This past weekend my friends and I (plus lots of our students and their families) volunteered for Un Techo Para Mi Pais and let me tell you, if you've ever needed a reality check, this is where you should get it. This organization came to our school and asked if we wanted to participate in building houses for families. It's similar to Habitat for Humanity, but what is different is that the families have to contribute financially to their house, do a lot of preparatory work, and participate in the construction by helping and preparing meals for the volunteers. The houses we built are 6m x 3m and are built up on posts so as to prevent flooding that regularly damages the homes. The whole process is extremely exhausting, but it's the kind of good exhaustion that can change your whole perspective.
The place where we were building was just outside of Asuncion where the families survive by sorting through trash to collect recyclables that they can then cash in. So, needless to say, their living conditions are unimaginably low. Electricity is rigged up in ways unimaginable to most. Bathrooms are non-existent. Privacy is hard to come by. But, despite all the differences between their reality and ours, we all came together as one and built the houses! We had some major and minor bumps along the way (downpouring rain, major electrical accident, scrapes, bruises, and bumps), but we did it. WE DID IT! I am incredibly proud of everyone who volunteered their time and effort, wish nothing but the best for Oscar, Antonia, and Oscar Jr., and can't wait to do it again :)
For some pictures and more info...check out their website (http://www.untechoparamipais.org/dondetrabajamos/paraguay.html). I hope to get some pictures from some of my students so you can see where we were actually working, but until then just check out the site.
much love to all xoxo
