MEN & WOMEN FOR
OTHERS
about global poverty in a way where we don’t romanticize the ability of a family to live on very little,” Paul continued. Keeping the conversations on track was critical for accomplishing this goal. “I think the most constructive conversation is investigating and interrogating the roots of the poverty we encounter, not making fruitless comparisons to our context, and not over-generalizing, but staying focused on the context.”
Lasting Impression Some student volunteers realized that they’d like to do more work in the area of social justice. The families they encountered left lasting impressions. Nelcida Garcia ’15 hopes to share her experience and the mission of the WBC with as many people as possible. She explained, “I want to educate my community about the hardships faced by the Ecuadorian families I had the pleasure of meeting this past summer. I also want to encourage others to volunteer or donate to the Working Boys Center, because it really does everything it claims to do and more.” Paul said he saw growth in several students during their stay in Quito. “They were thinking really long-term about their lives and about the orientation their careers would take. It was amazing to see,” he recounted. “On the last day, we were having a closing ritual and reflection, and some of the students voiced new insights and new desires about wanting to help people as a vocation or as a career. That was impressive.” Cassandra Iverson ’14 was another student on whom the trip to Quito had a strong impact. “One of my paths may lead me—quite happily—back to the WBC as a year-long volunteer, or perhaps to another organization for others,” she stated. Iverson recalled meeting Gloria, an elderly adult in WBC’s program. “She was learning the alphabet and basic literacy,” Iverson said. “She had never known that she was deserving of an education. She smiled as if the sun would never set, the grass would never brown and as though each moment was precious.” Afterward, Iverson reflected on what she had witnessed. “I want more people to learn their worth, to know that even though I do not know them, I love them. We were not there just for the trip. We were there for the people.”
Opposite page: There was time for work and play—Valentina Osario ’16, Nelcida Garcia ’15, Renee Brzyski ’13 and Sunita Kumar ’14 at the Working Boys Center; Renee Brzyski ’13 giving a little girl a lift. Above: Richard Palma ’15, Sunita Kumar ’14 and Roger Arias ’15 help children in class; Renee Brzyski ’13 gives a boy a piggyback ride.
Saint Peter’s University
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