Mixed Feelings

Yesterday I attended the closing ceremony for “Buena salud para todos,” a large multi-faceted public health project. It was a project completed by several different organizations, including NGOs and governmental organizations. “Buena salud para todos”…. Aka “good health for all,” lived up to its name with a wide scope, and an education centered approach community health improvement.
It had support groups for those living with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure; it produced about 30 well trained “Health promoters” that will hopefully 

El Bus Azul, a mobile community classroom

continue on to form youth groups, and give educational health talks in their communities, schools, and health posts; they focused on topics in sexual and reproductive health with all age groups; and finally, educated the community on basic hygiene and diarrhea prevention… food preparation, water purification, hand washing, and preparation of oral rehydration salts. It was really amazing to see all of the fruitful outcomes of this project. Throughout the ceremony there were personal testimonies, games to test people’s health knowledge, charlas, and the “bus azul,” a renovated blue school bus that now serves as a versatile and mobile community classroom.

Inside the bus, practicing hand-washing

As I was observing this exciting event I had lots of different thoughts and feelings running through me. First of all, I was sad that I didn’t have much of an opportunity to work with this project while it was here. My Peace Corps project shares some common goals and approaches to development, and it would have been great to have had more of an opportunity to work together. Another thought was that this project was apparently successful because so many members of the community and organizations were involved. It made me remember that going about any sort of project alone is likely to fail, and the more I can get a variety of members from the community involved, the better. This same thought stresses me out. Facilitating teamwork and true community involvement sounds nice and flashy, while behind the scenes it takes a lot of dedication. I also noticed that there seemed to be a large amount of monetary resources at work… which is something that I don’t currently have access too, although I know how to get some financial assistance on projects. All in all, I was feeling really little. Then I had another thought, a much more positive one. I could work with these recently certified “health promoters” as a jump start to assist in forming more youth groups, and working in the rural communities. I’ve decided that this was my most productive, and re-assuring thought. Also, I already know and am friends with a solid chunk of these health promoters, and several of them have expressed interest in working on projects with me. This all sounds so easy… and makes so much sense… I’m sure it will not be this smooth or easy in practice, but I’m excited to find out.

Made more rosquillas on the farm last week. This is part of the finished product.

 A personal story from yesterday as well: The house was and continues to be full and happy! Four of my host siblings came home yesterday for the weekend. They’re all right around my age, and some of my closest friends here, but they all live in other cities. We all stayed up talking, goofing around, and watching the video of the quinseñera until 12:30am. Which is the latest I have ever stayed up in site, usually I’m passed out by about 9pm. Then today my host mom came home from traveling and a few other family members came home as well; the house feels homey again. There is a big celebration to mark the anniversary of the high school today. So far the activities remind me a lot of high school homecoming activities… a parade, competitions between each grade level, candidates from each grade level (boy and girl), and a big dance at the end of the night.