Report from local coordinator Sam Avila
De partner vertelt... van 23 augustus 2016
Project: Hospital Señorita Elena, Cubulco
Summary
Our first experience with WS outside of Quetzaltentnago seemed like a completely new challenge. The project was very different, the construction site was at the initial stage and we had only 15 participants. Flexibility was probably the thing we had to exercise the most as leaders. We were constantly facing changes in planning, health and various situations. We were all grateful for the team and leaderships willingness to go through the everchanging day to day activitites.
The team got to stay in a very small community inside our hospital facilities. The dining room and rooms were all within walking distance inside our facilities. Our construction site was in front of the hospital and the school where we would work with our children was a 5-minute walk away from our hospital.
Operational level
The construction
After evaluating what we would be able to do as a team of 15 people without a head constructor, we decided to focus on half of the building, which was 3 apartments. This required us to elevate the brick wall and change the whole metal support structure for the roof. We wanted to find someone that would work with us to make this project work and to finish it once the team would leave, and to complete the task.
Facilitation of the team
The entire team stayed in our Hospital facilities. In this case we used the two rooms that we have in front of our dining area to house the girls and the facilities in our nutrition center to provide housing for the men in our team. All of our meals where done in our kitchen by the staff that works there every day, and the cooks were adapting every day to the teams needs. We were invited by a local missionary that works with AMG to a church service in the mountains of Cubulco where he worked. On that day we traveled and stayed at the local church for one night.
Children program
The children program was different from what we have been used to on the past few trips. Because this school is much smaller than the one in Ostuncalco we only had one session in the afternoon for the days that we were able to go. There were a few team members that organized this with the childrens leader and they achieved a lot with these kids. the childen were always happy with the lessons and the activities and the crafts were really special.
Life skills, cultural and touristic outings
This was again something completely new that we had to face because of the new location, new local language but also because of how different the community actually is. The life skills and cultural activities were achieved and planned based on the teams needs. Since this was such a small team we could almost approach every individual need and give them an opportunity to experience something they wanted.Touristic outings it were harder to arrange because just in order for the team to leave the town it involved a three-hour drive. Therfore we decided to travel back to Guatemala City a day earlier.
Cooperation with the WSN project staff
The staff was very experienced, they had a great way to run the teams and to focus daily on the devotions and the lessons they wanted the team to learn. The team was very close by the end of the trip and I think it was because the leadership pushed them to spend time with and invest in eachoter. There was always a good attitude from the team to the locals.
Involvement of the stakeholders
WS team
The participants were very positive about connecting and were willing to do everything we gave them as an option or as an activity. Even when they had to sing in front of 300 people at a church anniversary. They also continued working regardless of how rough the weather was.
Staff
They showed a lot of experience that seemed to come from many years of working with WS projects. The leadership promoted quiet times and times for the team to take a break and think through the day.
Beneficiaries
The involvement of the staff and the actual beneficiaries of the people who will use the apartments was very little, not because they didnt care or wanted to, but because they had to work all day in the hospital while we were building.
The local authorities
The local authorities were really helpful They provided our permission to build and sent local traffic police for two days, when we were moving materials, to provide for us a safer environment to work in.
Community
We got to share on the community radio and the response was great according to what we heard from our pastor. He got 7 visits to his office based on what they heard from our team in the radio. We also had great benefits from a local pool that let us use their facilities for half the price twice and even to go for free on a third occasion.
Development of the project
Right now, the project is being finished. At least the first stages for both sides of the building. We hired two workers that helped us during the last few days that the team was here. They workers will continue to finish the project. The finished building will be as follows: Change of roof, complete remodel of bathrooms and kitchens, change inside patio to another small storage room, plastering inside of apartments.
Lessons learned
The project is not always the most important thing, sometimes time in fellowship with team members or community means more than anything else.
