UTPMP es una Organización que realiza una noble labor en varios países de Latinoamérica. Nace en Chile hace más de una docena de años, y hoy en día está constituida prácticamente en toda América. Como su nombre lo indica, esta Organización se encarga de brindar un techo propio gracias a las viviendas de emergencia a miles de familias de escasos recursos, que de alguna manera el azar no ha jugado a su favor en lo que yo llamo "la ruleta de la vida". La pobreza es algo difícil de acabar por cómo se desarrollan las cosas en la actualidad, seamos sinceros. Yo creo que el que se hace rico es porque en otro lado alguien se está haciendo pobre y no necesariamente por su causa directa, simplemente es la ley de la Naturaleza que busca de alguna forma su equilibrio, en ese juego que a veces emula a un efecto mariposa. Esa ruleta de la vida a muchos de nosotros no nos afectó, por eso hoy estás pudiendo leer este POST desde la comodidad de tu silla, quizás con un ventilador en frente, y quizás con un tereré al costado (debido a que la ruleta de la vida a nivel país nos ubicó en un lugar bendito que lastimosamente a veces no conoce el frío o el invierno). Dejando de lado tu situación, te invito a pensar en la de estas personas que gracias a UTPMP tendrán un hogar digno, resistente al frío y a la lluvia. Pero UTPMP es un motor y necesita de combustible para funcionar, porque sino será tan sólo un lindo motor de exposición como lo son muchas ONG que mueven bastante dinero y actúan siempre que exista pobreza, y a veces me hace pensar si esas ONG "desean" que siga habiendo pobreza así su misión no se acaba. Claro que ese no es el caso de UTPMP, que funciona como un motor con precisión de ingeniería compleja, gracias al combustible de las manos jóvenes y deseosas de tener un país mejor, sí, la de aquellos que decidieron levantarse de la comodidad de su silla, alejarse del ventilador, y el tereré... bueno, el tereré es vital durante las construcciones. Vos podés ser ese combustible la próxima vez. El POST de hoy lo realicé en tres etapas, pero hubiese querido que sean más. Todo comenzó a principios de Setiembre cuando contacté con UTPMP pero no pudimos concretar mi presencia en las construcciones del mismo mes, aunque Te invito a ponerte la camiseta de UTPMP, que hoy se viene una historia cargada de martillos, palas, astillas, clavos, guantes, lágrimas y emociones. | UTPMP (A roof for my country, in Spanish) is an organization that makes a noble work in several Latin American countries. Founded in Chile more than a dozen years ago, now, reaching nearly all of Central and South America. As its name implies, this organization is responsible for providing roof through emergency houses to a thousands of poor families, that somehow fate has not played in their favor in what I call "the roulette of life". Poverty is something difficult to end because of how things develop today, let's be honest. I think that someone gets rich because someone somewhere else is getting poorer and not necessarily because of a direct cause, is simply the law of nature that somehow find the balance in the game that sometimes emulates a butterfly effect. In this roulette of life many of us are not affected in a bad way, so now you can read this post from the comfort of your chair, maybe with a fan in front of you, and perhaps a tereré on your side (mostly because the roulette of life in a country-level puts us in a blessed place that unfortunately sometimes doesn't know cold or winter). Leaving aside your situation, I invite you to think about these people that thanks to UTPMP have a decent home, resistant against cold and rain. But UTPMP is an engine, so it needs fuel to run, because if not it will just be a nice engine in exhibit as many NGOs, that moves a lot of money and act whenever there is poverty, and sometimes makes me wonder if these NGOs "want" poverty to keep going so its mission doesn't end. Of course this is not the case of UTPMP, which functions as a complex precision-engineered motor, thanks to fuel of young hands willing to have a better country, yes, of those who decided to get out of the comfort of their chairs, away from the fan, and the tereré ... well, tereré is vital during construction. You can be that fuel next time. Today's post I did it in three stages, but I would've like them to be more. It all began in early September when I contacted UTPMP but could not affirm my presence in the constructions of that month, although I invite you to put the shirt of UTPMP on, now comes a story full of hammers, shovels, splinters, nails, gloves, tears and emotions. |
5:51 - Early in the morning I got to the School Jose Maria Velaz, from "Fe y alegría" (Faith and Joy). At that time the youth group of UTPMP began their day with a breakfast.
Before serving the morning and revitalizing coffee, they gave some tips and reminders to keep in mind for later when we start the activity.
Almost the entire group was ready for breakfast. In UTPMP they have acronyms to identify the positions of the youth volunteers, such as JE is the School Chief, JC is the Crew Chief (the crews are the ones that builds houses and are formed by several volunteers, led by the JC who also works), the people in charge of the kitchen and the school stay there overnight, then there are the Monitors, the Trucks (as the name says, they have trucks to carry or bring in volunteers and materials) and the Volunteers.
Last night they sleep over at the school classrooms. On the day before, the delivery of some materials were made to the beneficiaries, the future owners of a beautiful house (panoramic image opened in http://fotografiaparaguay.com).
The activity must be maintained with a serious criteria, as UTPMP is helping poor people, a way of making us work very seriously is just somehow get ourselves into the skin of those people.
06:04 - Peter, one of the Monitors, explains what steps to take. The JC are the ones who will repeat in a practical way, this theoretical steps.
Tuki -one of the JE of School Jose Maria Velaz- holds the blueprints and guides for a successful construction.
Here we are introduced to Mr. Louis, who will be among the happy owners.
Mr. Luis shares his joy and express his feelings of gratitude to all the present people, because he finally will have a home that would protect him from the cold and rain. The emotive applause of the volunteers demonstrate the warmth and human quality that for 48 hours will work together in the constructions of new homes.
06:16 - The JE distributed T-shirts for volunteers, trucks, COs and JCs.
Young people descended from the top floor of the school, with the tools that were kept in the classrooms where they spent the night..
The spirit to start working can be felt in the environment. Volunteers form a circle and warm up with stretching exercises, so the work ahead doesn't surprise them with the body cold or numb.
06:46 - Young volunteers walk the streets from the School to the Northern Marsh, the journey gets quiet here and there ... Then the silence is broken by laughter and murmuring, because the spirit and the desire to start working awake nothing more than feelings of joy and happiness.
07:00 - We arrived at the site of the first owner of this story, Mrs. Reina.
The volunteers walk without any hurry heading to where the second construction area will start, while the road dust rises combining visual and subjective poetry, which to me represents the work of them, in which they will leave their footprints and a trail behind their steps.
Grandfather and grandson watch a group of volunteers walking by, two generations separated by years but united by the start the day.
07:05 - We arrived at our second home owner, who we already meet before Mr. Luis.
07:07 - Just a few feet away, her neighbor Mrs. Barbara (Irma) the third owner, in her last days of pregnancy.
07:09 - The group that encouraged me to work and help, the house of Mrs. Amelia.
07:12 - A few yards away, the family of Mrs. Francisca.
07:14 - The group that will work in the construction of the house of Mrs. Victorina.
07:18 - Another of the beneficiaries, that has a huge and beautiful heart, Mrs. Josefina.
07:23 - And finally, the last group at the house of Mrs. Odulia.
JE and monitor got to Odulia's where they check out the perimeter and helped out with previous measurements, because the ground was not entirely smooth.
The Monitor is a position for someone with experience in these type of constructions, so he walks around all the houses and as his expertise is need it, he can help to manage or provide solutions to any problems.
07:50 - Back at school, I find part of the utensils used at breakfast, clean and ready for lunch.
Two kids were helping the people in charged of the School with the cleanup. The school must be kept tidy and neat as it was previously.
Brother Carlos plays with a Jacob's Ladder and one of the kids smiles amazed by its function.
08:26 - The night was long for some JE and Trucks, they had to start early in the morning, to get everything ready before any of the others volunteers got up. Now they take advantage and rest for few minutes.
This lady who cares for the children of her neighbors when they go to work, walk through the streets of Northern Marsh getting them from their houses and take them to hers.
At Reinas's home, her father help with the digging of holes where the piles will be installed.
In total there are 15 piles more than 1 meter in length, to be placed with their right measures and height, because above them will be mounted the floor and finally the home. These piles are the essential part of the building, they would carry all the weight, above them stories will combine, the cold and rain will be rejected, and new memories will be created in the happy families.
Cristian holding the hose that is used for through its level can be confirmed that the height between the piles is the same, according to hydrostatic principles, in this case the communicating vessels of Stevin. There is a pile which is placed first and is called "Master", and is used as a reference for levels and distances of the remaining 14 piles.
Jackie let me see the back of his shirt with the phrase "let's work together" in Guarani, while she is serving tereré to the others. Teamwork is what keeps it running UTPMP, and each voluntary hand is always welcome, as is precisely the theme of working together. Adri Doldán has one with the phrase "Poverty does not rest", therefore the volunteers and all others should work tirelessly to minimize it.
Cristian holding a small snake found during the excavation. This is usually normal, especially on hot days like today. We leave the little snake away from the house, sinking it into the ground.
You don't need to look far and with difficulty to find beauty in the Northern Marsh. That beauty is in its people, their children, and if today UTPMP is offering assistance and a release for these people, these areas deserve to get urbanization from the governments that we were having.
10:12 - In another place, the vertical panels are carrying out from the truck. In total 6 panels correspond to the construction of a house.
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10:30 - At Odulia's place, they had already managed to clear the perimeter of rocks and some old floor and they proceeded with the measurement of distances between piles.
Two children from a nearby house smile for the camera, while his father told "Laugh for the photo". Innocence as far I can see -following the line about the beauties that roam the Marsh-, while I harbor in me the desire for them, to get through all the bad that surrounds them in future.
10:35 - "Pitu" holds the hose at the house of Mrs. Josefina. This group worked with good speed, where they had placed at least 4 piles.
Victorina's children helped with the digging of holes, with the post hole digger.
Peter played with the daughter of Victorina, after helping in the digging of holes. During those days, all volunteers become uncles and godparents of children, and the professed love from human to human during the weekend is great.
Sometimes they make two measurements simultaneously, where they measures the distance of the "Master" pile while checking the level with other of the piles.
11:13 - Bruno and his other fellow volunteers working at the home of Irma, go to lunch with the family as is traditional.
Despite being careful when using gloves all the time, sometimes some splinter found the time to dig into the fingers. Here Mija tried before lunch, to remove the splinter with a needle.
Several times I dropped the camera and grabbed shovels, post hole digger, gloves, etc. everything I could use to help in the construction of the home of Mrs. Amelia, so I had lunch there. But Mrs. Francisca had also invited me before to lunch at her home. So I went to receive his blessed food and hear their stories of life along with the group.
12:34 - The group that built the house of Mrs. Victorine had not eaten lunch, but it allowed them to advance greatly in the placement of piles. Congratulations!
Jonathan, the youngest son of Amelia enjoyed an ice cream after lunch, vital and refreshing for the temperature and heat of the day, they were unbearable.
Olivia smiles. She is a student born in California and came in exchange for AFS. For this occasion she was invited to participate in construction and so, se meets some of the heat of Paraguay.
03:11 - Giselle is put sunscreen on her face, because the sun had caused burns on our skin.
The beauty of nature continues to surprise on the Marsh, and here we brought a visit from a dragonfly that was perched a long, long time on a tree arm of Amelia's house, and invited us to imagine that she was observed us during construction. I said goodbye to the piles, the structure, Amelia, her family, the guys and the dragonfly, because in the late afternoon I left home, to return the next day, Sunday.
Me retiré cerca de las cinco de la tarde. Sucio y cansado, dos sentimientos que no me esperaba, aunque si bien iba a fotografiar, tenía la convicción que iba a ayudar en lo que podía si la oportunidad se presentaba. Pero varios meses de inactividad física se volcaron en mi rendimiento y falta de estado en esa noche en casa. Al día siguiente, volví al Bañado, a la Escuela, a las 8 familias, al espíritu de voluntad que emanaban los jóvenes, al día siguiente, volví para ver la ilusión terminada y el techo digno, que si bien cubrirá las estrellas, también la lluvia, el frío y el clima temperamental. Continuá la historia en: http://cazadordelinstante.blogspot.com/2010/12/mil-techos-para-mi-pais-parte-2-un-dia.html (Agradecimientos a la Srta. Kim por las correcciones al inglés). | I get back to home about five o'clock in the afternoon. Dirty and tired, two feelings that I did not expect, even if I was going to photograph, I was convinced that would help in what could be if the opportunity presented itself. But several months of inactivity turned in my performance and lack of state that night at home. The next day I returned to the Marsh, the School, to those 8 families, to the spirit of will emanating from the youth, the next day, I went to see the illusion ended and the roof over their heads, which cover the stars but also the rain, cold and temperamental weather. You can continue the story in: http://cazadordelinstante.blogspot.com/2010/12/mil-techos-para-mi-pais-parte-2-un-dia.html (Thanks to Mrs. Kim for the english corrections). |
Más imágenes (More pictures):
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Para dejar comentarios en las fotografías si les gustan, les invito a visitar esta galería en Flickr!
(To leave comments on photos if you like, I invite you to visit this gallery on Flickr!)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zenoura/sets/72157625685279088/ =====================================================
IMPRESIONANTE!!!!!!
ResponderEliminarAme las fotos de los niños!
Felicitaciones!
Edith
Hermoso.. Cada foto tiene su propia historia..
ResponderEliminarZenoura, tenes un don maravilloso..
Saludos..
excelente zenoura!!! IMPRESIONANTE!!! Gracias por compartir con todos nosotros tu vivencia durante la construcción! sos un grande!
ResponderEliminarbuenisimo Zenoura!
ResponderEliminarMuchas gracias por tus fotos que son nuestra voz, demostrando que somos muchos los jovenes que trabajamos comprometidos con las familias mas pobres de nuestro pais..
Te esperamos en todas las construcciones!
geniales las fotos!! los comentarios muy amenos que animan a continuar leyendo... alguna vez pensaste publicar un libro?
ResponderEliminarJosé
bueniiisiimooo la historiia..!!
ResponderEliminarsigamoos adelante empieza el 2011 muchoo muchoo por hacer..
fuerzaa!
Muchísimas gracias por sus palabras, en realidad todo el mérito es para estos jóvenes que sacrifican su tiempo! Para Febrero estoy más que anotado en las construcciones, sólo estoy aguardando que se habiliten las inscripciones para poner mi nombre ahí!!
ResponderEliminarNo José, legalmente ni pensé en eso, ni en plantar un árbol ni tener un hijo :)
Me gusto la narración, en las fotografías y en el texto.
ResponderEliminarBien ahí man :)