El Salvador - Suchitoto

Last weekend we visited our friends Onix and Cristina. Onix used to be my neigbour in Honduras. Him and Cristina, his Spanish girlfriend are some of our beautiful capoeira mates and friends.

Cristina works in Suchitoto - a sleepy, old village in the middle of El Salvador. With much touristic potential for its colonial style little houses, and a big lake to its side. From Cristina's place you have this beautiful lakeview.

All kinds of animals gave us company : During night huge toads, big bats and giant insects. During the day frogs (in Onix' head), toad-eating snakes, insect-eating lizards and chanting blue/yellow/red feathered birds.

We took long walks around the lake, visiting an amazing waterfall with incredible stonestructures.

We found three wild turtles in their natural habit: Between a little water, plants and mostly mud.

Driving around with one of Cristina's colleagues, we visited wide grassfields and a big hacienda. We heard some stories about El Salvador's heavy history (as war has taken place until 1992).

We also saw some of the present problems: The big lake being conteminated with waste - every day a little more - without any consideration for nature.

At least, in Suchitoto you are able to drink the water from the well - that is a big exception in El Salvador and in Central America in general. My Honduran friend tells me about the times before they started selling "purified water" - everyone drank the water from the tab. Then, in the nineties, there was a cholera epidemic, supposedly caused by conteminated water. Ready, for the purified water business to start!

Ok. For now you have enough to read and I better do not go on about any conspiracy theories, that seem to become more practic each time and less theoretic. What a world! I hope you enjoy the pictures of the beautiful side of humanity and nature!

Best wishes to everyone!

Working. Traveling. Working more.

Hola Todas y Todos!
Finally a new update. It is already end of may! Time flies by.
I hope summer has arrived for you with all its beauty over there in the North and the West. Here, the people talk about "winter coming soon" - because of the more regular rainfalls and heavy thunderstorms after a hot day. It is funny. We are sweating nakedly, yet talking about winter...

I am still in the settling proces here in Tegucigalpa. Trying to get installed in our new home, getting to know my work with Arte Acción. Things have changed. Only yesterday, we had a crisis-meeting within the organization. The money is getting rare, projects are finishing - donations by international coorporations stop. Evaluation reports must be written, new projects must be formulated - everybody is sacrifying oneself in order to carry on. It is hard to be a cultural, social organization with no governmental help, no ongoing support. When there are projects, everybody needs to sacrifice a lot of energy - to fulfill the expectations of the donators.

Social system is completely missing in these kind of countries. But Honduras is NOT a poor country! The majority of the people is poor - and only some very few families are richer than rich.
Consumism is very present everywhere! The shopping malls and buyingcenters are full of people - the supermarkets have much more cashiers than what I am used to in Europe -and still you always stay in line before you can pay.
When you come out of the market - little boys bid for money. Their eyes half closed , smelling like a tankstation of so much glue they inhaled .
Yesterday one of these boys saw me at a bank machine. It didn't accept my card . When the boy asked me for one Lempira and I had nothing to give to him, I explained that I could not take any money from the bank. He said: "It is because some guys came and took out suitcases full of banknotes of the machine. Now there is nothing left..."
Later I saw the boy again, I thought I would buy him some food rather than giving him cash. He told me he wanted chicken - from one of the American fast food restaurants that are EVERYWHERE: in all colours, in all varieties but with the same crappy food.
I bought him some fried potatoes that a woman sold on the streets. Suddenly there where three boys behind him, big eyes - wanting potatoes as well. Much better than chicken!

I feel that the Arte Acción's mission is very important. The young people we work with could be in the same position - their testimonies tell us that they would hang around on the streets if Arte Acción didn't exist. Through creativity, we reinforce the youth, help them to make conscious decisions - starting for example with their food choice, ending with personal development: We support them to determine dreams and values, personal needs and limits - we help them to take themselves and each other seriously and to trust in themselves. It sounds complicated maybe... HOW can a game or a theater play, a painting or dancing really benefit the human development? Creating self-confidence, stimulating communication - true communication with oneself and real communication with one another.

In the meantime there have been 4 succesfull girlgrouptherapy sessions realized. Its outcome is meaningful. Yesterday we worked out a dramasession -using masks again, like in Ecuador. This time, lots of therapeutical proces took place. The girls are all young adults, quite accostumed to creative activities and reflection. Every girl played with a selfmade mask, expressing a self-chosen emotion. The girls created either a monologue or a dialogue, expressing the emotion reflected by their mask in a presentation of a 5 minutes scene.
During the reflection in the end the girls shared some significant experiences...

• I feel that I could relax and get rid o some accumulated feelings

• I realize that we easily project our emotions on somebody else, making fun of somebody or getting angry with somebody - instead of searching for the emotion and its reason inside of ourselves

• I feel that we need to strengthen our self-confidence, our confidence with others - we need to practice to make REAL contact, also fisically - not only smiling and superficially talking to each other - as if we were wearing a mask always - it is difficult to make real friends

• I feel that what I express here is born inside of me and not because of a compromise I have made with somebody from the outside

• I feel that here I am free to ask others about their expriences; I feel free to ask "why" am I here; I feel free to express what I like to express.

It was a nice session - I gave my compliments to the group. Openness towards each other is growing and they start trusting in honest contact. Until now almost every one of the participants has shown up to all of the sessions. They are always eager to meet again - some of them said that the therapymoment is their highlight of the week.

ARTE ACCIÓN Presentation in the central park of Tegucigalpa

GirlgroupTherapy

We had our first session of group therapy. 5 of the 7 girls that had announced to participate showed up in the end. During the introduction of creative therapy that we had given a few times before, the young people questioned the confidence that exists between them – the facilitators. They said, although they work together a lot – being used to communicate with each other – they do not talk to each other so much on a personal level. Confidence, respect, mutual understanding and acceptance are some of the topics what we want to work on within creative therapy. We had some interesting outcome of the first activity, lots of motivation and participation of the girls – and ability to express themselves! Some explained their experiences more on a verbal level, during the reflection in the end. Others showed some strong interaction and expression during the crea(c)tivity – maybe with less verbal strength in the end.

It was obvious how well it worked to communicate through painting – making contact on paper – on a non-verbal but personal level. Within almost 2 hours of time there were some critical, emotional moments – but all in all we had a good first activity. Hopefully the next will come on regular base – at least weekly. There is surely going to be some creative, personal, human and social progress going to happen!

The boys are going to form a group in two weeks – then we will start therapy with them. Now they are busy, organizing festivals and presentations in different communities: too much work to concentrate on internal communication...

I am happy that Arte Acción – directors, workers and facilitators – have expressed their will and need to work on teambuilding again, to work on the human aspects within the organization. To focus on human development; on internal and organizational development! I am happy to be able to help with this as much as I can. Still, we are searching for a local psychologist who can work at my side, who is interested in learning about the application and methodology of creative therapy. Before we can hire him or her, we have to make sure that there are enough fonds to pay such a professional. Well, there will be – it is just a matter of time!

Traveling - Working - Visiting - Welcoming

Many greetings once again!

Here I am, in front of the computer - no, not my favorite place -yet I will try to find the right words to actualize you on my activities during the last weeks.

I had been out of Tegucigalpa for more than one week, on a meeting for all Dutch JuniorExperts working in Latin America. We spent 4 days in Roatán, an extra-ordinary place (um nicht zu sagen, ordinär) to meet for work: a Carribean Island. It was crazy. We worked in an airconditioned conference room from 8 o'clock in the morning till 9 at night - or even longer - with half an hour beach per day, after lunch, with our bellies too much filled. The six ladies of us took the meeting very seriously - I hope ICCO is happy with the final report of 20 pages, full of recommentations and conclusions concerning our work here in the South.

After our trip to the Island, I stayed in San Rafael - the project where I worked 6 years ago: my first experience in Honduras. It was beautiful to be there, as always. The trees in this natural surrounding have grown - just like the boys. Some of them have left the project, lots of new faces to get to know. The educators are mostly the same, old/young people - it felt like coming home. I was very happy on monday night as we celebrated a little party: lots of dancing with desperate boys who live in a home without any girls of their age! :) Ayayay... But dancing between boy and boy was neither a problem! Better, rougher, faster! We had much fun!
On tuesday last week my beloved friend, mate and man finally arrived in San Pedro Sula . Oh - his dog might be happier than me to have him back here. We are now trying to build up our together life in Tegucigalpa... I am pleased to have somebody close to share my private life with again! Content, to be with somebody who understands well the local culture, yet actually speaking my mother language fluently. And I am lucky to feel somebody is supporting me, all dedicated to help me find my way during the upcoming year and a half. Yeah!

Today I will be writing and typing, typing and writing -as my work does not only include artistic or therapeutic activities. For example, I am expected to make an official workplan within a "logical frame." That means, the format of the document exists already - all I have to do is to make personal and professional goals fit into the strict columns and rows -adapting them to the needs of Arte Acción, of course. Uff. It costs quite some time and energy.

Green Air / Fresh Trees / Clear Water

More or less one hour drive from Tegucigalpa, you find this beautiful place - where I tanked some oxygen last sunday - before coming back to contamination. I should go there more often!

Black Boogers / Schwarze Popel / Mocos Negros

4 O'clock in the afternoon - the sun seems to be gone almost - but it's not. Next to our house, another hill was burning... It is pure SMO(G)KE that coveres the sunlight - and the city! Puh... I tried to do some sporting in the park at night. Afterwards, it felt as if I had sat down, smoking cigarrettes. Luckily, the wind has come today which is blowing some of the smoke away!

Normally, you can see the houses on the hills far away and you have BLUE SKY... Yesterday- no way. This is the result of the season's heat. 33°C in the shadow doesn't even seem so much, but if you feel the burning sun you understand. My dripping wet clothes dried within half an hour. The fires around are devastating. Hopefully the wind of today brings some rain!

Honduras, finally some news!

Excuses to everybody who has been waiting for some news on this blog. I have been busy coming home in the meantime: Meeting and greeting old and new friends, starting to deal with new responsibilities, getting used to Honduran living again. Now I will share my first impressions with you.

This picture I took from the airplane shortly before I arrived.
The air and countryside is dry at this time of the year. Tonight, after more than 3 weeks of having been here, it rained for the first time!This picture I took from Marie's (my colleague) place, where I am staying temporarily. We could smell the smoke of the burning hill inside the house. Although it might also have come from somebody, burning his waste on the street.
The streets of Tegucigalpa ... after having been to Quito, Tegus seems like a small village: The streets are narrow, the traffic -mostly stuck in slowness- is not as threatening as in bigger cities. Yet, the black clouds that the old American schoolbuses leave behind are unsurpassable.
I am careful on the streets, trying not to step on cucarachas, orientating myself between whistling and kissthrowing men of all ages, watching out not to be followed, recognizing the beautiful blue sky with its colourful clouds during sunset while it is getting dark within minutes.
I walk home from work, wondering about the heavy life of the people here, feeling sometimes small and unworthy, next to the suffering, yet smiling women and children with worn-out feet and clothes - looking at me with big, curious, hopeful eyes.
Still, life in Honduras has a lot to offer!
Even though it looks dry from above, lots of trees and plants reflect juicy fertility!

In the mornings I wake up hearing chants of exotic birds. I get up easily with the sunshine entering the window - looking forward to taste fresh and ripe mango, papaya or watermelon for breakfast. How lucky I am... I feel honoured to be able to work with enthusiastic social-artistic facilitators within Arte Acción. I feel at the right place, when I see their vision and mission of creating a stimulating alternative for people with poor opportunities, believing in their possibilities and strengthening their development.

CREATIVE THERAPY
I have started to integrate myself again within Arte Acción - lots of well-known faces and voices share the day with me while I work in the office.
During these weeks I have been updated by Marie - she is more than motivated - working intensively with her clients, who already have gone through some up- or deepgoing process in their personal therapy. The art therapy room is nicely decorated, there are quite a lot of materials, neatly put into shelves and boxes. On the door, there's Marie's calender - sometimes it is still a struggle to make appointments and really realize them, yet art therapy has gotten a much bigger priority within Arte Acción than before. The attended kids I talked to, seem proud and very happy to be in therapy. There is even a waiting list for more to come, who are longing for this personal, therapeutical, artistical attention.
In a couple of workshops with some of the kids I tried to find out what they know, imagine and think when they hear the word creative therapy. I was very surprised to read and listen to their answers, as they have a good picture already of what our subject is about. (Later in this blog, I will summarize the answers of the youngsters - once I spoke to more of them) Thanks to the continuous work of three years, carried out by CT-students, Art Therapy is integrated more and more within Arte Acción. Me, then Miriam (check out her Dutch Weblog if you want to know more about her internship experience: www.miriaminhonduras.blog2blog.nl) and now Marie (visit her Blog, if you like to read in German www.marieenhonduras.blog.com).

Tobacco is a strong medicine

I would like to share one last special situation of my time in Ecuador. One weekend we went to Tena, a little village on the Amazonian border. We stayed with a Kichwa family, enjoying the humble, natural and very friendly atmosphere.

Fausto, son of the family, guided us through their personal piece of jungle, introducing us to the beautiful virgin rainforest and some of its secrets. Only one night before we arrived, the family's father had received a treatment of an experienced shaman. In a cleansing ritual he was first bathed with water that had boiled with fresh tobacco leaves - then he was covered by powder of dried tobacco leaves from his head to toes. The treatment took no longer than 30 minutes, yet he felt incredibly exhausted afterwards. He slept all day the next day - we met him only in the evening - he told us he didn't want to eat anything, his stomach was feeling sick.
For me this story was an eye-opener. The shaman had applied the tobacco only externally. The man did not even smoke, swallow or gurgle with the tobacco - but still it had such an impact on him that he was bound to his bed for more than a day.
In his family there is nobody who ever misused tobacco. As Indians, they are most conscious about the strong effect the tobacco has on the human body.
Isn't it incredible how this medicine is used as a daily consumption product by so many people?!
Well, I can tell you that my personal interest in smoking has decreased enormously!
Until now I stand strong as a non-smoker. ;)
Here you can see the tobacco leaves being dried and conserved traditionally hanging within the never ending smoke of the cooking fire.

Latin American Impressions by Ecuatorian artist GUAYASAMIN

Dramatherapy in Quito

The last day of our activities passed easily and with visible succes. We „played“ with a group of nine children. Although there were more interested ones to participate, we gave a clear limit and carried out the activity with little disturbance.

We started with a game to stimulate concentration and focussing – on oneself and one another. Only this game obviously showed how much the children are lacking these simple abilities, even for a few minutes. Personal attention is needed – serious and straight forward stimulation towards each child.

After we finished the introduction, while most of them stayed quietly listening, we played a game, learning to express a sentence with different emotional charge. It was good pretending it's the emotion of the mask each child had made and not a personal emotion – this makes it easier for the children to strongly express negative emotions, without feeling personally confronted or insecure.

Then we formed three groups of three children, in order to create some little scenes, making use of the masks and the emotions that they liked to express the most. Fortunately, we were three adults to give company to the three little groups. Ellen, Lily (the teacher) and me.

We tried to stimulate the children to make up a place and situation in which their scene should take place. The three girls of my group soon decided to play a typical family situation. The oldest one played the mother, the other two the daughters. The mother was in love; one daughter felt sad and the other one happy. When I asked why would they feel this way, the mother answered that she fell in love with another man, one daughter said she is happy, because her father used to beat her and now he had left the house – and the sad one felt sad because of air in her stomach - that she got when she went to carry wood for the fire in the forest.

When they started to play the situation, every girl lost herself a bit in her own situation – everyone wanted to carry out the play in HER way, not listening to the others. I told them maybe it is also an idea to create three monologues. One after the other could tell about their personal story – and in the end the public realizes that the stories are all connected.

The girls liked the idea, decided who comes first and who last, then started practicing actively. With much enthousiasm and truly emotional acting they put themselves in front of the imaginary public and practiced...

After 10 minutes, there was the REAL presentation, all the children came to sit together and we were the chosen group to start the play.

This was far more problematic than I thought. After disappearing behind the stage, after various applauses and calling for beginning, the girls were two afraid to show themselves and start... In the end, with much animation and stimulation, they finally came out of the corner – nervously presenting one or two sentences, with great shyness and confusion.

Although the content of the presentations lost much of its former liveliness, it was a big step for these children to stand in front of public – even alone – to receive an applause and appreciation of the others.

This is what creative therapy on a small scale is about. The overcoming of insecurity and fear, the surprising acknoledgement of unknown abilities and strengths.

Workshop+Individual Attention= Paint+Glitter all over

Our combined workshop of Drama and Art Therapy started two days ago.
As a lot of times down in the South, things did not go the exact way we planned them to go, especially due to a much bigger group of attending children than expected...

We felt quite well-prepared, with 17 plain masks ready to decorate for the children. Of course, in a project where there's up to 80 children each day - it is difficult to decide whom to "play" with.
There are 4 groups, of different ages, accompained by the teachers - we thought we worked with one of them. In the end another teacher didn't come that day, why we chose to work with two groups. We weren't worried about it, as few children of both groups had shown up so far.
But during the day, more and more children came to join us, curious about the other busy painting and decoratoring children.
We couldn't resist to improvise some more plain masks, so that all the children could take part in the activity.
It was chaotic at times, as you can imagine. Especially when on the second day, even more children came to participate and Ellen stayed at home because of a little illness. Fortunately I had help by two volunteers and two of the teachers.
Individually, I talked to some of the children - I saw their joy and happiness, playing with the paint and the glitter, identifying somehow with the mask when I asked them what emotion they expressed.

In the end, we reflected on the activity with about 30 children between 7 and 15 years. Today we will give a clear limit - we will work with only one group - either the older or the younger one, but not with both. Making use of the created masks, Ellen is going to introduce a drama activity - playing some scenes and evaluating them with the children. I am happy to be able to observe today and to learn from her.