Monday, July 16, 2012

THIS is what we do!

I really had no idea how much FUNDAMUI does for the communities they work with. I have been able to learn so much and do so much so far.
I can't believe I only have two weeks left in the field, each day goes by so fast!

So, FUNDAMUNI basically works in projects. First they see the unique necessities of each community and then they form campaigns to execute them. What I love about the projects is that they are done and organized locally. The main office of the organization is in the capital. Life in the capital is 100% different than life in these communities. Unless you are from these places you have no idea what the real problems are. FUNDAMUNI not only recognizes that, but also is doing something to solve this comprehension gap.

For their campaigns they hire a community representative to join the project. These representatives, run, organize, and report back to the office. In each 'departamento' or state of the country FUNAMUNI has an office. Right now FUNDAMUNI has been working most closely with children in Chalatenango. This is where I've been living Tuesday through Saturdays. The athletics, soccer, and dance teacher (me) live in San Salvador, we travel each week and live at the office, which is a big house with beds, etc. for us to live in.
The representatives of the communities are also teachers. Most of them only teach in their community, it is us who teach more specialized things that travel to all the communities. And we sure travel a lot! Even though it can be exhausting I am truly getting to see it all!

Every Friday morning, from 8am to 12pm all the teachers from all the communities meet in the main office of the state to discuss the week. We plan out the next week, see how to solve problems, and develop future projects.

I love blogs with fotos, that's why I make the effort to take pics! This is what we do.....

I already talked about the trash collecting campaign, but there are more.

FUNDAMUNI gave each family a fruit tree to plan in their land. This is going to not only provide the family with fruit to eat, but also a source of income if they decide to sell the fruit. The children loved when we delivered the trees to their school :)

 The kid in the middle of this
picture is seriously a little MESSI! Best soccer player I've seen yet. And the plays in his socks...


The soccer league we have going on is also a big deal. Each community has four teams compete for the trophy. There is the kid's team (ages 8-13) and the youth (13-17).  Each age group has a team of boys and a team of girls. Some of the kids that are on the teams are in my dance workshops. They dance at the tournaments, were the winning team gets a trophy and the dances a diploma of participation and a dance uniform for the school to keep.


FUNAMUNI makes it a point to begin each game telling the kids that this is for fun. That rivalry is not good and that they should understand that they are all part of a bigger team. The organization provides the kids with uniforms, soccer balls, and transportation to each event. This is the final between two communities, it takes many weeks for all communities to play one another until only two are left for the final. The final was held on a Saturday. Parents came, siblings came, many of the town folk came. Local food vendors also came to the event to make some money. That day I ate a mango with chile, ice cream, yuca frita, and yes my belly hurt a little after but it was well worth it.
The organization also brings the kids Gatorades and apples as snacks. There was music, and big speakers were the rest of the town could hear each play.

FUNAMUNI also has painting workshops, there are murals all over the towns painted by the children. I will make sure to take a picture of some this week when I travel to the different places.

These programs are not funded by the schools. If it wasn't for FUNDAMUNI they would not be also to discover the arts such as painting and dancing. And they would not be able to receive athleticism or soccer classes. This is what I like about Public Health. It's not about fixing something necessarily broken, but it is about improving and preventing on a large scale.

What is coming up now is the carrera de kilometro (The kilometer mile race) in this event kids get to participate in an Olympics type project. We have gone around to each community and held races, long jumps, and other olympic games and have selected teams to represent each community. On the 28th we are bringing these kids to the capital to compete for a trophy here in a stadium in the city. The kids are super exited to get the change to come compete here in a real stadium. And my kids are going to be dancing!! ah!!

On a side note.... El Salvador truly has some great athletes, artists and dancers! Not to mention the little Leo Messi, I'm sure when he grows up he will be on the national team!

4 comments:

  1. This organization sounds absolutely amazing. It sounds like you are having the best time in EL Salvador and learning a lot from the youth there. I have found that I learn so much from the youth in Ghana and working directly with them has been the biggest blessing ever. Good luck to the rest of your time in El Salvador. The days go by too quickly!

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  2. yeah wayyy to fast. hey maybe when you come back you can help me practice my twi!

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  3. Hey, sounds like things are going great! This is awesome Adriana! Excited to talk to you soon!

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  4. They eat mango with chili there too?! Dig!

    FUNDAMUNI's donation of fruit trees is wonderful - a monastery here in Bylakuppe is working on the planting of some 400 different fruit and flower trees on their ground as part of a self-sufficiency initiative for the community. Especially in these tropical places, a good fruit tree is an amazing investment. I'm glad it's how you do. :)

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