Week 4

“It doesn’t cost anything to dream.” These were the words of Giovanny, SAN’s construction foreman, after our conversation about the different approaches to building a protective barrier behind the Pedro Atala Homes. The central difference between dreamers and doers is that doers utilize conventional mechanisms of change (money) to reproduce their dreams; dreamers simply lay content in the fantastical images in their minds, unwilling to subject their thoughts to a cost analysis. Money produces results, which with proper planning leads to change (either good or bad), and ultimately writes history. Whether building a wall to provide children with security or revamping a countries’ healthcare system, without financial backing, all I can do is dream.

Two weeks ago from today, on Sunday February 11, 2007, I was made aware of an emergent security inadequacy to the rear of Hogares Pedro Atala. One week ago today on Sunday, February 18, I had finished putting together and sending out my proposal to construct a 125-foot, eight feet high, razor-wire capped brick wall costing $8,332.39. In seven days time, I have raised $7, 200 (86% of the total cost) from foundations and individuals concerned with the safety of children they likely will never meet. Not only has my concern with the feasibility of raising the funds subsided, but so too has my anxiety that the children will be in danger for an extended period of time. I now must raise $1,100 to ensure completion of the wall.

One of the core benefits of my proposal is that part of the materials will be supplied by other micro-enterprises within Sociedad. In purchasing the bricks for SAN, the contributed capital from donors can be retained. However, this benefit also presents a problem because construction cannot begin until March 10 because the bricks will not arrive until March 20 (it will take around 10 days to prepare the site). Therefore, to meet the immediate need of security for the children, a temporary barrier made of wood pallets was constructed this week to stop-up the gapping hole in the middle of the fence. This temporary barrier will have a dual function, as will the wall, to both keep children inside of Pedro Atala and to keep intruders out. Furthermore, the barrier was designed to withstand the wear and tear of playing children.


A constant stereotype that I am combating here is that I am unwilling to get my hands dirty. While my job places me within the office behind a computer, my age and gender create a tension that I am too good to work. While this is not bluntly expressed, small jokes and comments make it apparent that the Hondurans question my work ethic. I also think that the Hondurans want me to understand the true extent to which laborers subject their body to physical stress. Now, I will be the first to admit that the life of nearly all U.S. children (including myself) significantly differs from that of a poor Honduran, but I still want the full respect of my coworkers. Therefore, when constructing the temporary barrier, I worked alongside four other Hondurans and I plan to help when I can with the construction of the wall. Already, I feel a greater respect from the people with which I work.

Outside of working on the temporary barrier and raising money, this past week has been relatively uneventful. I have taken the responsibility of teaching basic mathematics to children in the afternoons from 2-4 pm at Pedro Atala, which is a wonderful diversion from the computer screen.
Times tables up to 12 by Julissa, third grade - she refuses to do the times table for the number 1

I was also able to meet with an American to discuss the current situation of Sociedad’s clinic and my nights consisted of playing soccer nearly every night in the street with a group of local Hondurans who attend the public University. However, I am most happy with the past week because I felt successful in raising funding for my project. I believe my work will go far in convincing Sociedad that I am not a dreamer, but a doer.