Heeeeelllloooo SuperForest!
Like I promised I am here for my next journey into the wonderful realm of Simply Smiles. I am sorry it is rather late, it has been a long day. And as SuperForester Heather said, I just couldn’t make time.
For the first instalment: click here!
When I got back from Mexico the first time I felt changed. And understandably. More than that, I felt excited! Ready to help and make a change. But what plague me was how. Bryan had told us before leaving that our journey was just beginning. We were now beginning our part as ambassadors of Simply Smiles; witnesses of what we had all lived and experienced together. Our responsibility was to share this with all (much like SuperForest thrives and strives to do). At the time I didn’t know how. I shared it with my friends and family. I struggled living back in the western civilisation. I help present our trip to the whole school. I started to plan a concert fund-raiser with Kristen that sadly fell through because of many factors (but the drive for doing this is still very alive in my heart, and one day shall become reality). Time went on and I tried as much as possible to share my experience with all I met along the path, but still it all felt inadequate. So, of course when our second trip was announced I was one of the first to jump on board. I was so excited for this! Bryan had talked about a new project while we were in Mexico the first time, and now that project was on going. Our group was going to be the first youth group to head down for this project. We were all very excited.
March of 2010 we left for Oaxaca, Mexico yet again. We had new faces and some old, but the feeling was the same. Except this time I knew the faces of Alejandro, Olé, Tino, and all the other kids at Casa Hogar would be greeting me soon! I kept my promise to all of them when I had left last year. I told them, “Uno años,” or one year. And now I was back!
This time we weren’t staying at Casa Hogar, but at the under construction Simply Smiles Headquarters where we would be helping bringing it up to functionality. Here are some pictures of the HQ:
Freshly painted building
Our tents at HQ
A fresh in progress tiling job
But we also spent plenty of time with the kids!!
Hanging at Casa Hogar
The first few days of the trip were spent in Oaxaca, Oaxaca. We had to depart from Casa Hogar once again. But I left with the same promise I did last year, “Uno años.” We then packed up and headed out for the next leg of our adventure, and the next project. We took a whole day driving across the state of Oaxaca to our new location. The ride their was spectacular!
Some spectacular views
We soon arrived in the middle of the jungle ready for our next task. We had a few days to move 12 tons of food from storage to our camp site, and then repackage it to make it ready for 2,500 people. This was the new project, also known as “The Village Project.” Again here is some background. Simply Smiles teamed up with a great name guy Juan. He was working at Casa Hogar, after living their as an orphan, but now is fully fledged employee of Simply Smiles. And about a year or so ago Bryan asked Juan where people really needed help. He told Bryan it was at his home. The people there hadn’t seen modern medicine, a white person, and much more we all take for granted. Bryan was the first white guy many of the village, and surrounding villages had seen. The village we are located in is far from the main city, almost near the cost. Here’s a map:
We are towards the south end, close to the Pacific
The village we stayed in had around 30 people. The mountains around us had many micro communities of families trying to scrape a living. It was our job to give them the basic nutrition to simply survive. There is no other way to put except, before Simply Smiles came along these human beings were starving to death. But as always it started with becoming friends, and with the amount of mistrust these people have with white people (because some time ago or so some came and kidnapped their children) it has been a difficult task. Juan and his family have been beyond helpful! The next bit I will show to you all in pictures and video, because I know my words will fail me. First, I will show you Bryan’s own introduction to the project, he describes better that I ever could.
Before I begin, however, I should mention that since we are working under the Simply Smiles philosophy this day wasn’t just us handing out food. It was a day of celebration. It is known as “La Fiesta,” the party! We play with the kids, share food, and talk all while also handing out our monthly supply of much needed food.
our camp, about to hold our expected 2,500 people
Moving the food to camp. Items included: rice, beans, oil, candy, soap, sugar
Getting ready for the Fiesta!
Taking a much needed break with the locals!
All food ready to go, phew! Now the real party begins
Everyone waiting to get in and get their monthly package
The most important part of the day, having fun! We did face paints, played tag, broke bread, and more!
A bird's-eye view of the day
People walked over a days journey to get this food, so they could survive. We received 2,963 people that day. Way more than we had thought. We were devastated by the number. Each month it had been increasing and we were hoping it would slow down, it did the opposite. Bryan had said the night before, “I hope there isn’t more than 2,500, not because we don’t have the food, but because I would be devastated by that number increasing.” We ended up having to face the dilemma of running out of food. Beans ran short, but every family was fed in the end. The last thing we ever wanted to do, as it would have broken all of our hearts, was turn a family around and say sorry. Fortunately that hasn’t happened.
Some of you may be asking yourselves how Simply Smiles plans to keep doing this every month. That isn’t the plan. Long term goals are set to reintroduce the coffee industry in the area through Simply Smiles Coffee! This is an effort to bring back self-sustainability for these people. Perhaps one day permaculture will take its grips there too!
For more info on “The Village Project” click here.
If you remember Kristen’s song, Keep Hope, from my first Sunday Sunshine post, then you might remember the story she told about the girl with no name. That story is true, and it came from this gathering. There is a girl with no name who comes with her family to get their monthly food. Her family loves her dearly, but when she was born they were so worried by just keeping her alive they didn’t name her. She is now known as No Name, as no other name would stick. She is a beautiful girl, with vast amounts of potential, if only she was given the chance. That is what Simply Smiles is trying to do. Give a chance, a hope, a life. Many of the children Simply Smiles works with have the same dreams all children have. They want to be doctors, policeman, fireman, and even lawyers. But what hope have they if the can’t leave a dump, or if they can’t even eat a daily meal? Simply Smiles gives them that chance. Currently one student is studying in the U.S. now and two others are studying in Mexico City!
That is the power that Bryan is creating for these peoples. He and the Simply Smiles organisation are creating hope for brighter futures. We all at SuperForest commend you!
Please lend out a SuperForest helping hand to Simply Smiles by visiting their website, here!
And for their facebook page, go here!
I am sure there is much I am missing, so please do go visit their website to learn more on what they are doing. Change is always in the air for Simply Smiles, as it always is for SuperForest. I promise you will all feel at home. There is much more to come from Simply Smiles! Stay tuned for more news about Simply Smiles right here on SuperForest! And as SuperForester Kristen will tell you…
SIMPLY SMILE!
Have a great week everyone,
SuperForester Mathew
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