2013. Everybody had challenges and victories and Changes for New Hope was no exception. The children have learned to be grateful for both. Tough times makes us seek out solutions and helps us leap over obstacles. I wrote in a blog once, "There can be no heroes without there first being villains. There can be no victories without there first being calamities, disasters and tumults." Then heroism shines through.
We sure have had many heroes this year. What is amazing isn't so much the list of names but how they came through for us, stepped up to the plate and considered the circumstances and situations of the children in our project more important than their own personal issues and considerations.
I receive the love and appreciation of hundreds of good folk around the world thanking me for doing all that we can for the children however my love and appreciation is quickly reciprocated. Why? Because, without the "compassion in action" of the Team, the heroes, those who sent materials, funds, postcards, in kind support and came in person to see, experience and volunteer with us, how far do you think we would get with only our best intentions?
December 2012-January 2013 was the first victory. Our second art exhibition displaying the artwork and photos of the children and volunteers. It was a two fold success. The children's self esteem was boosted to new heights and they began living their dreams in many other ways with a self confidence that was previously a tad anemic.
The second success was that more people in Huaraz became aware of the project who previous may not have heard about us. Raising awareness is a big part of getting is done.
Also in January, our newest group of children began classes. Challhua was a place that needed more help than they have ever received prior to our arrival. The challenges four years ago ranged from family issues, to a serious lack of just about everything that children could need to self esteem issues and depression. With the continuing success there, the second group of children in another area of Challhua wanted us to start a group with them. The benefit for them was that our learning curves, which made the going very slow four years ago, are behind us now. We were able to jettison forward.
Curves? Some people are of the idea that we could or should be taken advantage of. We try to share our ways of succeeding and attempt to help people to help themselves. We answer questions that are well meaning and sincere. We want to meet everyone half way. When we see that we are not appreciated or we see ulterior motives, then the road curves and we adjust for it. Sometimes people grow and join us later, sometimes the road forks and there is nothing more that we can do. It is a hard reality facing every NGO.
We asked the children in each group what they do when they are at home aside from homework or household chores. I got blank stares. Aside from futbal (soccer in North America) or volleyball, when it isn't raining, television is their best friend. If they even have electricity. Solutions were simple. We began buying board games for the children. Our friend Richard (expect to hear this name a lot!) provided us with a bean bag toss game, chess games and a horseshoe toss game which they have never seen before. For reasons that still defy my imagination I used huge logs and created two swingsets at Secsapampa and have secured permission to build another one on the grounds of our office in Huaraz. Logs are heavy but passion for what you are doing makes them much lighter. Children are now coming from all over to play on our growing playgrounds. Some have joined our project. Boredom is diminishing. Our next venture this year is to create a complete a complete toy and game library for the Huaraz community. If it is making a difference among our own children, imagine the impact that can be made community wide. Our 2014 report will share the results of this endeavor.
Postcards! I have written in a blog and have posted on our wall in Secsapampa, "Words are powerful. Words are power." Positive words. Messages of hope, encouragement and love came in from every corner of the world to our children. Try for a moment to imagine the joy on the children's faces when they see postcards from places that they will never be able to go but those people share encouragement and love to them. The children realize that they are not so alone in the world and that the world is a big place ready for their exploration. When you know that everything is going to be all right, when you see that you have friends, fans, supporters cheering for you from the sidelines, you become supercharged to succeed. You feel like a winner because you are a winner. You do your best because you are not going to let your friends and fans down. And they shake off any doubts or fears of uncertainty and become what we all knew they could be. When people ask how they can help our NGO but do not have money to spare, I smile. Help is not always in dollars and euro. I wish there were words to express the incredible benefit of a postcard and postage stamp with a few heartfelt words of encouragement
"A Gringo in Peru-A Story of Compassion in Action". It was a labor of love if ever there was one. It was time after four years of trials, tribulations, victories and successes to share the story of Changes for New Hope, the children and my personal challenges and triumphs. Everyone who read it told me that they loved it, learned a lot about us as well as themselves and felt wonderful afterwards. Frankly, I avoided writing a 120 page Valentine to myself and focused on my observations and reflections of a gringo, totally green walking into Peru with nothing more than a dream and tenacity. The happenings that have carried me from January 2009 to this moment have not only been my success but the success and victory of everyone who joined me. It also is a revenue tool for the NGO. It is nice to be able to give something back to people who contribute to your project so it is a win-win. The proceeds from the book are being donated to Changes for New Hope and the children. The book has now sold in eight countries. It has also opened the door for me to share the project, raise awareness and encourage people to "Do the Right Thing" with speaking engagements. Plans to expand this initiative in 2014 in a much broader way are coming together nicely. A second book will be coming out in 2014 as well.
Two trips to Toronto, personally delivered packages from the U.S., mailed in packages from Japan, Germany, England, Scotland, Canada, Australia, Denmark, China and France as well as financial support has helped to provide the children with everything from school supplies, personal hygiene materials, games and toys, clothing and shoes, thermal blankets, wind up flashlights, reading glasses, childrens vitamins supplements, learning materials and books and much more. Children are now better educated, happier, healthier, more advanced in schools, in their communities and intrinsically are developing themselves toward a brighter future. This is just a fraction of what our heroes have done. And we are just getting warmed up!
When I first arrived in Peru and shared what I had in mind, many people, expats and Peruvians alike, told me not to bother. It was a waste of time, it had been tried and many have failed for one reason or another. Some consider us as a band aid on a gaping wound whose bleeding will never stop. Some quadriplegic track coaches would suggest that we are here as some sort of vainglorious 'Great White Hope' but when asked to see their own contributions that brought solutions where they are desperately needed I hear nothing but crickets. Curves in the road, nothing more. There will always be naysayers who attempt to discourage but they only invigorate us. I am grateful to those misguided few in the beginning who told me it could never work. And to those who actually tried to cripple our early efforts. Curves in the road. Nothing more. Call me crazy, but it motivates me, emboldens me when I hear negativity. I share with them the words of American Thomas Paine, "Lead, follow or get out of the way." We are seeing the amazing results of a lot of love, compassion in action, the efforts and hard work to bring help to those in desperation and despair. We have the sincere gratitude of hundreds of children and their families who we have helped over the years, the mayors of two towns, the recognition and respect of wonderful folks who have joined us from all around the world.
2013 was an incredible year. Yet there is so much more to be done. No NGO can do it all. No NGO is expected to. But when you consider the accomplishments of some dedicated people doing what they could do, where they were and the difference and victories that followed, you realize that no humanitarian effort is ever a waste. Dr. Paul Farmer, Nelson Mandela, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Margaret Mead and Dr. Jonas Salk just to name a few.
I trust that you will enthusiastically continue with us in 2014 for the victories that will be inevitably accomplished and join us for the next few curves in the road as we roll right along, unhindered, to the benefit of some great children whose love shines out to you all.
Live large my friends, live deliberately,
~~~ Jim Killon