musings

Ive had a lot of time to think today.  I was reading the El Salvador daily newspaper this morning with my coffee and came across an article about a bunch of youth who had just been arrested for their involvement in an homicide. All of the kids in the picture looked so young ... like the kids Ive been visiting all week.

Its crazy to me that the kids we get to work with are so incredibly undesireable. In many cases they are the ones who give this country a bad reputation for violence. They fill the newspapers with stories of murder, burglary, deceit ... etc. On one hand they do this on their own volition --- but can we really believe that? All of these kids come from intensely poor families. They practically grow up on the streets. Many of them have young parents ... who probably were never taught how to be a mom or dad. Im not saying these kids arent responsible for the evil things theyve done ... but can we expect much more from them?

Other people are waiting for the internet so Ill wrap this up... 

Society expects nothing but bad things from these kids and thus assign them little or no value. So when another kid is arrested and locked up, or another girl is kicked out for getting pregnant its no big deal. It creates a cycle. This is why I am so excited about Traveling Stories ... books wont solve anything immidiately ... and they may not make a huge different, but I believe that books have the power to inspire and transform minds ... to break this sad cycle. Books can teach kids ideas and ways to live that they arent seeing from the people around them. 

If you have any books ... Spanish or English... please save them for Traveling Stories!!! Well find a way to put them into good hands! 

love, emily

thursday already?

Its Thursday!Its only 8:30...Im already showered and dressed...and thats without coffee! No one from work will be surprised to know that next on my agenda is a stop at a great cafe for a yummy iced carmel latte! After coffee, heres what I want to accomplish:

1. Create displays asking for donations for the book store

2. Visit one of the Orphan Helpers houses again

3. Hear a childs entire story ...and hopefully capture it on video

4. Meet with the president of the sports federation...if that doesnt happen today I really hope it happens tomorrow! 

I know its only 4 things but these four things will likely take all day! Ill fill you in later! Thanks to everyone who is reading!!! If all of this is of any interest to you please consider getting more involved with Traveling Stories once I return!! 

fresh chicken and bus rides

Had lunch at an awesome local spot! Had chicken that was most likely killed this morning -- so FRESH! Went shopping ... for books! Turns out there is one pretty decent book store here. I talked to a store manager, Sandra, and she said theyd be willing to put up a display asking for book donations! YAY! Im trying to get something made before I leave.... but if that doesnt happen Ill ask Edward from Orphan Helpers to deliver the displays! She was pretty interested in our work and said the more people involved the better! I couldnt agree more! 

Feeling adventurous I decided to take the public bus back to my hostel. I love the bus ... but this time it took forever!!! Heres a video clip from my ride! 

wednesday-- a meeting with the big players

Hi! I just have a few minutes to fill you in on the morning but Ill try to post some recent videos soon! 

This morning I had coffee with my lawyer friend Raul. He was accompanied by four friends -- all working professionals here in El Salvador. There were two lawyers, two construction business owners and a farmer. Last time I was in El Salvador I got to visit the farmers land ... it was incredible! He grows guavas...and other things, im sure!

They were all interested in Traveling Stories and promised to spread the word about our work to their friends. I told them I wanted to work with anyone and everyone! Raul called his friend Jaime, whos the president of the sports federation here in El Salvador. He does a lot of community work and said hed like to meet with me to learn more about Traveling Stories! YAY! I hope to set up a meeting with him tomorrow or Friday. Raul says he speaks English! (ive got my fingers crossed!). 

I felt so bad-ass having coffee with all these prominent salvadoranian businessmen. They were giving me feedback on my ideas ...offering help...making phone calls.... telling me more about the situation here in El Salvador!

I have lunch with Raul in 20 minutes to talk more about registering our work with the government here. Since he is a lawyer he said he could handle the paperwork. The benefit to registering is that we wont pay fines and will have an easier time bringing things in and out of the country. 

Ill let you know how it goes! On a sidenote -- I got to visit with some of my university friends here in San Salvador last night! It was so good to see them and walk around the city feeling like a local! Thanks to all of you who are reading! Thanks for the comments!! See you soon! 

love, emily

today in pictures ...

 A boy standing in the library at an all-boys orphanage. This is one type of library we will help to establish at other orphanages.

 

A young mom and Edward, the director of Orphan Helpers. Edward was an amazing guide all day! 

 The young mothers home.  Not everyone was home while I was there.

 The all-boys home. 

Oscar, one of the boys in the government-run-all-boy orphanage. He made this card, which I got to buy! Isnt it beautiful?!He also gave me a purse that he made in craft class -- that didnt cost anything! 

mothers, felons and gangsters -- younger than my sister

I dont know where to begin.

Today has been incredible... both in good and bad ways.

My first stop today was a house for nine unwed mothers (and their children). The moms ranged in age from 12 to 22! All but one of them had gotten pregnant after being abused and raped --often times by someone in their family.

(one of the babies! she is so adorable...and wouldnt let me put her down the whole time i was in the house!) 

The kids I met today look no different than my former students ... or even my little sister and her friends. But then I started listening to their stories ... sad, sad stories. I met a 12-year-old girl named Maria. She gave birth to child about 7 months ago. She got pregnant after her godfather raped her. Now, because her family kicked her out of the house for getting pregnant, she is living in a Orphan Helpers half-way house.

Today I also met Christian. Hes 14 years old and covered in tattoos. On his neck is a large, very visible 18 ... the mark of one of the most prominent gangs here in El Salvador. He was arrested for extortion and the judge sent him to an Orphan Helpers half-way house because if she sent him to a normal dentention facility he would likely be killed. Even now, Christian cant go to certain places for fear of being killed. Hes 14! And who knows the types of things he did while actively involved in the gang? 

 

christian

I met 18-year-old Sonya. She is in a womens detention facility -like juvenile hall- for homicide. She has two kids. She is awaiting her sentence and doesnt know when she will get out.

Story after story after story. What do I do with this information!??!?!?!

day 2

So much has happened since yesterday! Its hard to believe Ive only been in El Salvador one full day. Yesterday I met a local named Alba who offered to show me to a local orphanage... just minutes from where I was staying. This morning at 8:30 am, when it was already scorching hot,  we visited Remar, an orphanage run by a Guatemalan woman named Maria who works for free. She was very excited when I told her the purpose of my visit! She showed me their current library, a room not much bigger than most of our bathrooms, and told me that all the books had been donated. She said they had no money to buy books, which made her sad because she believes reading is very important.

Heres a video of her telling me about the library. To be honest I didnt understand all she said. Forgive my poor filming abilities! Theyre getting better!



We arrived at the orphanage just as class let out for reces! As they do everywhere, the kids at Remar poured out of their classrooms and rushed to the food lines. Within minutes there was a basketball game, two soccer games and lots of silly socializing taking place. They seemed pretty surprised to see a gringa taking pictures! They smiled and begged me to take photos of them ... and before I knew it I had a guide: 10-year-old Moises showed me around and introduced me to everyone. He would point out the things he thought I should take pictures of! Heres a video of some of the kids.



Thats all for now. Im gonna rest a minute before taking a taxi to my second orphanage visit for the day: La Casa de mi Padre! More updates later!


sidenote: Brittany Hoover: Everyone at the beach is asking where you are!