Saturday, September 15, 2018

Memories of El Salvador 2018 … by Tolu Perrin-Stowe

Initially, I was actually skeptical about going on a Habitat for Humanity build trip in El Salvador.  Not for reasons of safety or a language barrier like many would think, but instead I was worried about who the trip was for.  As a person, intentions matter less to me than actual impact.  Of course, sometimes the good we mean to do doesn’t go as planned, but once we know better, we should do better.  Unfortunately, I have been involved with volunteer experiences in the past where that was not the case.  I was concerned that I was going to be engaging in the type of “volun-tourism” that does more harm than good, the type that removes the agency of the people in the local community and instead focuses on the feel-good moments for the western volunteers.  This issue is something I want to look at carefully as a part of my career work, so I didn't want to engage in unhelpful activities and add negatively to them.

Habitat employees, native El Salvadorans, both Spanish and English speakers,
Francis Padilla and Douglas Rivas, our local hosts for the week of work on our build trip.

Douglas, Francis, plus their Habitat colleagues, Flor and Kati, all from El Salvador.

Well, to my joy and constant surprise, I saw the that the El Salvadorans involved with the project were the ones spearheading it, deciding what could best benefit people and directing our efforts towards it.  Skilled, local workers were in charge and made sure our interactions were genuine and not performative or exploitative.  We learned about the history and the current affairs of the country from those who live it.  No one else controlled their narrative.  They were not censored or shy with us. They talked to us about our country and its policies and those of their own.  Everyone involved was enthusiastic, humbled, and grateful - from the volunteers, to the masons, to the Habitat employees, to the small family working with us on the small property that will eventually become their home.  

Our Habitat for Humanity build family: Carlos, Melvin, Jenifer, and Sofia.

Critiques can always be made of any system or organization, especially ones that navigate so many places that may have damaging histories involving western people and powers.  There is always more to be learned and things to be improved upon.  However, this experience felt like Habitat is one of the programs that is moving in the right direction and the fact that Good Shepherd and the people that go on this trip are a part of it is amazing.  The trip allows people from different places to connect without indulging in any savior complex and instead uses its privilege to support people in their own communities and countries with what they think is important.  

I am so grateful that I was able to learn so much about everyone on this trip. Everyone’s story was extraordinary and the love and peace I felt within the group was both healing and motivating for me.

 At the market to get food for a cooking lesson with the ladies from the Getsemani Co-Op.  The woman in the very center wearing the green apron is a total stranger, but wanted to welcome us and get her photo taken with the group.  Her attitude proved quite typical of El Salvadoran hospitality.