The Falklands War has a unique place amongst British and Argentinean history; it remains the last battle Britain has entered into without any ally states and Argentinean’s in over one hundred years.
Tudo começou com a vontade de fazer um intercambio, mas não tinha noção nenhuma por onde começar esta pesquisa e então fui ao Salão do Intercâmbio em São Paulo e conheci a instituição Voluntário Global que me proporcionava condições para realizar o intercâmbio, praticar o espanhol e o inglês, conhecer gente do mundo inteiro e lugares maravilhosos além da oportunidade de realizar trabalho voluntário. Foram quase dois meses me preparando, conhecendo, falando com outras pessoas que fizeram este trabalho e no dia 15 de maio embarquei com destino a Ezeiza (Buenos Aires). Quando cheguei, passei pela alfândega e sai do aeroporto que vi uma “plaquinha” com meu nome que era do taxi que iria me trazer até a casa de voluntários, foi uma sensação inexplicável. Quase 01 hora depois e por fim cheguei ao meu destino, “moro” na casa de voluntários, que é muito segura e confortável, já estavam morando aqui duas meninas de Noruega e duas de Inglaterra, mas com o tempo chegaram mais pessoas. Não tenho nada do que reclamar da casa, tem internet disponível, cozinha com um armário próprio para guardar suas coisas e é limpa três vezes por semana.
Para lavar roupa basta ir a uma lavanderia que é muito próxima daqui. Nas duas primeiras semanas estudava espanhol de manhã e trabalhava a tarde na parte de comunicação, meu trabalho era de atualizar os meios de comunicação do Voluntário Global, fazer análise de mercado para a vinda de novos brasileiros, parcerias e contatos com organizações do Brasil etc, (optei por trabalhar em comunicação por que é que o faço no Brasil, mas existem muitos outros programas que se pode trabalhar, como orfanatos, jardim de infância, aulas de computação e inglês, comedor, centro de saúde, entre outros). Nos tempos livres, saia para conhecer a cidade e os pontos turísticos com os amigos que fiz na casa e com os amigos que fazem voluntariado, mas não moram na casa de voluntários. Nas duas últimas semanas, somente trabalhava (a carga horária sempre foi de 04 horas por dia / 04 dias por semana) e então tive mais tempo para sair e conhecer outros projetos e mais pontos turísticos como Tigre, Puerto Madero, La Boca, San Telmo, Recoletta, Galeria Pacífico, Palermo entre outros. Passei por momentos divertidos, típicos de um estrangeiro, como não saber o nome de algumas coisas e ter que desenhar e fazer mimica para tentar explicar o que quer, cozinhar (que era uma coisa que não sabia fazer no Brasil e aprendi aqui. Obs.: somente cozinhei macarrão e sopa ...rs) os outros dias comia nos restaurantes. Quanto as noites em Buenos Aires..... saia tanto para jantar quanto para ir a uma balada ou as aulas de tango argentino, como é formoso dançar tango, passos firmes e sensuais... Mas o melhor é que encontrei alguns restaurantes brasileiros e podia comer arroz e feijão, por que acredite aqui não se come, em Argentina no almoço e na janta vai encontrar pastas, pizzas e muito frango. As amizades foram tantas, que no final eu estava dando aulas de espanhol , e uma inglesa me dava aulas de inglês... assim praticava os dois idiomas.
Quando digo que conheci gente do mundo inteiro é verdade, conheci gente da Bolívia, Peru, Estados Unidos, Canadá, Inglaterra, Noruega, Paraguai, Alemanha, Irlanda.... tem muitos outros países, mas não vou listar aqui que vai só vou ficar falando disso... Uma coisa que gostei muito da Argentina é a cultura e os lugares arquitetônicos como as danças, feiras artesanais, roupas típicas, museus, Mafalda, alfajores.... ah quanta coisa.... 04 semanas é pouco para desfrutar de tudo. E ao contrário do que dizem, os argentinos recebem muito bem os brasileiros, eu só não podia falar de futebol...., mas somos muito bem recebidos aqui. E agora já está na hora de programar a volta ao Brasil, meu voo estava programado para 11 de junho , mas o vulcão do Chile não me quer deixar ir embora, acredito que tenha que ficar por mais alguns dias aqui, mas não tem problema nenhum, vou poder desfrutar mais um pouco desta experiência que está valendo muito pena.
Por isso, convido a todos os brasileiros a vivenciar este intercambio, porque não existem palavras para descrever o aprendizado, a mudança de vida e a evolução como pessoa que este tudo isso proporciona.... desejo aos que fiquem na casa, que aproveitem muito e aos que estão em seus países que tenham a oportunidade de viver estes momentos ..... Ao Voluntário Global só tenho que agradecer pelo auxílio em todos os momentos e parabenizar pelo trabalho maravilhoso que realizam pela incansável busca da igualdade social, e por promover o intercâmbio e mostrar para o mundo a cultura de vocês. Assim me despeço, agradecendo por tudo que vivi aqui e muito feliz pela oportunidade de ajudar a fazer deste mundo e a mim mesma uma pessoa muito melhor.....
For the last 9 months I have been volunteering with Voluntario Global fulfilling the compulsory third year abroad part of my university degree. I had volunteered before on my gap year in Ecuador where I spent a month in three different locations helping to build whatever was needed. It was that volunteer organization who introduced me to Voluntario Global. However despite my previous experience I was nervous before I flew out here. Firstly my stay in Argentina was going to be three times as long as my previous stints abroad, secondly I was only going to be based in Buenos Aires (which as a girl from the English countryside I was terrified I would not like!) and finally it was helping in a totally different way than I had experienced. Needless to say within weeks of arriving here I knew I had made the right decision and I was already thinking that time was going by too fast. Buenos Aires is a wonderful city even if you do not think you are a city person. There really is something for everyone and you can never be bored. Voluntario Global’s projects are based all over the city, so you get to visit lots of different areas and communities that you might not have otherwise seen. The reason that I chose to spend all my time abroad in one place was that I wanted to go home feeling that I had really got to know the city and for ten months part felt like a local. Thanks to volunteering I was given the opportunity to see the true city or rather the non tourist side, and I am leaving with much wider knowledge of this wonderful city than I could ever have imagined. I volunteered in three different projects during my time here. I started off working in a local health centre in one of the poorest areas in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, Jose Leon Suarez. I worked in reception dealing with administrative tasks, making medical history files, handing out the government provided milk and helping the locals complete any paperwork required. It was a great project and suited me perfectly as it was quite hands on and everyone was so friendly.
The locals and other staff were patient with my poor and nervous Spanish and I grew in confidence working there. It was also where I first begun to appreciate mate! I then started working for the Voluntario Global communications team.
I visited projects and wrote blogs for the website, helped translate information and emailed the volunteers about the weeks social plans and other events. It was a great way to get to know other parts of Voluntario Globals work and see yet more examples of their invaluable help.
My final project was in the famous barrio of La Boca. I worked in the “prensa” section of the Comedor de los Pibes, a local community and political centre. I translated news articles and also other relevant documents such as a wikileaks US government document about the Argentine “piqueteros”. As a student of Spanish and Politics this project could not have been more perfect and thanks to my increased confidence with my Spanish after months here, I felt like a proper translator/journalist! Everyone in the centre is so friendly, we ate lunch together every day and I always felt so welcome.
On my last day I was given a flag of Argentina with the centres logo printed on – I was overwhelmed by their generosity and gratitude and I have already thought of the perfect place to hang it in my bedroom back home in England! My time here has been eye-opening and I cannot begin to thank everyone enough. If anyone is thinking of volunteering with Voluntario Global in the future I highly recommend it. I have never felt more like part of a team, nor felt so appreciated even if it was for doing what seems like a simple or irrelevant task. All those involved in the projects, be it the locals, the coordinators or the volunteers have made my time here so special and I will always be thankful for all I have learnt and hopefully I have taught others something too.
The Journey of Voluntario Global and the Inauguration of its' Digital Center
Written by Valeria GraciaWith the objective of improving acces to technology for young people, a “Digital Center” was inaugurated at Voluntario Global, a place where young people from different shantytowns can study using the internet and also hangout and socialize. This project was made possible by the means of “Programa Mi PC” and guaranteed by the Ministry of Work through Minister Carlos Tomada. Pictures of the inauguration are on Voluntario Global's facebook page.
Voluntario Global was an idea created a little over 6 years ago by social activists living inside and outside the city of Buenos Aires. We wanted to provide accessible resources to members of self sustaining cooperatives in hopes of contributing and enabling the education in community centers and social organizations.
First Objective
We started with the first goal of improving the education and opportunities within the community through volunteer service programs. Through donations we were able to manage the various resources for our organizations.
Second Objective
The first objective propelled us to create the next goal...
We wanted to instill the idea that the students should concentrate a lot of time on their studies in order to get a good job in the future.
However, many young people have to work in order to continue with school and therefore we decided to create anentrepreneurial opportunity in the area of hospitality. And so we created...
A laundromat completely run by students in the surrounding shantytowns. They also work at different hostels for another 10 different cooperatives.
This cooperative is our way of reconstructing the day to day working culture, while also providing the first, challenging responsbility for the young people.
The Group of Young People
Today we maintain a place of reflection open to young peple of all organizations and shantytowns that want to pursue an individual and group sense of critical thinking.
But what does it mean to think critically?
Comparing is a form of thinking critically. To do so, first you must completely understand your own situation. Then, you can evaluate your own situation in comparison to others. Having access to information is invaluable and if you do not, you must work towards gaining access to all forms of information.
The Last Challenge
Voluntario Global is not just an open place for organizations and cooperatives to meet and organize, it has also been a place for young people to study and meet for a long time.
The last challenge for Voluntario Global is to give young people that study in universities and technical schools the ability to access a place where they can study, get on the internet, and meet other people. That is, we want to give them an opprtunity they will not have in the areas they live.
This area in Buenos Aires is full of students going to school and studying, but some people in the shantytowns nearby do not have the simple luxury of a computer and a table to quietly study.
Not only will the program Mi PC allow young people to take courses and utilize the computers as a tool to study and communicate, but it will also allow be accesible to members of cooperatives that are working towards imprving the quality of our community.
Sunday the 5th of June saw the annual celebration of World Environment Day. The World Environment Day is primarily to raise awareness about environmental issues and encouraging positive environmental action. With celebrations of the day beginning on 1972, the day has grown to become one of the main mediums for which the UN promotes environmental causes and encourages political action as well as inviting others to join in. This was important day for us to reflect on the environmental issues we face every day and what it is we do to help. At Voluntario Global, this is a topic which we are very involved with, having projects which are directly involved with helping the environment and being a member of the Red de Turismo Responsable (Responsible Tourism Network).
Voluntario Global employs volunteers from all over the world, bringing them to live in Argentina for various amounts of time, and allowing them an experience completely different to tourists coming to Argentina for a holiday. Nonetheless, the volunteers still come to see the sights, travel around the country, and enjoy what Argentina has to offer, effectively making them tourists. This is why the organisation sees the need to be part of the Red de Tourismo Responsible. This organisation is made up of public, private and civil society sectors such as tourism agencies, hotels and hostels and organizations. These institutes all aim to promote the development and consumption of responsible tourism.
Responsible tourism is tourism which takes responsibility for its actions whilst visiting a place. Whilst traveling, you should consider the outcome of your actions just as much as you do at home, and although some of the services in countries you visit are less environmentally friendly, you should still make it your responsibility to be as eco-friendly as you are back home.
As well as working in communications for Voluntario Global, I also volunteer at the Red de Turismo Responsable. We are just in the final stages of finishing a video campaign. The video campaign aims to get people thinking about their actions when they visit by asking them to upload a 10 second clip on YouTube saying what it is they do for the environment while they are traveling, on holiday or on business. These small things which we do are what makes a difference and is what makes you a responsible tourist. From making sure you turn off the air-conditioner in your hotel room to using public transport instead of getting taxis, if we ensure to follow the same rules we do at home, we ensure that the negative impact we have on the environment we visit is as low as possible.
The week following World Environment Day sees events continue. As volunteers in a foreign country we should take this week to consider our actions and make sure we are doing as much as we can to help the environment during our time in Argentina and while traveling. Keep an eye out for the launch of the video campaign and be sure to tell us how you help the environment while travelling!
I had seen pictures and done some research, but as I exited the Subte stop at San Martín and looked directly in front of me, I was in total awe. The Tower of Babel stands 82 feet high, draped with 30,000 books donated by readers, libraries, and more than 50 embassies worldwide. Argentine artist Marta Minujin designed the installation to celebrate the naming of Buenos Aires as the 2011 World Book Capital by the United Nations Educational, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Sadly, the exhibit ends Saturday the 28, but Minujin said literature lovers will be allowed to come and pick one book from the Tower of Babel to take with them. After a wait in line, I began to climb up the seven floors of the tower.
On all sides of me were books ranging from all different languages and subjects: from Chinese bedtime stories, to European art lookbooks to the greatest Irish speeches of all time. I was in a completely different world when all of a sudden I started hearing words I didn’t understand. I listened closer and still had no idea. A guide told me the words were a recording of Minujin repeating the word “book” in various different languages. I had never experienced that kind of interactive art before and became extremely appreciative of the power of books and language. It’s important that as humans we acknowledge and celebrate our differences, whether it’s the difference in language or any other matter.
On the 25th of May 1810, after a week of events taking place in Buenos Aires which would eventually be known as the May Revolution, the first independent government of Argentina, La Primera Junta, was established, bringing the nation one step closer to its independence. The 25th of May is now Argentina’s National day, which along with the 9th of July commemorates the Declaration of Independence. In 1808, during Spain’s Peninsular War, King Ferdinand VII of Spain was abdicated while the Virreinato del Río de la Plata, Baltasar Hidalgo de Cisneros, controlled Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia and Paraguay. In order to try and maintain stability the Viceroy tried to conceal the news. Inevitably the nation found out, causing unrest amongst the Buenos Aires population. The revolutionary events began on Friday the 18th of May 1810 as it became clearer as to what had happened to the King. It was considered that if there was no King, then there would be no Viceroy and Cisneros was soon ousted. One week later on Friday the 25th of May, the first local government was established, La Primera Junta. The legacy of the May Revolution lives on today, with many landmarks and monuments built to honour the events.
Buenos Aires’ oldest monument, Pirámide de Mayo, was built a year after the events to celebrate the one year anniversary of the May Revolutions. One of the main squares and the focal point of political life in Beunos Aires is Plaza de Mayo. Since the May revolutions the square has hosted many political events along with housing numerous landmarks, including La Casa Rosada. Last year the celebrations for Argentina’s Nation Day were the biggest seen yet, as it was the Bicentenario - the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the May Revolutions. Beginning one week before, the event, which was primarily held in Buenos Aires, was attended by millions. The celebrations included the Avenida 9 de Julio being closed to traffic, allowing it to play host to the city’s main events. Stands representing each of the provinces lined the street, as well as those which showcased the culture of Argentina. An Argentinian rock concert inaugurated the Bicentenario on May 21st, ending in a closing parade attended by presidents from Bolivia, Chile, Urugay, Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil and Paraguay. On Wednesday Argentina celebrated the 201 year anniversary as well as the first day of the Trecentario Argentina’s president Cristina Fernández gave a speech to the country, from the city of Resistencia in Chaco. Although she continued her tradition of spending the day outside of the capital, the city saw many celebrations taking place. Avenida de Mayo was partly shut to traffic as crowed took to the streets form the early afternoon to remember the event.
Argentine flag were ubiquitous, seen lining the street, waved by children and on cars throughout the city. From the afternoon Plaza de Mayo hosted a concert. Intervals saw the story of Argentina’s fight to freedom on the screens which were innovatively placed between the archways of the Casa Rosadas front façade. The ’25 de Mayo. Gran Fiesta Popular’ saw performances for everyone, Pipo Pescador y el Sapo Pere took to the stage to entertain the young ones, national songs were sung with audience participations as well popular argentine bands pleasing the crowds. The concert climaxed with performances from Los Pericos, La Mosca, Víctor Heredia y Soledad “La Sole” Pastoruti. With Wednesdays celebration Buenos Aires took its first steps into the Trecentario with superb celebrations!
The Superclasico between Boca Juniors and River Plate is widely considered the biggest and most fiercely contested football match in the world, and this Sunday the two giants of Argentine football met once more to slug it out in the Bombonera. As you might expect tickets were hard to come by and, wanting to keep both my kidneys, I had to make do with watching the match on television. Coming into the match, the situation was delicately poised. River, despite a fairly strong start to the campaign, had stumbled of late and due to poor performances in previous seasons found themselves lurking dangerously close to “la Promocion”, a fact which Boca fans took great pleasure in reminding them (one fan was even dressed up as the phantom of the second division).
In turn Boca had struggled to find their form this term but saw this as the perfect opportunity not just to get one over their bitter rivals but to kick-start their faltering season and take the pressure off their under-fire manager Falcioni. So the stage was for a tantalising showdown with the customary vociferous support from the passionate fans. The game started began at breakneck pace with both sides pushing forward in what promised to be an eventful game.
And it was Boca who drew first blood in truly bizarre fashion. A harmless corner was sent in and Carrizo, the River goalkeeper, somehow contrived to fumble the ball into his own goal under virtually no pressure at all. Certainly an error that the blue and yellow side of Buenos Aires he will let him forget. And just two minutes later Boca struck again. The River defence, still in disarray, failed to clear their lines from a free kick and the ball found its way back to legendary striker Martin Palermo who, onside and unmarked, coolly looped a precise header over the stranded Carrizo, clearly flustered from his earlier mistake.
This sparked wild celebrations inside La Bombonera. Not only did it give Boca breathing space it also brought Palermo within two goals of becoming the all time leading scorer for Boca A dream way to cap off what will be his final Superclasico as he is retiring at the end of the season. However, it wasn’t all one way traffic as River also had their chances. Funes Mori had a penalty shout turned down and Pavone stung the palms of Lucchetti with a fierce shot. At the interval it remained Boca 2 River nil but still with everything to play for. River came out after the break with a renewed vigour, led by the much coveted starlet Erik Lamela, and came close again with Lucchetti reacting well. The one time the keeper seemed to be beaten, he was saved by Monzon, coming to the rescue to expertly hack the ball off the line, when Pavone thought he’d done enough to give River a lifeline.
At the other end, Mouche wasted a couple of opportunities to put the game to bed from promisingly positions. In the dying embers of the game, tempers came to a boil and a square up between Clemente Rodriguez and River captain Matias Almeyda resulted in both being sent off, Almeyda clashing with riot police as he incited the Boca fans by kissing the River badge, an act that certainly won’t endear him any more to the Xeneizes. Thus the game came to a close with Boca triumphing in convincing fashion and leaving River in a precarious position. An emotional Palermo left the field with Riquelme and with the bragging rights until the next time the two sides face each other. From a spectator’s point of view the game displayed all the traits synonymous with the argentine game; an electric atmosphere, passionate fans, skill, latin flair, goals, and of course a dose of controversy. In summary, this year’s Superclasico underlined yet again why it is such a hugely important and exciting sporting occasion unrivalled by anywhere else in the world.
On Sunday it’s the 1st of May, which means it’s Labour Day - ”el Dia del Trabajo”. So why not go and talk to some of the working people of Buenos Aires? I went to ’La Lavandaria’ at calle Chile 1661 to interview the students who work there and to get a feeling of the working environment at this particular Laundromat. I met up with Ariel, 26 years old, who is one of the coordinators of the Laundromat, and asked him about the history of la Lavandaria; when it started, why it started, and what’s the whole purpose of it. He told me that he used to work at a hotel with one of his friends making lunch. There they came up with the idea of making a Laundromat because, as he told me, one of the main problems for the hotels here is to find a place to clean the sheets and the clothes. So they presented the idea to IPF and got a grant to start the project in corporation with Voluntario Global. This was three years ago. Today the corporation has grown.
They started out being three people and cleaning for two hotels, now they are 6 people cleaning the sheets for 8 hotels. And instead of delivering the sheets by foot they now have bikes donated by Los Pibes in La Boca and can afford buying scooters. For Ariel this is a project to help the young students from the ‘villas’ of Buenos Aires to get a good first-job experience while they are studying or planning to do so. He hopes that in time they will get more money to buy more washing machines, get more clients and in that way be able to offer more jobs.
I also talked to Carolina, 24 years old, who works there three times a week. For her this is a perfect job because thehours fit perfectly with her studies as a dentist. She has been working at the Laundromat since February washing the sheets on 6 hours shifts, and she likes the job even though it doesn’t pay much. She told me that she learns a lot from the other guys about organising the business and meetings, and that the money she gets for working at the Laundromat helps her pay for photocopies to her studies among other things. If you have been at the volunteer house you might have run in to Junior. He is the one bringing out the sheets to the hotels on his bike or scooter. He is 20 years old and has been working at the Laundromat for a year now. For him the job is good in every way; the people, the working hours etc. He has finished secondary school and would like to start studying Hotel Management next year so he can earn money to get his own place instead of living with his mother and three siblings. But for now he likes working at the Laundromat. I was here some weeks ago when they renovated the place and it really looks good. Now there is a brand new kitchen and bathroom, and they are going to put up a table so that they can study while the sheets are getting washed. The place is really going good and the atmosphere is really nice.
Everybody seems happy and seems to enjoy their job. I asked Ariel at the end what this job means to him and if he will continue working here. He said that he is half way through his studies in dentistry and will continue working here as long as it doesn’t get in the way of his studies, because for him this is not just a job, its something he helped create. He told me that he never thought it possible for him to be part of making such a project, being from a shantytown and all, and even more keep it running and continuously expanding it little by little. Also because people didn’t give them credit for it at the beginning and told them that the project would close after a month. But if you look at the Laundromat now I guess he and his friends showed them wrong!
For the last two weeks, I have been walking around looking at all these amazing, colourful eggs in the shop windows. I have never seen so many chocolate eggs before in my life! The bakeries and supermarkets are stuffed with them, one egg bigger than the other, and it made me wonder what Easter means to the Argentineans and how they celebrate it. Eating a lot of chocolate eggs must be one of them for sure... but what else? So because of these unanswered questions in my head, I did a bit of research about the traditions and celebrations of Easter in Argentina, and this is what I found.
In Argentina, Semana Santa (Holy Week) is one —if not the most— significant festivities, because about 85 % of the population follow Roman Catholicism as their religion and celebrates all the Christian festivals. But for many people Semana Santa is also a good excuse to spend time with the family or to go on a small holiday. In general this week is full of traditions and celebrations whether you’re religious or not. In many South American countries there are parades going on each day during Semana Santa. In Argentina they celebrate Carnival, where people gather in the streets to dance together and sing folksongs (as they do in many other occasions as well). When the celebration comes to a close, they burry a rag doll representing the spirit of Carnival as a symbol of the end.
Between the different Easter traditions in Argentina the ones from the northern part stands a bit out from the rest. This is mostly in the regions of Salta and Tucumán where you’ll find most Spanish traditions. In Salta, for example, they commemorate Jesus with an intense Via Crucis, that is, the depiction of the final hours of Jesus, torchlight processions, blessings and special masses.
The Via Crucis is also what makes the city of Tandil famous. It ends at Monte Calvario, a small hillock topped by a giant cross to the east of the town centre. In this city, thousands of the faithful can relive and recreate the passion of the Christ along the Via Crucis, with its fourteen stations. Besides the religious part of Semana Santa it would seem to be one of the favourite occasions for families and friends as they gather to celebrate Easter feast delicacies. Once the Easter meal is done, people give “huevos de Pascua” (chocolate eggs) to one another. This could perhaps be one of the days/weeks where the Argentinean people eat most chocolate when you think about all the eggs in the supermarkets.
For me, this part is also what I think Easter is about. Spending time with my family, having a fantastic feast and afterwards go on a chocolate egg hunt with my nieces and nephews, eating all the chocolate eggs we can. But why do we do this? It turns out that the three days celebration of Easter is called ‘The Triduum'. This is one big celebration, remembering the last supper, the crucifixion and the death of Jesus, and the Resurrection to new life. Easter marks the end of “Lent” —a forty-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance—. During the last week of Lent (Semana Santa, in Argentina) we have Palm Sunday, which is one week before Easter Sunday. Palm Sunday is the day where Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem. Good Friday is five days after Palm Sunday and the sad day for the Christian believers. This is the day where they commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Easter Sunday is a day for rejoicing. It’s the day where they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
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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CONTACT
Location: General Pacheco. Buenos Aires. Argentina
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