Thursday, 06 August 2009 14:00

One Volunteer Spanning Two Continents

Hello, my name is Robin Park. I am currently in Quezaltenango, Guatemala serving as a volunteer with Good Neighbors. I have been in Guatemala for four months. Prior to coming to Guatemala, I spent the last year serving as a volunteer in Kenya. I have had the privilege to serve in two countries where Good Neighbors is hard at work. As such, I am often asked to compare these two countries separated by oceans of water.

But this seemingly simple question sometimes leaves me with no idea how to answer. I mean, it's not a question of good or bad. The people of both countries struggle just to get through the day. I fear that my words may underestimate the plight that they go through. We must not regard their situations lightly.

The Korogocho slum of Nairobi is nothing more than a giant dump site. The people of this community rummage through trash and waste in their quest to find something to eat. This is their life. Can you imagine this? Large, ugly vultures circle the skies, searching and waiting for death. People sift through the debris even as diseased pigs and dogs roam the dump site. These people have barely enough clothes and don't even have shoes. Yet, they do this on daily basis just to survive, living in a place where the smell is unbearable. It's a terrible thing to see. And once you see it with your own eyes, you can't help but think to yourself, “I've been so lucky.”

Just as recently as three years ago, I was nothing more than a young student who didn't have a care in the world. I simply enjoyed my life, traveling abroad. The word “help” was foreign to me. But once I witnessed the terrible conditions in Korogocho, my world was turned upside down. It was the biggest shock of my life.

So, I was determined to volunteer, here in this desolate place. I taught Taekwondo to the people of the community. For those unfamiliar with Taekwondo, it is a Korean form of martial arts. Many people participated in the classes I taught. They were well mannered and respectful of one another. They were never late to class. They always kept their equipment well cleaned and the gym in good condition. They enjoyed it a great deal.

After the class was over, I asked the students what part of the classes they enjoyed the most. “All parts of Taekwondo. The Poom-sae (stances), the kicking, the self-defense,” they responded. Then they continued, “But the best part, the most important thing, is that you are with us and we are with you.”

I was floored by this answer. I realized that Taekwondo was not important to them. Fighting is a daily thing for them; they fight daily to survive. What was important was the fact that some guy from Asia came halfway across the world to share his life with them and express his concern about their lives. It gave them a measure of comfort.

The only reason they are fighting poverty is because they were born in Africa. They didn't choose their heritage, culture, or race. It's not their fault that their parents were Kenyan. They don't deserve this. And they don't need our pity, but they do need our compassion.

It's no longer a question of “well, how can I help?” There are many ways to help; many ways to impact the people existing and struggling in third world nations. One way to begin is to visit the Good Neighbors website. Just take some time to explore the site, and see all the possible ways that you can bring change to people around the world.

I'm left with these words, “People who have witnessed the truth, bear the responsibility to act.” We have witnessed the reality. Now we must act.