel their inhabitants out of the city. As a volunteer for Voluntario Global you get to see both sides of the city. It is a very strange feeling to visit one of the villas during the day and then go out to bars and clubs in Palermo at night. The contrast between rich and poor could hardly be more drastic and makes you think about social inequalities in the city. I am not saying that you should not enjoy the nightlife and the nice parts of the city. Do take advantage of the city's fantastic cultural life. However, keep in mind that behind the gorgeous cosmopolitan facade there is severe poverty. This is why it is so important to show solidarity with the poor and underprivileged communities. Voluntario Global works with exactly those groups of people that have been left out and suffer from social exclusion. With various educational projects the organization's goal is to encourage young people to do well in school and go to university. Seeing and working in the poor marginalized communities makes you understand the city in its entirety. So when you go back to your home country you will be able to tell people what Buenos Aires really is about and that apart from a kicking nightlife and awesome shopping there are shockingly poor communities that certainly cannot participate in the cosmopolitan lifestyle of Buenos Aires.
This week Tanya from Montréal had her first day as a volunteer at the English school "By your Side" in the neighborhood of Pablo Nogués. The school:
Tanya in the class room: We were greeted by Silvia, the founder of the school.
We also met Camilla, who has been studying English at "By your Side" for five years and said that "English is her life". She impressed us with her fluency in English and eagerness to learn. Camilla demonstrates that the school with the help of volunteers has been successful at motivating children and teenagers to learn English.
VOLUNTARIO GLOBAL
Voluntario Global helps local communities by being available to discuss anything that local organizations need, and offering ideas for further change and development.
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CONTACT
Location: General Pacheco. Buenos Aires. Argentina
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