Despite the political turmoil, ongoing environmental devastation, lack of opportunities and clean water scarcity, the frankness and openness with which Salvadorians talk about their lives and their past has impressed me greatly. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Santa Marta through the eyes of the community leaders. I thought deeply following one of the community leader’s comments about the village requiring a machine to sort rubbish (some future thought into a machine that can separate plastics from non-biodegradable material would be beneficial for the community).
I feel really happy and, at the same time proud, to be part of this team of volunteers for Progressio ICS. Not only because it has given me opportunities to help my community with the other national volunteers, but also because we can count on the help of the UK volunteers. This is undoubtedly the start of a good experience for me.
It’s been over four weeks since I completed my placement as a volunteer with local organisation ADES (Asociación de Desarrollo Económico Social Santa Marta) and Progressio ICS.
I learnt a lot in 10 weeks alongside my fellow national and UK volunteers. It is an experience that I will never forget, where the language barriers between the group of national and UK volunteers was not an impediment for us to succeed in our project, one which will greatly benefit the community of Santa Marta, and I would say, for future generations.
We woke up in Santa Marta abruptly, sets of three loud explosions starting at 4am and finishing almost two hours later. Shaken and bewildered we emerged from our simple but comfortable room, only to discover the explosions had been a religious celebration. I feel this was the perfect introduction to life in Santa Marta. Truly thrown in the deep end with very little Spanish between me and my house mate, first introductions to our host family were a nerve wracking but eye opening experience.
It is a pleasure to be a new member of the ADES - Progressio ICS volunteer programme.
This week, I had the opportunity to meet the twenty volunteers from the UK. They have come all the way to visit us in El Salvador, specifically Santa Marta, in order to be a part of this fantastic programme.
We have been able to share many things such as knowledge, about each other's cultures, musical taste, etc.
It’s been brilliant to share experiences with the UK volunteers in the community. The first day after their arrival in Santa Marta, we went together on a tour of the community of the most important places and the work sites of the previous cycles.
At the beginning of the week, our work began…
- Monday, we had a meeting on our roles and how to have an excellent cycle.
- Tuesday, we went to meet our partner organisation ADES (Asociación de Desarrollo Económico Social Santa Marta) and during the afternoon we went to our other work site in San Felipe.
Day two into a week-long in-country orientation training in San Salvador and the whole experience has suddenly become very real. In this week, our aim is to adapt to our new surroundings, learn about El Salvadorian culture, bond with our national volunteer counterparts and begin to understand some of the causes and consequences of key events in this country’s history.
Progressio ICS is more than just an opportunity for you to ‘challenge yourself to change the world´. Although community projects are the most tangible result of our ten week placement here, positive cultural growth through exchange is fiercely encouraged throughout the programme.
Picture the scene – you’re just about to embark on a 10 week placement, courtesy of ICS. As you sit and read various blogs recounting tales of colourful parrots, people and most importantly, hammocks, you begin to imagine the only challenge you’ll face is getting used to being woken up by the noise of a cockerel rather than the hustle and bustle of cars you’re used to at home. I’m here to establish that this idea is both true and false, via the medium of some real life challenges that I myself have faced here in beautiful Santa Marta, El Salvador.
First of all, I’m really pleased to be part of this project with Progressio ICS, which gives us, as young people, the opportunity to learn new skills, develop what we already know and meet other young people from other countries with whom we can share different cultures and experiences despite many barriers.
