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January 8th, 2008
Yesterday we didn´t work in La Casa but actually took a tour of the center of Lima with Ignacio. Ignacio does the marketing for AGTR or Associacion grupo de trabajo redes aka, the NGO that gives money to the project that is La Casa de Panchita. Ignacio was great - he took us to Lima´s cathedral which was enormous and had a big museum and a small catacomb where we saw not only the bones of people buried there but the caskets of babies who had died and whose parents did not have the money to give them a proper burial. We then went to the monastery where we saw much larger catacombs that held the bones of thousands of people. At one point we looked into holes filled with the bones of people´s legs and the guide told us that they went about four meters (12ish feet) down.
Ignacio was almost as knowledgeable as the guides and told us everything they had missed during the tours.
Today in La Casa we got our big assignment for the time we are here: to write up 24 lesson plans for the English classes taught on sundays, though we aren´t actually going to be teaching the lessons because we work with the children during this time. It´s a difficult task because we really don´t know very much about english grammar. With the assistance of books and a guide, however, we´re doing alright and it´s helping us not only with spanish but understand more the difficulties of learning English. (Does anyone know how to explain exactly what adding "est" to the end of an adjective does? Ex. Biggest and Smallest. We all understand, but how to explain? Calling all teachers!) Today we finished five lessons between the three of us. (When I refer to the three of us I am also including Emily, another student from Colby.) Our goal is to finish as early as possible because we really want to be doing more work with people, though I know they need a lot of help with things like this. We were given two books about La Casa de Panchita and their work with children and families to read. Later we´ll be writing some sort of report on them, but we don´t have the topic of the report yet. It sounds a little crazy coming from me but it´s nice to be writing and doing school-like work .... in small quantities.
Today we also learned a little more about La Casa de Panchita and the project (which is technically separate then la Casa but still a AGTR project) with the children. The main goal of this project for the older children is to not only help them further their education but help them understand that they are allowed to have opinions and that they should express them. Their voices are silenced by the nature of their job as domestic workers and have to re-learn that it is okay to express themselves. For all the children the goal is to give a loving and warm enviornment. They are encouraged to hug us and hold hands and seek any affection that might be lacking, not by fault of their parents themselves but of their situation in life. This affection is begun at the very beginning of the day when the children line up outside the door and all of the volunteers go and kiss each one hello (that´s close to 60 kisses - we definitely feel the love). I really like the goals of La Casa. They care very genuinely about the physical, mental and intellectual wellbeing of the people who go to them for help.
Lastly, I found this article online about La Casa de Panchita and some of the work they do. If you read spanish go ahead and click this link. Sorry it´s not in English! http://www.aprodeh.org.pe/reflexiones/an
So that´s all for today - tomorrow I have a meeting with my sunday group to talk about next week´s work with the children, but the more work on the books and the lesson plans.
Goodnight all,
Emma
I forgot to mention in my recent blog that I am working with children from the ages of 11 to 14 years old. So far, I love my group, but I recently discovered that next Sunday, I am going to working with a different group (same age). We will teach them how to make a volcanic eruption and a periscope. We also play games that will increase their critical thinking skills; it is a game called Pienso Rapido (Think Fast). I am also going to save all of the handouts and information that they give more, which describes in further detail the activities y objectives for every Sunday. Thus far, I love the volunteers that I am working with; they are a group of dedicated and supportive women who strive to make a difference in the children's lives. We had a meeting today and discovered what we need to do for Sunday. I have to play close attention to the children, observing their attiude and actions. Also, I need to write down testimonies (quotes from the children) that illuminate the conflicts and problems that the children have to confront. I am very interested in this task because I will be able to delve deeper into the lives of these kids and understand their situation better. I REALLY want to help them.
Also, I know that I did not post anything yesterday, but Emma and I just had a tour of the central part of Lima. Ignacio, a volunteer at La Casa de Panchita, was our tour guide. He is a very intelligent and humble person who knows a lot about Lima´s culture and history. Emma and I went to two parks and three museums. We went to the Museo de Arte Religios, Mueso de la Inquisicion, y Museo San Francisco. I most say that I learned a lot. I also took lots of pictures, which will be posted up soon; I promise!!!! A funny side note: In Peru, especially central Lima, the cars never stop for pedestrians, which I find very funny.
Now, for today, Emma, Emily, and I received a small lecture from Johanna about AGTR (Asociación Grupo de Trabajo Redes). I discovered that La Casa de Panchita is a project of AGTR that helps to make domestic workers aware of their rights as citizens of Peru. La Casa de Panchita provides them with a very loving atmosphere and provides English classes and classes on reproduction, human rights, and technology. La Casa also wants the women to realize the advantage of having a higher education (i.e graduating from an university). This is very important because more than 55% of Peruvians live in poverty and 10% live in extreme poverty. Therefore, many Peruvians do not have the opportunity to graduate from college, let alone high shool (sometimes even elementary or middle schoo). I discovered the percentages on poverty from a book that I am reading for La Casa. La Casa wants Emma, Emily, and I to write a report on two books that discuss the purpose of La Casa, the lives of the domestic workers, and the issues regarding sexual, verbal, and physical abuse. So far, the books are very interesting, and I am learning more and more everyday about La Casa de Panchita, and its central purpose. Hopefully, later on in the month, Emma and I will be able to talk with the domestic workers (the older women) because we would love to know more about the adversities that they have to confront EVERYDAY.
Also, for today, Emma, Emily , and I had to create lessons for the English classes on Sunday. I just finished two lessons on Dinner and Telling A Story. If anyone wants to see what the lesson look like, I will be glad to post it. Well, that all is for now. I will post more tomorrow.
¡Hasta Luego!
Jessica