Stones and Butterflies

Long time, no talk! Sorry to be a bit AWOL for the past few weeks. Things around here have been pretty hectic, though equally wonderful. For the past two weeks, my coworkers and I were so fortunate to host two groups of Spring Break from Vanderbilt and University of Georgia. Consisting of 10 students a piece, each group spent one week living in Sololá, learning about MPIG, and experiencing the Guatemalan
landscape and culture firsthand. And trust me, between group discussions concerning international development, scavenger hunts in the congested, though vibrant Sololá market (one team got a picture of a man sporting a “Shapes: Fitness for Women” shirt), savoring the famous Yummy Donuts, salsa lessons, tortilla-making lessons, kayaking, and exploring Pana, San Pedro, and Antigua, both weeks were chalk-full of new experiences and memories. I hope the volunteers’ trips were as meaningful to them as they were for my housemates and me. We all truly enjoyed our time with the volunteers and were sad to see them leave.

In addition to their plethora of cultural and social activities, each group also completed a special project in Chaquijyá. Working alongside the town leaders and other community members, the Vanderbilt group installed trashcans on the main road in the caserio Central. Not only did the trashcans look spiffy with the MPI and city council logos, but the community also agreed on a long-term arrangement to collect and sort the trash into recyclable and non-recyclable material.

The following week, the UGA volunteers executed their project in the primary school of Chaquijyá’s caserio Cooperativa. With the assistance of the school’s teachers and Padres de la Familia members, the volunteers transformed a vacant, dusty room into a clean and colorful library, complete with tables, chairs, bookcases, globes, whiteboards, office supplies, books, maps, and games. The instant we left the newly furnished room, the library became inundated with students, examining the globes and games with fascination and laughter. Despite the extra coat of lacquer splattered on their clothing, the volunteers all seemed to relish in the children’s joy, and I hope they will continue to cherish the relationships formed not only with the students, but with the teachers and adults as well.

You know, especially in the field of international development, I feel like we always hear people preaching metaphors about small stones creating extensive ripples on the water, or about butterflies causing hurricanes on the other side of the globe. However, while these s may seem a bit cliché or hokey, the message behind these maxims is real and poignant. Just as one spark can trigger an entire forest fire, so can minor actions produce enduring effects. Overall, I was so thrilled for the volunteers to be able to witness how seemingly simple projects can spark programs that will benefit Chaquijyá for years to come.

Peace
Ginny