Taller -- Peace Corps Municipal Development at Work!
As part of our training program we were giving the task of developing a taller (or workshop). This taller was completely left up to us to decide the content, the location, transportation, and my personal favorite, refrijerios (snacks). In this mammoth project we were only giving about three weeks to plan for it, of which, really, only a few days were completely dedicated to the task.
I was part of the group that focused on youth, under the topic of Liderazco (Leadership training), I was specifically in charge of Communication along with two other volunteers (they’re the ones that have that are standing back to back). Although the taller went rather well, it wasn’t without its faults, such as Spanish correction and enunciation, ie, even though we understand our conversational Spanish amongst each other, it does not neccessarily mean a native Spanish speaker would understand (whoops).
I think our most important charla (presentation) was on auto estima (self esteem). I think if you’re going to change behavior you have to work with a group that has a strong sense of self so they can take ownership of a subject/project/etc. Unfortunately, I do not see that here in El Salvadorian Youth. I don’t know if it’s because it’s a collectivist society, but the timid factor, the lack of initiative, and the large amounts of low self esteem (and in my opinion, depression) are quite large. I remember talking to my host sister about these issues, as I saw them in her, she confided that a lot of the girls feel this way, and she doesn’t really know why. But I see a lot of the same thing in the men here too.
There isn’t a vision, like we have in the states, about a future. Since I was a young, I was taught to think about the future, about achieving that goal, and told that I could accomplish anything, and if I failed, to keep trying, and either way, I’d still be loved. It’s not he same here. Emphasis is not put on education, but on work, and the future is based on what you’re father is currently doing (and most likey helping out). Children spend most of their days playing soccer or working. Lack of sex education leads to early pregrnacy, and the cycle just keeps going. Gender roles only hurt this society from advancing by the sheer unencouragement of advanced educated woman.
My own struggle has been whether to advance education, which takes too much time and has little value in this society, or promote trade education, which is quicker to attain and provides decent paying jobs to growing market in need of skilled workers…that also speak English, another obsticle. Okay, this is getting too bleak, so I’ll stop…sorry about that.
Your Affectionate Volunteer,
SCRUTAPE
I was part of the group that focused on youth, under the topic of Liderazco (Leadership training), I was specifically in charge of Communication along with two other volunteers (they’re the ones that have that are standing back to back). Although the taller went rather well, it wasn’t without its faults, such as Spanish correction and enunciation, ie, even though we understand our conversational Spanish amongst each other, it does not neccessarily mean a native Spanish speaker would understand (whoops).
I think our most important charla (presentation) was on auto estima (self esteem). I think if you’re going to change behavior you have to work with a group that has a strong sense of self so they can take ownership of a subject/project/etc. Unfortunately, I do not see that here in El Salvadorian Youth. I don’t know if it’s because it’s a collectivist society, but the timid factor, the lack of initiative, and the large amounts of low self esteem (and in my opinion, depression) are quite large. I remember talking to my host sister about these issues, as I saw them in her, she confided that a lot of the girls feel this way, and she doesn’t really know why. But I see a lot of the same thing in the men here too.
There isn’t a vision, like we have in the states, about a future. Since I was a young, I was taught to think about the future, about achieving that goal, and told that I could accomplish anything, and if I failed, to keep trying, and either way, I’d still be loved. It’s not he same here. Emphasis is not put on education, but on work, and the future is based on what you’re father is currently doing (and most likey helping out). Children spend most of their days playing soccer or working. Lack of sex education leads to early pregrnacy, and the cycle just keeps going. Gender roles only hurt this society from advancing by the sheer unencouragement of advanced educated woman.
My own struggle has been whether to advance education, which takes too much time and has little value in this society, or promote trade education, which is quicker to attain and provides decent paying jobs to growing market in need of skilled workers…that also speak English, another obsticle. Okay, this is getting too bleak, so I’ll stop…sorry about that.
Your Affectionate Volunteer,
SCRUTAPE
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