So it is my turn to add to the blog.
Yesterday our tour guide, Lele, took us out of the inner city to communities where people live. We had a couple of stops to see different housing of different classes which were integrated in the neighborhoods. We first stopped at a community center that helps the youth from falling into the same poverty that their parents brought them up in. The center is government funded, had free wifi, a place for kids to do their school work, learning opportunities (scholarship information and help), an amphitheater that is free to rent out for the community members, and more.
From there we headed to where the homes were of the lower class. The housing is nothing that I have ever seen. The houses are called shanties, shipping containers (yes, the ones you see in the big cities on the freighters), and are also made up of wood pallets and anything else that can be found to make it their own. The shanties are directly side by side and has more than one family living in it with a wall dividers. When we first arrived, I felt nervous and scared and a sense of panic because I didn’t know what to expect, there was trash everywhere, people everywhere, different looking structures I have never seen before, and I had my children with me. People were looking but knew tourists visited so it wasn’t uncommon for outsiders to be coming into their community. The man we visited, Shooter, lived in a nicer shanty than most. He had three rooms, living space, kitchen/bedroom, and his daughter’s bedroom (rarely occupied because she lives with Shooter’s stepson). These three rooms combined were smaller than a college dorm room. As we walked in Brooklyn was hesitant to sit as was I, but I hope it didn’t show. I was very uncomfortable for about the first 5-10 minutes but then after listening to Shooter speak about his life I became more comfortable and sad, it was hard to keep the tears away, I had to keep wiping my eyes so I didn’t embarrass myself. Just being there makes me want to go in there and help everyone, but it is not possible. Money and food is just a quick fix, what the people of these communities need is education on how to make good choices and better homes. It was a joy to meet Shooter, he was very welcoming and willing to answer any questions we had.
We also visited a building that used to be a hostile for men. The one room we went into was also smaller than a dorm room and had three families living it, a total of ten people!
Lastly, we visited a community where Lele started up a youth program called, Happy Feet Youth Project, with his brother and one other person. It is an encouraging place for kids to join to learn to dance. It is all by choice, children are not asked or forced to join, simply they just have to want to join. Through the program kids choreograph their own dances and are provided soup three times a week and a sandwich on the other days. A lot of their time is occupied by practicing and performing instead of falling into drugs, alcohol, and early pregnancy. It was amazing to watch them perform and the girls were given a lesson too!
The life lived here is very different from ours. Everyone spends their time outside all day, everyday. The children roam freeing playing and socializing with each other. There isn’t much supervision by the parents, so many kids are raising kids. Their problems are different than ours. We worried about where to go out to eat, when they are worrying about how they are going to get their next meal. They help each other in building and fixing their homes when needed. Needless to say, it was a very emotional day. I am left with an empty and weird feeling because I know I cannot help them in any way. One positive I did notice was their were happy faces, I saw children smiling and adults smiling and laughing, so I know there is some joy to their life but I know it could be better.
Elizabeth
