We were sitting behind her house made of sticks and black tarp that was used as the ‘community cafeteria' three days a week and provided lunch for dozens of families in La Estrella. I asked Dina if I could help, and she handed me a bag of potatoes to peel.
We worked side-by-side in a silence that recognized the importance of preparing a meal for members of the community who otherwise might not be able to eat. After the polenta stew came to a boil, Dina served me a heaping portion and gave me the honor of eating first. Working with Dina allowed me to see exactly where that money was going and what positive impact it had on the wellbeing of children, adults and the elderly there.
Though I arrived in La Estrella with a preconceived notion of what I could do to ‘help' the people, I learned that I must first listen so that I could understand what community members needed and wanted. I realized that helping begins with respect and compassion, with opening my heart to the seemingly strange customs of another. Only then was it possible to understand what kind of social and economic development was positive, while also protecting the culture of the people who were allowing me to share their customs and help craft their future.
The community's remote location has greatly influenced and maintained the lifestyle there. La Estrella has yet to obtain electricity from the government and has no running water. Its remoteness has allowed its Chorote culture to continue to flourish, with community members speaking primarily in their indigenous language while also slowing opening up to the outside world.
I spent most days doing arts or sports activities with the kids in the community, and they in turn, taught me more than I could have imagined. I was repeatedly amazed by their skills, intellect and compassion. Another moment that I will always remember is when I woke up on my first morning in La Estrella to find Belén starting a fire in front of my cabin. Though she was no more than 10 years old, Belén was entirely self-sufficient when it came to working with natural elements like fire that left me at a complete loss. She showed me which twigs to gather as preliminary firewood, how to search for the remnants of warm embers under the dust that had gathered overnight, and how to crouch down and blow on them until that incredible moment when the oxygen and embers ignite into a flame. I'm proud to say that I was able to make my own fire by the end of my trip thanks to a lot of help from the kids.
These children were some of the happiest kids I've ever been around. I was lucky that they let me into their world and shared with me the wonders of the river, the stars and their nighttime gatherings around the fire. I often didn't understand what they were saying, but our smiles and laughs communicated almost everything. When organizing activities for us to do together, I tried to think of things that would be fun for them and beneficial for the community. Drawing was an automatic hit. I brought a large packet of markers and blank paper for them to use. Every afternoon during the siesta, kids would gather on my front stoop. I would dole out the paper and markers, and they would draw their surroundings - the garden behind the school, the goats, the river, the fire, their families. It was amazing for me to see the world through their eyes. I also brought four kites, and we flew them various afternoons on the dusty soccer field and on the beach down by the river.
Our trash clean-up competition was another activity that had a positive effect on the community. I teamed up with Pablo, a grade school teacher in the community, and Damian, who is in charge of health, to organize the kids to pick up as much trash as they could find. We got about 50 kids involved and filled a large ditch with trash to burn (which was probably not good for the environment) and then bury the remnants. We also separated out the old batteries so that we could properly dispose of them and not contaminate the environment. Though that one activity will not change custom of throwing trash on the ground, it was a positive and fun step that allowed the kids to realize that there is another option when it comes to trash disposal.
I was left with one question at the end of my stay in La Estrella: how could Redes Solidarias increase the positive effort it is having in the community (and possibly work with other communities) while also continuing to respect the Chorote culture. I believe the answer lies in a continual dialogue with community members in the future while also creating the right incentives for youth in the community to pursue further education and to have access to economic opportunities.
Regina Lee
Spanish 
English 
