Development

Background info: Outreach is something I'm involved in through RLI; we bring books and other supplies, trainings, ideas, designs to other schools in the area, more or less. RLI, remember, stands for Rups Learners Inc., and is a Guyanese NGO (non-government organization) made up of Guyanese board members, all living in my village of Yups. RLI has an American counterpart, RLF, RL Foundation, that Alice is the head for, as well as other Americans, some who are Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. Alice has just come back into the country after almost 3 years away. Never having met her before, it definitely changed things around CH when she arrived in March. It's interesting to realize how I became so used to the lack of American presence in my life, not to mention female/maternal. But that's another story.

Alice had arranged a self-help session for Parishara Nursery, a village about 40 miles away. At first, I sorta sulked that I wasn't included or at least made aware of this, as outreach and interactions with these villages have been work of mine before Alice got here. But I realized that if I want to be involved still, I need to assert myself into the work, be more pro-active. So I lightly conveyed my desire to still be involved in outreach, and I became part of the team that went to Parishara a few Saturdays ago: Alice, Felix, Hamzad, Mark, Combrencent, Lucy and being driven by Bryan and Maisie.

At face-value, the day was very satisfying. Fun assortment of people, clear-cut tasks at hand, beautiful trek into Parishara, visible results in the end, then light detour to Lethem with the group.

"Self help" is a concept widely used down here, a Makushi term for it is "myu." People are gathered to work on either village clean up or village projects, or personal projects and jobs. Those asking for the help will usually provide a meal, or at least some cari/rice wine or shebay (farine and water) to sustain the helpers. You'd be surprised how fast a job can be completed - what with the diligence of the Amerindians and the sweet drive of the cari.

Self help is something that helps the world go 'round down here, everyone helping everyone. Volunteers come to clean the school, cut down grass in the main part of the village, help re-thatch roofs, etc. We've tried to convey to the kids that you all are volunteers (just like Miss Sarah) and that's a beautiful thing. It's used to get work done within CH and within the village, though Alice still asserts that people don't appreciate working for free, so a lot of work is stipended by her... Beneficial for all, but brought about, planned and led by her.

We have mixed views on partnerships and collaboration within the village. I, while admitting to a potential naivety brought about by noviceness, maintain that the process should be shared by all, understood by some at least, and contributed by all (planning and executing). All need to have the opportunity to understand and agree/disagree with the plan, even if the plan is a good one that they'll thank you for later. Things may go slower that way, but I think there'll be more ownership and passion there. Alice feels that going slow while there are still children who can't read is an immoral act, she feels that people can't know they want something if they don't know it exists - so you might as well tell them they need it while giving it to them.

I seem to have a more laissez fare approach, as do others at CH, where, sure, you illuminate, and foster, but step back to let others step up. Much slower, less accomplished, sure. But comprehension? Buy in? I think it's there. Lack of perfection? You bet. Petered out energy, corners cut, ill used equipment? Yep. (S'all part of it.) Much physical progress has been made since March, more so than myself or others at CH or in the village could have done/ would have done/ did, I can say that, at least.

Anyway, I don't know how much of this was actually planned by those in Parishara Nursery, I don't know how much knowledge was passed on for them to continue in the same regards later, but I didn't take on that stress. I appreciated being a follower, and not having to be a leader. Perhaps this relief keep me from critiquing our leader's ways, but, for the day, it was a nice reprieve from both - leading and critiquing.

I got to paint, and the fun kind where you don't have to worry about drips, smears, evenness. Alice planned a savanna scene for the reading area; I painted the green for grass, then got to climb up a ladder/tower to paint some boards blue for sky. Some boys sketched the details for the mural, Combrencent, an artisan in Yups, drew mountains at the skyline, Hamzad and Mark set to work on making the rain-gutter style bookshelves Alice promotes for all libraries she creates, and Lucy led some ladies in cutting and sewing cushions for kids to sit on in the story area. Books, shelves, cushions and painting are all typical stuff Alice has done for our schools in the past, and some things I've carried on to an extent since doing outreach here.

How much did Parishara have to do with the work this day? How much say in it did they have? How much tutoring? Parishara ladies helped with the cushions, men helped with the painting... I guess one could argue that .... well wait - did she pay these workers from Yups? I don't know. I was going to say that it at least we now have Yups people working to help another village and show them how they've done it (per Alice) in their own schools, but then, yes, were those people paid for the day? Hmm. Oh, the facets of development...

I used to think development was more like building a structure. Building blocks. You set the foundation, and work your way up, or you start with the frame and work your way in. You can physically see the missing pieces, the additions, etc. You see when the product is finished. A step by step process. But I found this to not be so with this sort of development. It's more tornadic/tornadesque. Chaotic and uprooting, sure :D, but I mean more cylindrical, going around, back and forth through different components, until you get closer and closer, more concentrated, intense - and then finally reach the Touch Down Point, your goal. Which may or may not be where you anticipated it to land.

Because the road to Parishara was so high, Bryan decided to, instead of going to Lethem them coming back to pick us up and go back on the same road, he'd wait for us then carry us to Lethem with him and go around the longer, dryer road. He and Maisie helped with the painting, too, and Maisie designed a fun table pattern with different colors and numbers on it. Like Alice, the morning was frenzied and productive. We finished by 1 p.m., ate a lunch they cooked for us, then headed onto Lethem, pockets packed with oranges and some golden Parishara farine HM Jean slipped in my hands. :) Hardly anyone brought money, and Bryan mostly only needed fuel, so the trip was very short, with only a few stops here and there, a quick break of beer and buns, then we headed back. Got back by 6:30, tired, but content.

Another positive (and by positive, I mean a simple lack of upfront negativity) experience with development, with Alice and development with Alice.