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.
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.
