And the strike continues.... but at least we have toothbrushes!

So, the teacher’s strike continues. This is week three, and the school year just started about five weeks ago. Why are the striking? Some say it’s because the government is taking their retirement money. Some say it’s because they haven’t been paid since last year. Some say it’s because there is talk of privatizing public education. But most say that they honestly don’t know. Teachers, who have more or less abandoned their classes two weeks into the school year, after last year when their students lost 2 full months of classes, are unable to give you a legitimate reason for the indefinite strike. That is not to say that they don’t have the right to be upset… though I don’t understand the ins and outs of Honduran politics, I can empathize with them in the sense that they are not being treated justly by the government. Do I, however, think that is a justification for a nation wide teacher’s strike that began before the teacher’s unions even tried negotiating with the government? Absolutely not. It’s a messy situation, but robbing the future of this country of their right to an education is probably the worst way to solve things… talk about hindering development! (photo to the left is a school without students- looks abandoned!)

A lot of Youth volunteers find themselves at a loss during the strikes, as many of us are assigned to the schools. No school no work. I am not assigned to a single school, and as grateful as I am for that, I am still hard pressed to stay busy. During strikes, kids sometimes seem to disappear, and forget about trying to train teachers because they don’t want to hear it. There were 27 teachers signed up to take a course about teaching English and methodology with me, and not one showed up to the introduction meeting last week. Thankfully my IHNFA kids still come, since that’s their only opportunity to eat decent meals! My counterpart that went with me to the Yo Merezco training (self-esteem/abstinence program for girls) came back super excited to start the program, which was wonderful! We’ve been waiting to see how the strike pans out, as we had a proposal all set for the public schools, but since it’s looking like it could be a while, we are going to try and start it with one of the private bilingual schools in town.


Yesterday I went on the radio to talk to an audience of about 5,000 about respect, and how in such a beautiful community with such hospitable people, it is a shame to see such a lack of it, especially towards women, when you walk down the street. I pleaded with parents to talk to their children about how they should treat everyone with dignity and respect, because unfortunately the examples that they see on the streets are giving the opposite message. And I asked mototaxi drivers to be more careful and responsible, because when they turn around while driving to cat-call girls, they could very easily hit a child, or a dog, or drive off the road- it’s dangerous! I was nervous about offending people so I made equal commentary about how great the people I know here are, and I thanked them for taking care of me and treating me like part of their family, and that working with their kids has been the best job I have ever had, then I asked them to work together with me to try and break this vicious cycle, maybe not in Honduras as a whole, but at least within our community. I also didn’t say my name, nor did I say I was affiliated with Peace Corps, nor any other details that could give me away- they just knew I was a North American volunteer. There are plenty of foreigners that pass through my town that I am not worried, and afterwards, the guy in charge of the radio thanked me so much and he said I delivered my message perfectly, it was something people needed to hear, and no one should be offended. Then he said I could come back any time! If these strikes continue, I might take him up on his offer and give some parenting charlas via the radio.

My colgate program is off and running! I have never seen kids so excited about brushing their teeth! In the States, it’s a chore for most kids, but here, for most of them it’s the first time they’ve ever had a toothbrush, and we make it fun, so they LOVE IT! While they brush, I sing, and they shake their hips to the beat, and it’s the most adorable thing I have ever seen. PLEASE everyone at home, switch to colgate for your dental hygiene products! They donate so many brushes and toothpaste every year to kids in developing countries, it is such a fabulous program! I have always been an avid aquafresh endorser (tri-colored toothpaste, how could you NOT endorse that?), but now I feel inclined to switch too.

That is about it for now… hopefully the teachers reach an agreement of some sort with the government soon…. this is RIDICULOUS. In the meantime, I continue teaching good dental health habits, doing story hour and reading/writing activities, pressuring the local government to give me money so I can start Yo Merezco in the private schools, and contemplating what to do with my new found power at the radio station. Also, I just booked my flight home for August!!! I will land in Red Sox Nation August 9th in time to fulfill my maid of honor duties as my big sister gets married!!