Uruguay Briefing Report
With only one AMIGOS’ backpack lost in transit (and then
found), we headed out to Otro Mundo
for four days of Volunteer Briefing and a relaxed introduction to our project
area: the Departments of Montevideo Oeste and San Jose, Uruguay. The Otro Mundo staff welcomed us warmly,
with a fire always lit in the dining room, and delicious Uruguayan food served
generously and with smiles. We all enjoyed two special guest lectures given by
a partnering local youth and an AMIGOS alumnus, born and raised in Uruguay. They
spoke on the political history of Uruguay
and similarities and differences of contemporary culture as compared to the U.S. The Volunteers took advantage of their
presence during the all-Spanish lunch afterwards and evening free-time with
questions and laughter bouncing back and forth between them.
Project Staff enjoyed seeing the Volunteers become more
comfortable with each other and Uruguay
as Briefing moved forward. We worked late into the night deciding partnerships
and community assignments, dedicated to setting up the most ideal matches for a
successful project. Host families and local youth counterparts met our group on
Saturday, July 7th. Introductions moved quickly into activity
planning, as AMIGOS Volunteers immediately began working with their host
communities to give a brief presentation in Spanish to all project participants
before each headed to their respective towns.
Settled into the project here, Project Staff and Volunteers
look ahead towards the first official workweek. Volunteers are in the process
of meeting important community contacts and drafting schedules and lesson plans
for their upcoming educational workshops (with topics such as transit safety).
Project Supervisors will purchase materials for each community’s mini-construction
project. These include building a bus
stop, completing the roof to a community presentation space, and developing a
work room for mentally disabled persons who will learn manual labor skills.
The projects in store for Volunteers and Project Staff this
winter will bring participants successes, challenges, and opportunities to
think about what it means to be a leader, a community member, a volunteer, and
a development catalyst. All 50 AMIGOS Volunteers showed their dedication and
excitement the day we saw them off to their communities; Project Staff looks
forward to a productive and fun project in Uruguay.
