During the month of January I, as well as other student on the program, volunteered in Aldeas Infantiles SOS three days every week for a few hours. Each day we would arrive on our charter bus to the delight of many kids who would peek out of their homes wondering if the “gringos” had arrived. Our primary focus was to make the kids happy; playing with them, teaching them new things, and making sure they were safe. Most days there were plenty of students in contrast to kids so looking out for each of them was not difficult. I had mixed feelings about our arrival at times as we pulled a massive bus through the gates of a humble community. I did not want to feel like a foreigner affirming stereotypes of superiority but I struggle to find a reasonable solution to avoid such a feeling.
Prior to the project I had worked as a summer camp counselor in the United States and decided to bring along one of my favorite activities: friendship bracelets. I had purchased a plethora of string in previous months and figured the kids at Aldeas would enjoy it as well. I brushed up on my patterns and organized the bundles of string as best I could before bringing it along. In addition, I knew I would want to play soccer with the residents and therefore looked into some of the terminology of the sport in Spanish. When we arrived I used my skills as a camp counselor to try and teach the friendship bracelet patterns as best I could. However, this proved rather difficult to do in another language. Most kids I had worked with in the U.S. struggled to make them after having the instructions in English so I am sure it was difficult with my spanish as well. Eventually, after showing them enough times most of the children understood what I meant. Soccer was much more simple as everyone knew the foundations of the game itself.
One specific challenge I faced was simply patience. When teaching the bracelet patterns many kids would simply say “just give me yours” or “make me one” when I was making one for another kid. I simply had to explain that I could help them learn how to make their own but it would take time. Even when I would make one for another person they would likely only wear it for an hour or two before I would find it on the ground later. For these kinds of scenarios I felt greatly disheartened. It was as if all that we were doing was worthless and would not stay wit these kids. However, I must keep in mind they are young and have not developed the sense of gratitude that I had apparently desired. They’re kids and enjoying their youth so a few bracelets is a small price to pay for a good time. They were kept busy and safe so I can say our goals were accomplished.
I learned Panama has its fair share of problems just like anywhere else in the world. Life is difficult and unfortunately we saw the kids who have to deal with some of the worst situations, often meeting obstacles with smiles. Topics of abuse and neglect permeate the entire world but, hopefully, we made some kind of positive impact. Unfortunately, that kind of impact is difficult to see or feel right away. Did I influence these kids in a positive manner? I certainly hope so but it will take much more in their future than playing soccer or making bracelets with a foreigner to truly change their life. It is my hope that we, as a group, showed a sufficient amount of kindness that they will then continue in their communities. For many of the older kids, who were amazing at soccer might I add, the effects of our presence was much more visible. I did notice a few of them in collared shirts and it made me happy that despite a difficult past they were working and striving to become successful and hopefully make a positive change to those around them. I am not saying we are like them in the sense of struggle but it is nice to see other young adults doing their best, just like we are, around the world.
To say my life has changed due to the time with the people at Aldeas would be a bit of an exaggeration. However, this is only because I have done similar things in the past so instead I would say it reaffirms my ambitions for the future. I am convinced the kindness I and everyone else showed will continue but to stop there is inadequate. Hopefully, more opportunities will become available to all of us back on the university campus.
