When you see a commercial on TV for
people living in terrible conditions, they're always depicted as sad
and miserable. I expected to see sad and miserable people when I
arrived at the settlement. I saw hardship and pain, but surprisingly,
I saw smiles and a fighting spirit that was inspiring rather than
depressing. You can't help but respect and love these people. They're
so kind, hardworking and unbeatable.
The environmental refugees of Santiago
de Maria lost their homes in 2001. Two very large earthquakes
destroyed their homes and wrecked their lives. They were put in four
different ill-designed and ill-constructed temporary settlements.
They were told they would be there just for six months. Its been
twelve years and their still there.
Today I got a taste of just how hard
they work. At the third settlement today, I asked if I could be of
assistance and was put straight to work. I cut coffee tree branches
in half to be sold as firewood, carried water and firewood across the
settlement and helped make tortillas. The community got a big kick out
of my help. They giggled at the sight of a large gringo getting dirty
and doing their work. I got a taste of what their lives are like.
Some of the work I did is work they do all day every day. Its tough,
backbreaking work, yet they do it with a positive attitude.
It started to rain right when we
arrived at the fourth and final settlement. We Jumped out of the
truck and ran to the nearest shelter. A large stream quickly formed
in the alleyway. It was wild to experience the settlement during a
storm. I had heard of streams forming and water coming in the house,
but today I experienced what it was actually like. Imagine water
coming in from the ceiling, walls and floor. That's what its like for
these people. It's pretty miserable.
Also today, I got to see the land where
the new community will be built. It was a great piece of land that
will accommodate 400 families. It had amazing views of two mountains.
It was already subdivided with roads and it also has power lines
already installed. All that it needs are houses on the lots and
families to fill them.
These people, who live in such horrible
conditions, are so strong and positive. Their story is sad, but it's inspiring too. At the fourth settlement today I was standing
in an ill-constructed shelter with a bunch of bare-footed women and a little boy who
were smiling as large at possible at me. Talking about what they
do for a living and laughing at how their newest addition to the
family has Chinese-looking eyes. Their wet feet were covered with mud
as they stood in a puddle in their shelter. Water was coming in the
shelter from everywhere. I got to truly understand how much these
shelters can suck in the rain, but I also got to see just how awesome
these people truly are as well. Every time it rains, think of the
environmental refugees of Santiago de Maria.
The settlement's gatekeeper
Helping cut up firewood to be sold
This is Karina. She's 22 and has two daughters. She walks an hour to collect firewood at the coffee plantations and then hikes an hour back with a full-load of sticks on her shoulders. Sometimes, her daughters come and help collect wood too.
This where the Building Dreams project will be built. Four hundred homes will be built here. The land has been subdivided, roads have built and power lines have been installed. All it needs are homes and people.
Armando is imaging what his house will look like.
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