The Proyecto Salesiano "Chicos de la Calle" (Salesian Program for Street Children) is a prevention and intervention program for street children with a presence in cities throughout Ecuador. In Guayaquil and Duran, the program currently operates 3 shelters for boys who are at-risk or have been living on the streets, and 4 outreach and prevention centers for at-risk boys and girls from some of the area's most impoverished neighborhoods. In addition to economic hardship, many of the children who participate in the program have experienced abuse, abandonment, or neglect at home. Their neighborhoods are often home to high levels of drug abuse and gang activity. The program aims to get and keep kids off the streets and offer them social, educational, and spiritual alternatives.
The first RdC volunteers began working at the "Nuestros Hijos" shelter and vocational school in Duran in 2008. Currently, volunteer Beth Awalt (AJS) serves as an English teacher to the 8th and 9th grades and assists in the social work office. Volunteer Jessie Eisemann (AJS) teaches 7th grade English and accompanies boys in the vocational workshops. In addition, this year RdC volunteers have joined the teams at two of the prevention centers. Jenn Zocco (Mt. Sinai) works at the Casa Don Bosco center and Jeff Wallace (Mt. Sinai) works at the Bastion Popular center.
Beth:
Whether our days end with a jam session on the guitar, watching an intense soccer game or catching up inside the chapel, Jessie and I always leave Chicos with lots to share. "student thrust an iguana in my face today!" "dyed his hair blonde!" " actually let me use the drill machine!" " learned how to sand and lacquer!" " you see what the initials on his shirt stand for?" Usually, after we go through the funny stories, we start to reflect on what the boys have actually been teaching us. I´ll never forget sitting in the kitchen one day as a student asked me, "Señorita, what have you learned so far from us?"
The most inspirational lesson I´ve learned in Ecuador so far, particularly from the boys at Chicos, is the importance of accompaniment. One student asked me to accompany him to the office, so he could finally get the three notebooks he needs for class (he´s been without them for a few months now). Another student asked me to accompany him to visit his sister, whom he hasn´t seen in 9 months, to reconcile their relationship. Yet another student asked me to accompany him on a walk, as we chatted about his life at the shelter and at home. These moments of accompaniment come in all shapes and sizes, but I´m learning how important it is just to be present with someone. That companionship can be offered or asked for, in easy or difficult situations. But what this year, this placement, is continuing to teach me is that we really cannot learn how it feels to live in this shelter. But we can be present to the boys, listen to them, go with them when they need us. And that translates to all relationships, understanding how supportive my family and friends at home and here have been during this time, and constantly striving to accompany those I love in their struggles and joys. I may not be able to fix everything, or anything, but I can be a loving presence, and often that accompaniment is more than enough.
Jenn:
In additon to the shelters, Proyecto Salesiano Chicos de la Calle also has several after-school programs for kids in the surrounding neighborhoods. This year I am working with Casa Don Bosco´s refuerzo escolar (after school help). Every afternoon begins with a lunch, which for some of the kids may be the only meal they eat on some days. After lunch we have for homework and recess. The after school program seeks to reach the families and children with the most need. As such, part of my job has involved going into poor neighborhoods to publicize the program The reality for many of the kids is that if they are fortunate enough to go to school, therey may not be anyone at home who is able to help them with their homework. As volunteers and teachers, we try to be this consistent support for the children. The kids I work with range in age from 6 to 16 and come from varying levels of education. One day I could be helping a 15-year old learn to read while another day I might be teaching an 8-year old division. Though attendance depends on the week, there are a core group of about 30 kids that come regularly and I have enjoyed building relationships with all of them!
Jeff:
The Oratorio Diario in Bastion Popular run by Chicos de la Calle is comprised of different parts. There is a refuerzo where students aged 6-14 come for homework help, as well as a Patio where the students play soccer or other games. The educadores teach workshops for the students ranging from a bisuteria workshop, where students learn to make bracelets, to a music workshop, where students are taught about the basics of reading music and given music lessons, usually on the guitar. All of these parts become a safe haven for student to be off the street and have fun with other kids their age in a safe and loving environment. My role as an educatdor has been multi-faceted. I teach workshops in English and music and in an effort to keep the students interested in my English taller, I tried to have a soccer game with them in English by teaching them commands such as "Pass it"or "shoot it!" The members of the community who walked by probably did a double take, because the kids were yelling "Pass it!" or "shoot it!" all over the Patio, using the commands the entires half hour we played. It was a little success I took home with me that night. Overall, this worksite challenges me and helps me grow, but most importantly helps me become a more rounded and whole person who learns to love others as Christ does.
Jessie:
Working at Chicos is easily the most life giving part of my day---my role is to serve as a mentor in the tallers, and then twice a week I teach english to two classes for forty minutes. This job is seemingly simple. I technically do not actually do anything. I serve as a listening ear and have the opportunity to share my life while learning abut the lives of these incredible boys. All of them have gone through struggles that I will most likely never encounter in my lifetime and their stories, struggles and realities are unreal...yet the insane amount of resilience that they show is so moving. This job has showed me the true power of love---these boys often dont understand the concept of being cared for...and so often do not realize their own worth---but I have seen the effect of simply loving them, and being there with them. They have really warmed up to me and I have seen improvements in their outlooks. I can only hope that we can keep moving forward in these relationships and that they can continue to see that they are people of dignity and worth, and that people do love them. My time spent at the shelter and being with the boys there made me realize something---I may not be able to change the world--in that sense I can only be part of the process---but I do have the ability to change the world of one person, simply by loving.
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