As I arrived to Casa Alianza this morning, I was greeted to the sight of one of our new young kids living at Casa Alianza, covered in blood after inflicting self-harm to his arm with a piece of glass. Sadly, its not the first time I have seen such a sight.
Sometimes, it can be hard to remember the horrific and traumatic background that many of our kids have gone through, and a sight like this brings it all crashing back. To see a young boy like this, who, without knowing his story looks like a normal and healthy teenager, covered in blood after trying to damage himself so severely, really makes me focus once again on the horrendous injustices faced by far too many young people. For any young person forced into a situation where they feel such drastic action is there only escape, then it once again reinforces the importance of working to protect, support, and show love and understanding to these kids.
On the other side of things, I continue working in my area of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation to try and provide as many sustainable projects and events as I can to help, in some way, provide that sense of love and understanding. All the members of Casa Alianza Nicaragua continue doing a really remarkable job to try and make that all-too necessary difference.
To conclude this little entry, I guess my work today was left me with a somewhat bitter-sweet feeling. I spent the weekend at the Laguna de Apoyo, a volcanic crater lake, and one of the most beautiful spots I have ever seen in the world. It is a strange contrast when after being surrounded by such beauty during the weekend, to come back and be greeted by such a difference. It is tough when dealing with such a contrast, but only further inspires me to keep trying to do what I can.
About Me
- Simon Walters
- My name is Simon Walters - I work for Casa Alianza Nicaragua. Casa Alianza Nicaragua is a non-profit NGO, working to protect, support and rehabilitate children living on streets, victims of abuse, violence, abandonment, commercial and sexual exploitation and human trafficking. I work as a specialist member of staff, coordinating healthy and sustainable activities for the kids in our protection, and on the international development side of things - working with all the Casa Alianza sites in Latin America. I hold a MA in International Law and Human Rights from the United Nations University for Peace, and a MA in History from the University of Edinburgh. I am very involved in the Model United Nations, and in 2009 served as the Founding Secretary General of Mostar International Model United Nations, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I also have experience in English teaching, coaching public speaking and debating, acting and radio presenting.
Monday, 21 March 2011
Friday, 4 March 2011
Just by being there.......
For those of you who saw my last little update, you will know that I am currently off work after busting up my leg in the football tournament. All is well, however, and the game of hopping around Managua on crutches trying to avoid the multiple potholes has become quite enjoyable!
So anyway, this update is, as promised, not to speak about life on crutches.
Yesterday I went into Casa Alianza. I was limited in terms of what I could do, but mainly I wanted to show to the kids that I had no forgotten them, and that my absence was due to the cast on my leg and the two adjacent crutches. It was in the first place a very humbling experience to be told by many of the kids that they miss having me about. As I have said in a previous entry, a large proportion of my work involves simply hanging out and being there with the kids, and it is nice to see that doing this makes a difference and a presence.
Secondly, my visit has reinforced the concept of trust in working with kids who come from such traumatic backgrounds. Sadly these kids are used to people coming in and out of their lives on a frequent and abrupt basis, thus making healthy relations based around love and friendship far more difficult. What so many of these kids need, therefore, is people like the members of staff at Casa Alianza, who are there for them, and are willing to show support and understanding even in difficult times, and just simply are willing to be there with them. Even yesterday, by being there and not doing much, just mainly hopping around and spending time with the kids, can help a lot.
So to conclude, I guess this is one of the weirdest things about making a difference, that sometimes doing a little does a lot. To all of the members of staff who devote themselves to being with the kids, supporting and helping them, by being there with them, they are making a remarkable difference. For as long as I can, I hope to keep trying to doso as well.
So anyway, this update is, as promised, not to speak about life on crutches.
Yesterday I went into Casa Alianza. I was limited in terms of what I could do, but mainly I wanted to show to the kids that I had no forgotten them, and that my absence was due to the cast on my leg and the two adjacent crutches. It was in the first place a very humbling experience to be told by many of the kids that they miss having me about. As I have said in a previous entry, a large proportion of my work involves simply hanging out and being there with the kids, and it is nice to see that doing this makes a difference and a presence.
Secondly, my visit has reinforced the concept of trust in working with kids who come from such traumatic backgrounds. Sadly these kids are used to people coming in and out of their lives on a frequent and abrupt basis, thus making healthy relations based around love and friendship far more difficult. What so many of these kids need, therefore, is people like the members of staff at Casa Alianza, who are there for them, and are willing to show support and understanding even in difficult times, and just simply are willing to be there with them. Even yesterday, by being there and not doing much, just mainly hopping around and spending time with the kids, can help a lot.
So to conclude, I guess this is one of the weirdest things about making a difference, that sometimes doing a little does a lot. To all of the members of staff who devote themselves to being with the kids, supporting and helping them, by being there with them, they are making a remarkable difference. For as long as I can, I hope to keep trying to doso as well.
Monday, 28 February 2011
Out of office reply
For those of you who read this blog regularly......
I managed to twist up my ankle whilst referring the football tournament last week, and now have won a cast on my leg, and the opportunity to walk for two weeks on crutches.
This unfortuantely means I need to be taking some time off work, and so for those of you expecting updates, I'm afraid you might have to wait a little longer. I would write about my life hoping around my house and Managua on crutches, but I guess that might be a bit boring!
I managed to twist up my ankle whilst referring the football tournament last week, and now have won a cast on my leg, and the opportunity to walk for two weeks on crutches.
This unfortuantely means I need to be taking some time off work, and so for those of you expecting updates, I'm afraid you might have to wait a little longer. I would write about my life hoping around my house and Managua on crutches, but I guess that might be a bit boring!
Saturday, 19 February 2011
Trying to find a healthy sense of belonging, away from drugs and gangs
For most people (well by that I mean me) Valentine's Day is possibly one of the least anticipated days of the year. It is either one which involves spending excesses amount of money, or defending yourself to your friends as to why you are single.
For the kids at Casa Alianza, Valentine's Day is, howevert, a different matter. Many of the kids, when they become residents at Casa Alianza, have been forced to leave behind loved ones who weren't willing to follow in their recuperation process, or many even have been forced to leave behind their own kids, while they try to get their lives back on track. In this context, Valentine's Day - or the Day of Love and Friendship as it is known in this part of the world, can be a very tough one for many kids.
As such, this year at Casa Alianza Nicaragua we planned a whole day event to give all the kids and members of staff the sense of the love and friendship that nearly all have lost in their lives. The day started with a special ceremony in which those who had managed to get through certain lengths of time without taking drugs were rewarded for their efforts.
In the afternoon we planned a big sports day event with various team and individual athletic events. The idea was that through sports, healthy competition and the power of team work, we would be able to provide the kids with the sense of belonging which many of them desperately crave, and as such previously looked for refuge in drugs or in gangs.
............
Yesterday we also held another major event, again with the intention of using sports and culture to help kids find healthy and sustainable solutions to give them that sense of belonging, instead of turning to drugs, being forced into the sex industry, or gang membership.
We held a big national football tournament right by Managua's Old Catherdral, where teams participated from Casa Alianza and other recovery centers across the country, as well as teams formed by members of some of Managua's poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods.
I was referee for the whole event.
I have no doubt that many of the kids I was referring are robbers and possibly worse, recovering or still addicted consumers of drugs. They are basically kids that are easy to forget or deemed best to be ignored and left alone, so they don't rob you.
But through events such as these, it is firstly possibly that these drug addicts and gang members are just normal kids, in need of normal things. Little events like a football tournament gave them the chance to behave the way a normal teenager should, being seen as equals, and not robbers and drug addicts.
...........
What both of these events have shown to me, is that like any kids, the kids of Casa Alianza and Nicaragua need a sense of love, friendship and belonging. The easiest way to find this was on the streets, the gangs or in drugs.
Through events such as these two have I described, bit by bit, we can go about giving kids a healthy alternative, providing them with the values that they need, in a healthy and sustainable way.
For the kids at Casa Alianza, Valentine's Day is, howevert, a different matter. Many of the kids, when they become residents at Casa Alianza, have been forced to leave behind loved ones who weren't willing to follow in their recuperation process, or many even have been forced to leave behind their own kids, while they try to get their lives back on track. In this context, Valentine's Day - or the Day of Love and Friendship as it is known in this part of the world, can be a very tough one for many kids.
As such, this year at Casa Alianza Nicaragua we planned a whole day event to give all the kids and members of staff the sense of the love and friendship that nearly all have lost in their lives. The day started with a special ceremony in which those who had managed to get through certain lengths of time without taking drugs were rewarded for their efforts.
In the afternoon we planned a big sports day event with various team and individual athletic events. The idea was that through sports, healthy competition and the power of team work, we would be able to provide the kids with the sense of belonging which many of them desperately crave, and as such previously looked for refuge in drugs or in gangs.
............
Yesterday we also held another major event, again with the intention of using sports and culture to help kids find healthy and sustainable solutions to give them that sense of belonging, instead of turning to drugs, being forced into the sex industry, or gang membership.
We held a big national football tournament right by Managua's Old Catherdral, where teams participated from Casa Alianza and other recovery centers across the country, as well as teams formed by members of some of Managua's poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods.
I was referee for the whole event.
I have no doubt that many of the kids I was referring are robbers and possibly worse, recovering or still addicted consumers of drugs. They are basically kids that are easy to forget or deemed best to be ignored and left alone, so they don't rob you.
But through events such as these, it is firstly possibly that these drug addicts and gang members are just normal kids, in need of normal things. Little events like a football tournament gave them the chance to behave the way a normal teenager should, being seen as equals, and not robbers and drug addicts.
...........
What both of these events have shown to me, is that like any kids, the kids of Casa Alianza and Nicaragua need a sense of love, friendship and belonging. The easiest way to find this was on the streets, the gangs or in drugs.
Through events such as these two have I described, bit by bit, we can go about giving kids a healthy alternative, providing them with the values that they need, in a healthy and sustainable way.
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Digging Deep
So instead of continuing a story about one of the kids, this time I thought I would write to share a bit about my personal feelings in this line of work.
The truth is, as I have already said to many people, there are many times when I feel I have the best job in the world, but there is an almost equal number of times when I feel it is all too much and I find myself longing for some of the comforts I had before. Due to the intensity of this work, there is very little in -between.
I am in contact on a daily basis with around 90 kids, between the ages of 12 and 18. Seeing as all of the kids come from very traumatic backgrounds of living on the streets, drug addiction, sexual exploitation and human trafficking, they are never going to be an easy group of people to work with. As such, perhaps the toughest thing I have had learn is to keep my patience. To learn how to encourage a kid to behave properly etc, but at the same not losing my patience when a kid is repeatedly rude, or when a kid repeatedly decides that they prefer finding a corner of the building to sleep in, rather than participating in sessions. Nearly every day I find myself in situations where at least one kid deliberately or unintentionally will do something which challenges me, or the other kids, or other members of staff. Keeping patient whilst dealing with situations such as this on a daily base is tough, it requires at many times for me to dig deep within myself, but it is possible.
The other area where I have had to train myself in this line of work is in terms of taking initiatives. Due to the how it is around here, a fixed and organised schedule doesn’t always work. If you want to organise something that would be of benefit to the kids, you have to take the initiative to do so. The trouble is, it can sometimes be very difficult to find that initiative. Sometimes it feels a lot easier to bow -out rather than break through all the challenges presented by the kids themselves. There are many times when I have had to dig-deep within myself not to look for an escape (in the same way we tell the kids not to escape by climbing the wall), but instead to stay there with the kids, to work through the challenges and do something that might really benefit this very vulnerable group of people.
I will keep digging deep to do all that I can. Mainly because I love doing what I do. Digging this deep on a daily basis is however very very tough. But the fact is when we dig deep to help these kids, we can really help them, so I will keep doing so!
The truth is, as I have already said to many people, there are many times when I feel I have the best job in the world, but there is an almost equal number of times when I feel it is all too much and I find myself longing for some of the comforts I had before. Due to the intensity of this work, there is very little in -between.
I am in contact on a daily basis with around 90 kids, between the ages of 12 and 18. Seeing as all of the kids come from very traumatic backgrounds of living on the streets, drug addiction, sexual exploitation and human trafficking, they are never going to be an easy group of people to work with. As such, perhaps the toughest thing I have had learn is to keep my patience. To learn how to encourage a kid to behave properly etc, but at the same not losing my patience when a kid is repeatedly rude, or when a kid repeatedly decides that they prefer finding a corner of the building to sleep in, rather than participating in sessions. Nearly every day I find myself in situations where at least one kid deliberately or unintentionally will do something which challenges me, or the other kids, or other members of staff. Keeping patient whilst dealing with situations such as this on a daily base is tough, it requires at many times for me to dig deep within myself, but it is possible.
The other area where I have had to train myself in this line of work is in terms of taking initiatives. Due to the how it is around here, a fixed and organised schedule doesn’t always work. If you want to organise something that would be of benefit to the kids, you have to take the initiative to do so. The trouble is, it can sometimes be very difficult to find that initiative. Sometimes it feels a lot easier to bow -out rather than break through all the challenges presented by the kids themselves. There are many times when I have had to dig-deep within myself not to look for an escape (in the same way we tell the kids not to escape by climbing the wall), but instead to stay there with the kids, to work through the challenges and do something that might really benefit this very vulnerable group of people.
I will keep digging deep to do all that I can. Mainly because I love doing what I do. Digging this deep on a daily basis is however very very tough. But the fact is when we dig deep to help these kids, we can really help them, so I will keep doing so!
Sunday, 30 January 2011
A story of remarkable courage......if only that was enough to mean a happy ending!
Gemma, as I will call her for the purpose of this update is 14 years old. At least we think she is 14, as we don’t have any official documentation for her.
Gemma currently lives in our teenage mothers home, although she herself does not have any children. Instead, she lives there taking care of her two sisters, one who is 5 years old, the other one 2 years old.
To give it a bit of context, Gemma and her sisters are from Costa Rica. Gemma was forced into the world of commercial sexual exploitation by her own mother and step-father. She was taken to Panama, Guatemala and El Salvador where she was no-doubt forced to unbearable and unimaginable things.
Now under the protection of Casa Alianza Nicaragua, Gemma lives with her two sisters. She, with the help of the Casa Alianza legal team, successfully won a court case against her own mother so that she would gain custody of these two younger girls so that they would not be subjected to the same fate at the hands of their own family. It is difficult for her, but she takes care of these two girls as if there were her own children.
Out of anyone I have worked with at Casa Alianza, Gemma is one of those who have had one of the most profound impacts on me. She has been robbed of her childhood and adolescence in the most brutal of ways. Despite this she has been willing to take on one of the most difficult burdens and care for her sisters as if they were her own daughters, so that they will not be subjected to the same fate.
The courage and strength she has shown to do this, in spite of all of the pain she herself has gone through, really is one of the most remarkable things I have ever seen.
Its, of course, never going to be plain-sailing. We have found Gemma inflicting self-harm, taking out her pain and sadness on herself. Despite this she remains a girl who inspires me in almost about everything she does, and it is at times difficult to understand this courage and strengths she shows, at least most of the time.
Unfortunately in this part of the world, a story of remarkable courage does not mean a happy ending. Gemma and her two sisters will be leaving Casa Alianza next week, for reasons beyond our or her control. I will continue this story in my next update, but we are currently all very concerned about this future of this wonderful girl and her sisters, and I can only hope that at some point she will be given the right to enjoy her childhood and her adolescence that she has been brutally robbed of and so greatly deserves.
Gemma currently lives in our teenage mothers home, although she herself does not have any children. Instead, she lives there taking care of her two sisters, one who is 5 years old, the other one 2 years old.
To give it a bit of context, Gemma and her sisters are from Costa Rica. Gemma was forced into the world of commercial sexual exploitation by her own mother and step-father. She was taken to Panama, Guatemala and El Salvador where she was no-doubt forced to unbearable and unimaginable things.
Now under the protection of Casa Alianza Nicaragua, Gemma lives with her two sisters. She, with the help of the Casa Alianza legal team, successfully won a court case against her own mother so that she would gain custody of these two younger girls so that they would not be subjected to the same fate at the hands of their own family. It is difficult for her, but she takes care of these two girls as if there were her own children.
Out of anyone I have worked with at Casa Alianza, Gemma is one of those who have had one of the most profound impacts on me. She has been robbed of her childhood and adolescence in the most brutal of ways. Despite this she has been willing to take on one of the most difficult burdens and care for her sisters as if they were her own daughters, so that they will not be subjected to the same fate.
The courage and strength she has shown to do this, in spite of all of the pain she herself has gone through, really is one of the most remarkable things I have ever seen.
Its, of course, never going to be plain-sailing. We have found Gemma inflicting self-harm, taking out her pain and sadness on herself. Despite this she remains a girl who inspires me in almost about everything she does, and it is at times difficult to understand this courage and strengths she shows, at least most of the time.
Unfortunately in this part of the world, a story of remarkable courage does not mean a happy ending. Gemma and her two sisters will be leaving Casa Alianza next week, for reasons beyond our or her control. I will continue this story in my next update, but we are currently all very concerned about this future of this wonderful girl and her sisters, and I can only hope that at some point she will be given the right to enjoy her childhood and her adolescence that she has been brutally robbed of and so greatly deserves.
Saturday, 22 January 2011
A long overdue update.....Maria's story
Its time for a long overdue update.......
I took a very welcome break to the US over the new years, and since getting back to Nicaragua, its been great being back at work.
One of the biggest successes since coming back, is that many of the kids, the ones I spoke about in my last entry, who stayed at Casa Alianza over Christmas, really seem to be improving.
Maria, for example, is a 14 year old girl, and was a formerly coerced into the sex industry working at Managua's Mercado Oriental, one of the most dangerous places in the city.
When she first came to Casa Alianza her body was scarred and bruised. She would often shiver as she was trying to get off the drugs in which she had previously taken refuge. I would often find her sitting sullenly somewhere around the buildings, with a hood covering her face. She was a very timid girl, and found it difficult to speak to people for long periods of time.
Despite the hard times, Maria stayed at Casa Alianza during the christmas period. I had a long chat with her before I left as I knew she was finding it exceptionally difficult, but at the same time I knew she was desperate to change her life.
Maria has now been at Casa Alianza for 2 and a half months, and although she still has difficult moments, she is now far more what we might call a 'normal' teenage girl. She is lively and happy, and no longer feels the need to hide herself away. The improved self-confidence in her is apparent and wonderful to see. I am convinced that if she stays with us, then the chance of her getting back into society, and being able to live a 'normal' and happy life, are much greater.
There have been difficult and sad times as well, and I will no doubt be sharing those, but for the time being, I wanted to start this first entry of 2011 on a happy note.
And although this is belated, I wish you all a very happy and inspiring 2011!
With love,
Simon
I took a very welcome break to the US over the new years, and since getting back to Nicaragua, its been great being back at work.
One of the biggest successes since coming back, is that many of the kids, the ones I spoke about in my last entry, who stayed at Casa Alianza over Christmas, really seem to be improving.
Maria, for example, is a 14 year old girl, and was a formerly coerced into the sex industry working at Managua's Mercado Oriental, one of the most dangerous places in the city.
When she first came to Casa Alianza her body was scarred and bruised. She would often shiver as she was trying to get off the drugs in which she had previously taken refuge. I would often find her sitting sullenly somewhere around the buildings, with a hood covering her face. She was a very timid girl, and found it difficult to speak to people for long periods of time.
Despite the hard times, Maria stayed at Casa Alianza during the christmas period. I had a long chat with her before I left as I knew she was finding it exceptionally difficult, but at the same time I knew she was desperate to change her life.
Maria has now been at Casa Alianza for 2 and a half months, and although she still has difficult moments, she is now far more what we might call a 'normal' teenage girl. She is lively and happy, and no longer feels the need to hide herself away. The improved self-confidence in her is apparent and wonderful to see. I am convinced that if she stays with us, then the chance of her getting back into society, and being able to live a 'normal' and happy life, are much greater.
There have been difficult and sad times as well, and I will no doubt be sharing those, but for the time being, I wanted to start this first entry of 2011 on a happy note.
And although this is belated, I wish you all a very happy and inspiring 2011!
With love,
Simon
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