“It would be easy to simply write about the dire poverty, some of the worst I have seen in that area, because it is so apparent. It is everywhere you look. As you turn off the Pan-American Highway, you enter an almost forgotten land. The trip down the dirt road that leads to these communities is painstakingly slow, even in our four-wheel drive. It takes more than an hour by car to reach the middle communities. Most inhabitants and some of our staff must walk this route, as only three buses per day make the journey. During our visit, a man who looks 70, but is probably 50, starts out walking towards Nahuala, at least a 4-hour walk away.
Most of these communities have some electricity, but many homes do not. While some latrines are apparent, many homes go without. Some of these communities simply have no running water and the population must gather water where they can find it. There is little to no health care and the population has been known to carry emergency patients on their backs, walking the 4 or more hours over the mountains to Xela to get help.
Schools are basic at best and are mostly geared towards primary school students. Few students go on to the higher grades. There is little to no telephone service. There is little in the way of work in this area, so there is little income. Many eke out a meager living selling the few vegetables they can grow, although the dirt is not conducive to planting. The corn stalks here are half as high as they are just an hour away on the Pan-American Highway. Vivamos Mejor estimates that over 80% of the local men have serious alcohol problems, which lead to other problems including unwanted pregnancies, domestic violence, and more poverty.
It is easy to focus on this poverty, or the inhabitants as victims. But, I don’t want this to be about poverty, but rather about hope and courage, both of which I witnessed during my trip.
Most of these communities have some electricity, but many homes do not. While some latrines are apparent, many homes go without. Some of these communities simply have no running water and the population must gather water where they can find it. There is little to no health care and the population has been known to carry emergency patients on their backs, walking the 4 or more hours over the mountains to Xela to get help.
Schools are basic at best and are mostly geared towards primary school students. Few students go on to the higher grades. There is little to no telephone service. There is little in the way of work in this area, so there is little income. Many eke out a meager living selling the few vegetables they can grow, although the dirt is not conducive to planting. The corn stalks here are half as high as they are just an hour away on the Pan-American Highway. Vivamos Mejor estimates that over 80% of the local men have serious alcohol problems, which lead to other problems including unwanted pregnancies, domestic violence, and more poverty.
It is easy to focus on this poverty, or the inhabitants as victims. But, I don’t want this to be about poverty, but rather about hope and courage, both of which I witnessed during my trip.
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