So, what do you do exactly?

Interestingly enough, I’ve received this question from a bunch of different people. After almost 6 months in the country (I wasn’t just at the beach, thank you very much), I think I’ve finally arrived to answer it.

Arrived? Yup.

It’d be great to give you some slogan of some master plan that we’ve been trained to execute. For example, “Peace Corps DR: We change young minds. We develop greatness.” (If so, then you might wonder about how I do that, especially given the above picture). It’d also be cool to give you a one-word easy answer that explains it all. “I teach.” (I actually don’t teach, but I’ve always wondered how that answer explains all that is in teaching…) Since there’s no easy answer, you’ll have to bear with me for part of the history…

Arrived? Yup.

As you all know, it’s been a journey to the town where I live. But, it’s been an even greater trip to get to know people within the community and learn the issues. I’m still learning…My “job” is directly related to those strengths and those needs within the community. You can say that our vision is to work with youth to make better decisions and to work with community organizations to improve their work with youth. But, what does that mean?

Let’s call my community where I live and volunteer Nosotros. The strengths of Nosotros are amazing. In comparison to other communities, Nosotros has resources that come through the Office of the First Lady and a huge international non-governmental organization. Our community has also fought for all that it has received (I’m talking about even the house that they’ve built) as most people have moved from the country into this larger city. Nosotros has resources that are the process of helping develop the community: a community center (for informational talks, community meetings), a school, a basketball court (a work in progress), and a library (welcome, new volunteer!). Nosotros, however, exists in one of the poorest provinces, is most affected by HIV/AIDS, and is listed as one of the communities with the lowest literacy rates, among other social factors. Of course, youth are not only at the center of these factors, but also can, have, and will be the major factors for its change.

So, what do I do? Where do I fit in?

First, I work with an existing youth group to facilitate more activities in the community and, at the same time, develop their team building and leadership skills. Right now, we’re planning. But, in the future, it could be crazy. We’re thinking of sports teams, a dance group, community clean-ups, and campaigns to raise funds for the…library. The library project was started by a previous volunteer who literally got it off the ground. Now, we’re working to finish the outside and inside walls (with stucco like stuff called empañete), floor, shelves, computers, books, books, and books!! While I’ll be working with other organaizations to make this a reality, almost like a community connection / project manager, I’ll also be working with the students to make reading groups, etc. Last (at least for the main things), I’ll be working with a group of multipliers to retrain them and have them form other groups that will go out and talk about not only HIV/AIDS, but youth health in general…

So, I still haven´t told you what I do...every day? Wake up - plan the day - see who I need to visit to make one of the things above happen- try to visit some people - eat lunch (it`s so much that it literally takes an hour) - let my stomach recover from lunch - prepare for the next nightly meeting- meet - hang out with the fam until bedtime...

There´s of course other things, but you get the gist...as time goes on we´ll get more aquainted with the barrio of Nosotros!