About a month ago I
had to make a difficult decision. I had been working on preparing a community
project to expand the water system in Nuevo Vigía. That consisted of designing
pipeline networks, writing reports, filling out mountains of grant paperwork,
making materials lists and budgets, on top of coordinating everything with
community members. Since my time here is limited, there was a January deadline
for submitting grant requests for project funding. While I was struggling to
get everything done in time, I realized how much I was trying to rush things.
In the process I was sort of leaving behind the water committee, the people who
should be taking charge of the project. I’ve worked so hard to develop this
group of ten people, helping them organize, raise funds, budget, set rules, and
operate and maintain the system. That’s why it was so tough to accept that they
just still weren’t ready for a project of this size, even if I was. The
engineer in me was fighting the development worker with grand ideas of heading
a big construction project. But in the end I knew that my desire to have
something tangible to show for my time here was disrupting the timing for the
community. They just need more time and experience taking care of things on
their own. As if to accentuate that point, our pump stopped working, and we
haven’t had running water for over a month now. We’re still working on that…
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| Mornings at the river in Nuevo Vigia |
So I decided to
postpone the project, accepting that I won’t be the one to finish it. There
will be another volunteer coming to replace me after I leave. And while it’s
hard to leave the work I’ve done to somebody I won’t even meet, I know it’s for
the best. That volunteer will be able to build off the groundwork already in
place.
I still feel great
about of how far the water committee has come. I act like they’re my students.
A couple weeks ago I decided to show off one of my students, a water operator
that I trained in all the operation and maintenance of the pump and water
treatment plant. Danielle, another volunteer in a community with the same water
system that was just getting started, asked for help with a seminar to train
her water committee. I brought Rubén (who I call Super Técnico) to this
neighboring community to help with the seminar. I was proud to see this guy,
who a year ago didn’t even know how to turn the pump on, teaching people in
another community how to run the entire system. Super Técnico did a great job
explaining all the technical processes of the water treatment and
troubleshooting advice. The fact that he did a lot of it in Emberá was very
helpful.
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| My student, Super Tecnico, teaching members of the water committee in a neighboring community |
The whole time I’ve
been here I’ve wanted to build something. Before I arrived in this community I assumed
that’s what I would be doing. But I’ve learned so much about what people really
need here, and I realize my job isn’t just working with a hammer and nail, but
with people. Being the first volunteer in a community can be frustrating
because people aren’t used to working with an organization like Peace Corps.
Being here first, my job is to gain trust, develop a relationship, and give
people the confidence they need to advance themselves. That doesn’t happen
overnight. Funny how before I thought two years was such a long time, and now
it seems too short. My time here is running out, which is scary. As strange as
it is, this place is home. It’s very uncomfortable thinking about leaving. For
now I still have plenty of work to do, and I don’t think I’ll ever be bored.
For these next five months I want to enjoy this time with my gente.
