Fifteen women and two men from the United States and Canada were an excited and professional group of artists traveling to Philadelphia, Egypt, Kenya, Guatemala and Nicaragua to participate in BuildaBridge's annual Diaspora of Hope. The artists were joined by scores of local artists in each country as they planned, trained and implemented an arts camp on the themes of hope, peace, and unity with children from very difficult circumstances. The BuildaBridge Classroom model was the structure for each camp. This was the first year Diaspora of Hope conducted a project in Philadelphia with a local partner--a shelter abused women and their children. The mission of Diaspora of Hope is to provide children with a brighter future and build the capacity and sustainable development of local organizations serving these children who live in poverty. The following blogs from around the world describe the events of the week and stories of transformation.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Guatamala City Meets El Faro!
After shopping for supplies on Saturday and training/orientation on Sunday, our US and Guatemalan teams joined forces and met 100 students early Monday monring. We filled a street alcove and lined its contour with luggage and supplies. The children were wide eyed and bubbling with energy. It wasn't long before the buses arrived and we began the task of puzzle fitting the luggage into busses and a van... like a real life Tetris game. Once the luggage was loaded, next came the task of fitting 100 students, 27 staff, 2 bus drivers and their families all into just 2 buses. Every seat was filled and several impromptue seeats arraned! The ride was long and the traffic made it longer. We slipped through rural town, pushed up and around the mountains, and marveled as the langscape and environment changed to palms, humitidy, and sandy soil. After reaching the Atlantic coast and the town of Puerto Barrios, we began the last leg of out journey... a dirt road. It had already been raining and with every hill we were sure the buses wouldn't make it to the top. And yet they did! One hill after another the engines chugged and the wheels churned and found traction. Each hill evoked a cheer, butit was the first sight of the ocean that caused the children's energy to erupt with screams, whistles, and yelps.. We made it!
The camp is beautiful... a haven of tropical delight. Everything is extremely well taken care of and expertly crafted. The cement work alone is phenomenal.
The camp is owned by a family from the states who have have a heart for turning this land into a place of love and restoration. The owners were here our first night and we had a Thanksgiving feast (literally) and the children were given gifts of blankets, crocks (shoes), and a toy.
They haven't stopped beaming! Their difficult behavior is being squelched by beauty and love. They are safe knowing there is 7 hours between them and the dangers that haunt them at home.
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