Ecuador Trip Reflection

The trip to Ecuador was a very enlightening experience. Everyone is aware that there is poverty in the world. What I learned in Ecuador is that there are solutions to this problem not by the means of financial support but through education. Lao Tzu once said “Give a man a fish you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a life time.” The Working Boys Center and all of its members follow this motto as they strive to lessen the effects of poverty and hunger in Quito. Instead of simply giving meals or money, the Center educates the people so that they can get out of their difficult situations.
As the first couple days had gone by I found myself having a lot of fun during my time spent with the kids, wither it was engaging in a competitive game of soccer or swinging them around in the air. It was incredible to see these people with so much joy even though they were living in poverty. This was all good and fun but I struggled to find meaning with this and I questioned the impact I was having on the people. After all, I was down there to help no to play. As the trip progressed it was more of the same, I enjoyed myself the entire time touring the city along with playing and teaching the kids, but still did not know what I was to take from this experience.
One night as we were reflecting it finally dawned on me. As Mr. Mullen explained that we are a part of a process and that we are not here to solve the problems of the people or change their live in ten days, but to simply give them hope. As these families see us making an effort to help them, they realize that there are many people willing to do the same. This made me understand that all of the time I spent in the center actually did have meaning to the kids and their families. I did not have to break my back doing manual labor, I simply needed to comfort them and show them that there is hope and that someday they will be out of poverty. Besides taking back home with me a great experience, I take back home with me a great challenge; the challenge to come home and spread the message of the Working Boys Center that there is a solution to poverty through education.

-P.J. Abelein