So the other day my roommate, Marni, and were thinking of ways we could help out the abuelos at Los Martincitos. Us volunteers are housed in a nice neighborhood called Surco and we thought maybe the local businesses may want to help out. I mean, who wouldn't want to help out these wonderful souls?... Well, it turns out that a lot of people don't want to help them out. We approached our program manager about asking the Gold's Gym down the street to take part in a shoe donation... That's when we found out the truth about upper class Peruvians. As it turns out, the upper class has a lot of hostility towards the lower class population of Villa el Salvador because they think that the "brown" people of Villa el Salvador have ruined their city. In fact, they would love it if the lower class packed their things and headed for the hills... literally, the Andean hills. So instead of helping out the poverty stricken, they are ignored and hated. The guide books weren't kidding when they said there was an upper class, a lower class and nothing in the middle.
Well, I'm off to help make tissue paper flowers for the party that the volunteers are throwing for the abuelos. It's the least that we can do... The gift of appreciation that they have given us is much greater.
1 comment:
Hi Kirstin,
Not many these days stand with the poor, but that's what we're called to do. And in doing so, we experience many special moments. I have found in the villages of Belize, Kenya and in the towns of Mexico, and in the camps of Palestine,the still small voice of truth, beauty and simplicity. Being present with the disenfranchised, as you are Kirstin, is a simple gift, but has powerful meaning to those people. Thank you for reaching out. Such an act has more power than you may think. Bill
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