 Enlace 2006"My world view has expanded so much ..."In the summer of 2006, eight Ontario youth, along with 2 leaders left for Guatemala to participate in Enlace (Spanish for "to weave together"). Together, they spent the next 5 weeks, learning Spanish, getting introduced to the history and culture and then working along-side local Guatemalans in a variety of work projects.
Much of their time was spent in the Santiago area, a part of the country that was hit especially hard by mudslides following the September 2005 Hurricane Stan.
"We didn't hear a lot about it here," says leader Allan Reesor-McDowell, "but people lost everything. We saw places that overnight became one mass grave."
With money they put into the trip, the Enlace group purchased over 2,200 trees and spent 4 days planting them. This also included fruit trees that will eventually become a source of income for local families. Planting trees along the hillsides may not prevent the massive mudslides that can occur during a hurricane but plantings do help prevent erosion during the normal rainy seasons.
"Enlace was so different than the 'touristy' kind of travel," says first year university student Monica Shank. "My world view has expanded so much. I've already looked into university courses on Central America and world issues. It's all so much more real now."
"I have so much more respect for MCC and its method of operating", exclaims Shank. "MCC leaves people with dignity. It's not just hand-outs." |
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