Working Works!

So back in April I had another visit from a PC Trainee, but this time I put her to work. As we raced from one meeting to another, Julia had a real dose of being a volunteer. Perhaps even a skewed dose, as I’m normally not that busy! We started with the Kindergarten fundraiser, then off to my Health Center Evaluation Meeting, which resulted (thank goodness!) in the formation of the Health Committee (pictured) that’s been lacking for over a year. The next day I we went to a four hour Asamblea for the Aqueduct Association in Juan de León, a neighboring town. Afterwards we took a break to see the partidos (soccer games) in Las Pampas (another of my towns) and the last day I finally took her to the beaches (Coyote and San Miguel) for some sun fun before dragging her to yet another meeting in the evening for a project proposal to the Concejo Distrito for the Salón Comunal.

Project Updates: As for the Japanese Embassy solicitation, we are at a standstill until we have an engineer create a Plano de Construcción (Construction Plan) for submittal to the Embassy. (Pictured is the new, improved salón, now with roof!) I don’t know how they’ve built the salón so far with no construction plan or design whatsoever, but that’s why it hasn’t been completed I suppose. We have until September to turn in the Plano and I am sure the Committee won’t do anything about it until August at the earliest. Who ever heard the phrase "the early bird catches the worm" anyway?

I am thinking about trying to solicit a PCPP (Peace Corps Partnership Proposal for donations) in order to raise money and fix the Puesto de Salud (Health Center). It’s a bunch of paperwork, but rainwater leaks in so much that the building floods from the inside out and they are threatening to suspend consultations if the Health Committee doesn’t do anything about the problem. I myself formed said Committee, but they are already having issues. Hopefully we’ll be able to put it together in the next month, so keep your wallets open!

Also, there’s a new project I’m starting, called Chicas Poderosas. It’s basically a girls’ empowerment group, a youth group only for girls to promote self-esteem and self-worth. While it’s lessening with time, women here (especially in the campo) still suffer from machismo and this is a great way to address the issue. I am also planning to coordinate a charla (talk) on VIH/SIDA but that would be after the D.A.R.E. program (in early July, next week!)

Back in Puerto Coyote, I supervised a beach clean-up for a high school group working towards the community service project required for graduation.

There are so many things lacking and so many possibilities but when it comes down to coordination, in these smal towns, LOGISTICS ARE SO TOUGH! You work so hard to achieve so little. Baby steps, baby steps... poquito a poco as they say here. I know I haven’t done anything huge, but it's everything to actually to note differences and measure progress.