My Experience Working on Voluntario Global’s Communications Team
geschrieben von Elizabeth Palmieri
I chose to volunteer for Argentine NGO Voluntario Global because I’d always wanted to work for a non-profit organization, and I had already fallen in love with Buenos Aires when I briefly visited in 2014. The organization offered a Communication program where I could use my multi-media and editorial skills to help recruit volunteers from all over the world, and in turn, make a difference in the lives of many underprivileged Argentinians.
I joined the Communications team during a time of much action: every week we’d visit 2-3 projects, where we’d organize an interview with each director of the project, take video footage and photos, and gather information to write an article about the place and people. Since I spoke Spanish on the team, I went to every project as a source of communication, where I facilitated the interviews and translated the videos to include subtitles.
The protrusive low-class neighborhoods around the city were home to the eight projects I visited during my 10 weeks in Buenos Aires, and each of them contained the most caring and selfless people I met during my experience. Some built a kindergarten from nothing in a woman’s one-room home, others ran an English school in a back yard, and other individuals helped with the rehabilitation of patients with mental health disorders.
I saw places that I never would have thought to visit, talked to inspiring individuals I would have never met otherwise, and spoon-fed babies, a daunting task I’d never done in my life. I met the world in the Voluntario Global house – kind people from Columbia all the way to Singapore.
I loved speaking to passionate community members about their projects that I was promoting and seeing them come to life and continue to prosper with the help of international volunteers, VG resources, and community support.
I recommend Voluntario Global’s Communication program for the open-minded travelers interested in community development, and for those who want to use their digital content creation skills to help promote a diverse range of important projects that help low-class neighborhoods in the city.
I suggest that you come armed with basic/intermediate Spanish or take the two-week intense Spanish class offered (if you are a quick learner) to make your time here easier and more rewarding. The people who work in the projects do not speak English and our coordinators prefer to have meetings in Spanish.The Voluntario Global team just celebrated its 10-year anniversary and continues to expand every year. I’m happy I was a part (and a face) of the many accomplishments and successes of the non-profit organization that helps underprivileged families and low-income community members be seen, heard, and be proud to be Argentinian.
Last Friday, I had the opportunity to attend one of the biggest (if not the biggest) protests of the year. Ni Una Menos is raising awareness on the number of femicides and the acts of violence committed against women. In Argentina, it is estimated that every 30 hours, a female is killed or harmed because of her gender, that is, as an act of patriarchal and domestic violence.
Before last week, I didn’t even know that the term “femicide” existed. In the US, gender equality and feminism are social issues very much at the forefront of political campaigns and other platforms. However, this new topic doesn’t seem to have much traction at home, at least not in the way that it does here. The #NiUnaMenos march started last year and cumulated global attention with other major Latin and South American cities participating in their perspective protests.
The energy from the march was almost unreal. There were at least 200,000 participants and a countless number of organizations. Women in purple wigs, percussion groups, and food vendors filled the street that I now call home. There were cries for action that called for the legalization of abortion -- a taboo subject in the US -- protests on the lack of federal protection for those hurt. There were pictures of the women murdered, and signs explaining their families grievances. I felt for the families affected and for the children who were left orphaned because of these crimes.
Protests here are a regular occurrence and I discovered that within the first few weeks of living here. People here voice injustices more frequently than any other place I’ve visited and I think that is part of what makes this country so great. I left the protest with a heavy heart but at the same time, with the hope that these people will get what’s just in the end.
Borges’ presence is one that can still be felt strongly in the city of Buenos Aires, even now, 30 years after his death. Whether it be admiring his statue in the historic Café Tortoni, walking down the street in Palermo where he lived with his grandparents that now bears his name, or in a bookstore on the corner of Corrientes and Uruguay and wondering whether it is the same one referenced in ‘Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius’; at least in this city, Jorge Luis Borges may never die. Borges’ most famous works are short stories which have heavy fantasy and surrealist themes; as such he has been a great influence for other writers, Argentine or otherwise, in these genres, and it is thought that the term ‘Magic Realism’, a genre so pervasive in Latin American literature, was first coined to describe one of Borges’ works.
His 1944 collection Ficciones is the work that stands out most in the mind of myself and many others, not its own novel but 2 collections of short stories presented together. In these stories, however, it is not hard to find some sort of cohesion through theme and symbol and the book is pleasing to read from cover to cover. One of the most striking themes which brings the stories together is the abundant references to books and literature, be they real or imaginary. One such story that exemplifies this is ‘Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote’. The style of the story is as a literary review, of an interpretation written by Pierre Menard of Don Quixote - only the interpretation is exactly the same as the original. The reviewer claims that Menard wanted to do much more than a simple translation and actually become Miguel Cervantes; and for his efforts, his version is much better than the original.
The reviewing of imaginary books could be an inventive device to Borges to put across his own philosophies, thoughts and ideas, or at least that is the impression one gets from a story such as ‘Three Versions of Judas’, this time of 3 controversial books written to claim that Judas was in fact the truest reflection of God in the Christian faith; that his flaws were exemplary of what it means to be human. His musings turn very existential in the case of ‘The Lottery in Babylon’; a city where a normal lottery turns into an entity that controls everything that happens in the city and to its citizens, and entry is compulsory. Rumours start to be heard that the company that run the lottery do not, and never will exist, and the men left must decide what they believe - not that it will change their luck in the game. The story of the lottery gives a reader a lot of food for thought on the topics of faith, luck and fate.
It is not, however, necessary to work your brain on overdrive searching for hidden meanings in this collection. Through all these abstract and allegorical tales, Borges remains interesting and fun to read, and the collection even contains somewhat of a murder-mystery in the form of ‘Death and the Compass’, a more straightforward story which in itself seems to warn of the danger of over thinking, something which perhaps Borges wants us to keep in mind when reading his other stories.
As per the suggestion of my classmates, I went to Azucar on Friday night for Bachata dancing. There are several locations, but I went to the one on Cordoba. It was 90 pesos for the class and the social dance which were set to start at midnight. I was able to observe the class given by the Bachata Dolls and boy, that looked like a fun pattern and unlike anything I had ever learned in class before.
To provide a bit of backstory, there are two different types of bachata that I’ve encountered in my life: Dominican and Sensual. As the name suggests, Dominican bachata is the purest form of the dance and goes back to it’s native roots. The music is faster and so is the footwork. Sensual Bachata is a more modern take on the dance, characterized by the body rolls and close body connection.
I would argue that what is danced socially is a mix of both. Surprisingly enough, at the Bachata class there seemed to be some Zouk movements (which is a Brazilian dance), lead with a follow’s forearm and other connection points besides the arms and hands. This fascinated me because when I went to Spain in December, I saw a couple doing a demo for Zoukchata at a Bachata social and the pattern taught at Azucar reminded me very much of it. It felt like I had come full circle because Zoukchata is starting to be taught in Austin as well. How amazing is it that in the span of three continents, with so many different cultures and languages spoken, I found a common center?
I went without knowing a single soul but I danced nearly every song and connected with my dance partners. I left nearly at 5am, exhausted but convinced I would go back and see my new friends again. My experience social dancing reaffirmed my belief that dancing really does unify everyone. I danced with a guy from France, I don’t remember his name and he didn’t understand Spanish. Even still, we understood each other perfectly.
Picture this. A room full of 10 month old babies to 1-year-old toddlers waddling around and with only two women tending to their every need. Each day poses new challenges as these two incredible women ensure that these babies are fed, entertained and put to sleep when they get tired.
In what is commonly known as a gap year, between her secondary education and attending a University, Sophie Kiner Jørgensen (20) has decided to devote her time to traveling and volunteering around the world.
Sophie volunteers four hours a day, five days a week at an early childhood development center in one of the many impoverished neighborhoods of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is a neighborhood that struggles with upward growth of its residents and Kiner sees this as an opportunity to help people less fortunate than herself and also to advance herself toward her final educational and career goals as well as do something positive for people in need.
“My task is to assist the teachers whenever they need me. I am playing with the kids, singing songs with them, helping them to go the bathroom and just making sure that they have a good day in kindergarten.” Said Kiner.
Along with working as a volunteer to achieve her academic and ultimately her career goals, making a difference is also important for Kiner, she believes that she is helping to make a difference in the lives of the children.
“The thing is that they are living in a slum area, so they need some space where they can express themselves and where they can play and feel happy.” Kiner said. “Most of them live in just one room with their entire family or in the streets, they just need to feel happy.”
Watching Kiner work with the children, it is obvious that she is enjoying what she is doing and also that the children are happy when they are in the school with her.
Kiner wants to study anthropology when she continues her education. This opportunity here in Buenos Aires is critical to advancing herself to study her chosen field.
“I came to Argentina because I wanted to learn about the culture here and I thought that volunteering would be a good idea because I can see how the living conditions are here and in the slum and that is a big contrast to what I have back home.” Kiner said. “I think it is a good experience for me to learn about another culture”
Kiner believes immersion in another culture is also critical to learning more about herself. The opportunity working with Voluntario Global has helped her to learn more about herself in the five weeks that she has spent in Buenos Aires. Working with the children in an environment that sharply contrasts to her life in Denmark, where poverty and homelessness are not an issue and have played a crucial role in her own self development.
“Before arriving here, I traveled for two months with a big group from Denmark. Here I am pretty much alone and I experience a lot by myself and I though that I would be fine but I am a little alone here.” Kiner said. “But it makes you stronger if you just grab all the challenges.”
Volunteering every day at the soup kitchen is a great way to get to know the community and the atmosphere at the neighborhood. Last week I had a couple of great volunteering experiences, very authentic and real that made me feel very happy with my participation at the project – exactly because it made me feel like I’m getting to know the project and the neighborhood much better. In one of the days, a big truck, full of boxes of food arrived. I discovered that the cooks at the soup kitchen are a part of a cooperative which helps them buy large quantities of food for their families in discount prices. It was great to see who everyone helped each other in organizing all the food inside the kitchen. The cooks and their helpers lined spontaneously in a row, starting outside the street near the truck and going towered the room inside were they organized all the boxes. The boxes moved from one hand to another and they finished the unpacking quickly. Every one helped to unpack the truck and the cooperation between all was perfect. They all were very cheerful and happy to see that they work so good together.
A day after, there was a fire drill at the project, it was also great to take part of it and to see how amazing all the cooks and everyone else were during the drill. They helped the kids go out from the class to the street and once again I was lucky to see the perfect cooperation between all. Of course the kids relate to the drill as a game and they were so happy with the excitement of it. Maybe because the cooks and the helpers, although taking the drill seriously, were so great with the kids so the kids were just very happy to get outside for a couple of minutes. I sow how everyone at the project cares so much for the kids and it made me realize that they are in good and amazing hands that look after them so much.
These experiences made me realize how great the cooks and everyone else at the project are, so caring, so cooperative; they are all true community leaders. realizing that made my volunteering become much more authentic – I was not just helping in the kitchen, but, for a couple of weeks, I was also part of the community. And that is something you cannot experience unless you volunteer, especially in such well operated organization like Voluntario Global who makes sure to send you to great projects, were everyone take care of you like you are truly a part of the community.
And one more thing, last week I also understand how strong the women at the soup kitchen are – not physically, although you need some of that when working every day at the soup kitchen… but mentally. In their minds and heart they are so strong. They know how to join forces in a cooperative in order to organized food for themselves and their families, to manage a fire drill perfectly and to make a volunteer feel so good with his stay at the soup kitchen. You realize that when spending a couple of weeks with them at the kitchen. They are really so strong and inspiring women.
I can believe that this week my three weeks of volunteering will end, so soon… I really recommend, if you like cooking, like kids and want to experience Buenos Aires not just as a tourist, to come to the soup kitchen. If I could, I would have stayed much more than three weeks, maybe you would want too…
From protests to mass media, our volunteers gathered once again to discuss the role of mass media in our respective societies. Questions were raised but ultimately, it came down to “Just how much can you trust the media?”. At which point do you decide what is real and what isn’t?
I was feeling a bit homesick this week so I decided to venture out into the Bachata community first. I knew that finding people who loved dancing this dance as much as I do would make me feel more connected to home.
I think that a good way to gage how active a dance community is in a particular place is to attend a class (if you are able to). Since I have some experience in this particular dance style, I also wanted to see how and what instructors were teaching in their classes. The hope was also that they could tell me where they go out social dancing.
I attended two classes this week; the first was on Monday night at Bailá BA! which is located in San Telmo. I got there in time for the warm up and instantly got this huge smile on my face when I recognized the steps that were being shown. The class was advertised as being for all levels but there weren’t any beginners, from what I could see. We did a pattern with a pendulum hand toss for the follow and body rolls. The music played in class was popular in the congresses I’m used to attending so all in all, I left the class feeling like I had learned a lot and excited to go out social dancing. In addition, I made a new friend in class! Her name is Jesica and she started dancing because she also teaches Zumba. I left the class that night with the familiar comforting feeling I have after a good night of dance.
The second class I attended was a class for female styling in Bachata on Wednesday at Full Dance. Although there were only two other girls there with me, these are my favorite types of classes because they allow for each person to add their own flavor to the choreography being taught. Our teacher incorporated a lot of classical spinning techniques in our warm up and a lot of modern footwork and hand styling (like La Alemana) in the routine. It was a perfect mix of old and new in the dominican dance. Afterwards, I felt empowered and really sure of myself. The girls in the class let me know that they like to go to Azucar for Bachata dancing on Friday nights.
Just like that, I felt included. If social dancing Bachata is like it is in Europe and North America, I won’t feel alone when I finally do go out and check out the social dancing scene.
What is the correlation between duration of stay and amount of difference made? Does it mean the longer I stay, the more change I see? Would I make any difference at all if I stay for only 2 weeks?
One of the greatest things about living in the volunteer house for an extended period of time is the chance to meet volunteers from across the globe. I’ve had the privilege of meeting volunteers from the US, Australia and Denmark to name a few. Some stayed for months while others were here for 2 weeks. Despite the difference in time period, we all had one question in mind. Are we making a difference in our projects?
Whenever the volunteers gathered, we talked about the progress we were making. We each had different experiences simply because we were in different projects. Some worked in kindergartens and orphanages while others worked in health clinics and soup kitchens. We came with expectations, some of them met, some not and others exceeded.
Personally, I believe that one should set goals before thinking of volunteering. Sure it’s only natural to have expectations for yourself and for the projects you undertake. But I’m almost 95% sure that the majority of those goals would change week by week. You never know exactly what to expect until you get to the volunteering site. Furthermore, many of us volunteers could only speak basic Spanish and some couldn’t even speak Spanish at all. We each had different struggles and when we shared them, we realized we all had the same question in mind.
A fellow volunteer from Australia faced a lot of difficulty communicating with the teachers in the kindergarten and felt rather exasperated at some points. A volunteer from Israel didn’t feel like she was doing enough with the kids she was volunteering with. A communications volunteer felt she was not being resourceful enough without having sufficient equipment to execute tasks.
It is normal to experience negative emotions. We always expect to see change immediately but if we’re being completely honest, visible change never happens in a day or two. It’s a long term process but what we fail to realize is that the effects are immediate. You make an impact on the people you work with. By just being there, you leave a lasting impression. In that one day, you’ve perhaps made the tasks easier for others.
“People will forget what you did but they will never forget how you made them feel”
The answer is yes. You are. You are making a difference. You could be there for a day, a week or even a month and the answer will always be a ‘yes’ as long as you’re there with the intention of helping. Be a volunteer and be a part of that difference.
VOLUNTARIO GLOBAL
Voluntario Global helps local communities by being available to discuss anything that local organizations need, and offering ideas for further change and development.
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