Writing my Reed grant proposal and learning more about LCEF first centralized the idea of grassroots approaches to community development, for LCEF's existence within the La Manz community is entirely dependent on conversation and involvement with the local people. Via Skype this spring, Nancy (this seems like such a long time ago) talked much about how the foundation only provides the support and opportunities voiced by the community. They also employ as many local people as possible, not only to create jobs, but also to add strength and consistency to the programs that cannot come from temporary volunteers or foreign residents, even those who have lived here for years.
The idea of asking a community to generate ideas and needs makes so much sense, but after an afternoon-long conversation with two doctors/medical faculty from San Diego State last weekend, it seems a difficult concept for many to apply. The women were in La Manzanilla doing Sex-ED talks in the middle school, and working in the local clinic. They came here with much knowledge, but did not begin their programs until after long discussions with school board members and parents had decided upon the topic for their adolescent health talks.
In one Saturday afternoon over a snack of coconut meat with lime and chili, Maria, the director of SDS's programs, shared handfuls of both ridiculous and successful stories from her involvement in many health projects worldwide. She cited projects where South African communities had been given the technology to develop detailed health initiatives. Maria's grad-students then brought supplies and assistance, aware in advance of the needs and the project's place within the community. In this case, the project was sustained vigorously after the students left, and the community leaders now apply for and receive grant funding to continue and expand their initiatives.
She also told stories which stuck deeper in my mind for their almost obscene nature. Stories of development groups building latrines on the tops of hills in countries with torrential rainy seasons; of researchers giving condoms to prostitutes who would be beaten if they tried to use them, who said if they were given alternative ways to feed their families, the problem would be solved; of latrine building in countries where shitting indoors was unheard of—the latrines were soon surrounded by piles, and eventually the developers realized they should build trenches instead. Maria said this realization took an inane amount of time.
This evening, I left my house at 7:30 and walked in the warm drizzle to the Centro Educativo for English Movie Night, take 2. Last week, after purchasing a cheap DVD player and postering the jardÃn, we had our first weekly night of fun... This ended up consisting of Stephanie, Nancy, and I talking for an hour or so while the dvd menu played and replayed, before heading home. Nancy had a laugh as she recalled our conversations with Maria. We did intend to ask our Adult and Secundaria classes if they would be interested in a Friday night movie, and what time would work best for them, but amidst other concerns and class happenings, this got pushed aside.
So, as I sat and watched the first half-hour of “How Do You Know” alone in the Centro tonight, I thought about how to initiate projects, even this small, within communities, and the necessity of conversation. Obviously my example is kind of trite and knowledge very limited, but my mind (normally packed with lit theory and poetic analysis) is newly open to learning more about development projects, both in the States and abroad, especially as I hope to use my love for writing for community nonprofit work in the future. <3
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