The goal of this program is to support the construction of a home for a family lacking one. Through ConstruCasa, we spent much of the week lifting heavy bricks, hand-mixing concrete, digging foundations, and chipping holes into hundreds of cinderblocks. In the evenings, as well as during the two designated free days, we were given unique cultural tours of many drastically different parts of the area surrounding Antigua, as well as the opportunity to immerse ourselves in local customs.
Growing up in the United States brings about certain conclusions about the world, for better or worse. One such conclusion is the role of financial capital – money – in securing happiness, security, and prosperity in life. Growing up, most goals existed for the sake of increasing the odds to make more money; taking AP classes, commitment to extracurriculars, and maintaining a high GPA increases the chances to go to a good university. Going to a good university increases the chances of achieving a strong profession, and achieving a strong profession ultimately meant that it paid well. The mindset of the people I worked and lived with during my week in Guatemala made me realize that financial success is not the only path to lifelong happiness or purpose – on the contrary, overemphasizing financial wellbeing is a detriment to the many other facets of life, all of which necessary for happiness and purpose.
Even before leaving the airport in Columbus, I knew that I would be challenged and humbled throughout the coming week. We were told of rampant poverty, sexual and economic disparity, and insurrection that occurred throughout the country. When we first arrived, the poverty was unfortunately immediately obvious – well-dressed individuals stood separate from their less kempt countrymen, an obvious separation of wealth caused this division. The drive from the airport reinforced this separation; gorgeous villas hovered over the hillside, protected behind thick walls, security cameras, and armed guards. Some of the homes nearer the road scarcely had more than a single room, and failing walls and collapsing roofs were not uncommon. Guards armed with rifles and shotguns were posted in front of many shops and intersections, unclear whether or not they were police forces or paramilitary. While I never feared for my own safety, I felt dejected at the conditions so many were enduring in the capital city.
Upon arriving in Antigua, we were introduced to our hosts – two of the most sincere, kind, and loving individuals that I have ever experienced. Each time Ohio State students travel with this program, they stay with these hosts – and each time, they ensure that we are comfortable, fed, and cared for the entire stay. They are not lavishly wealthy, but part of the small middle class; they had the ability to give, but they could not do so recklessly or without planning ahead. The family that we helped construct a house for was equally as caring as our hosts – despite their economic situation. Even though this family had slept in tents, without the security of a door or clean water, they always found reasons to smile. Family is clearly very important in Guatemala, and that emphasis on love truly shines when they lack the material wealth seen in the United States. Community involvement is apparent as well, as local commerce, assistance from neighbors, and community sports teams help to keep everybody united instead of concerned only with themselves. As we traveled to various villages in the area, we witnessed significantly different cultures, religions, and languages – despite being only 30 minutes away from each other. In each of these villages, however, we also saw a community that supported each other: women made crafts to send children to school, men build homes for other families, and everybody chipped in to help make their community a more prosperous place for everybody.
It was humbling to see such unity and cooperation between so many people – especially as I do not even know the full names of my own neighbors. The lack of financial capital means they are in abject poverty, with many seeing less in a year than some Americans see in a week. But poverty has been defined onĀ our terms; while their communities are not lacking problems – electricity and clean water is scarce – they highlight that our definitions do not define their lives. Community compassion and unity, strong familial ties, and overall positive treatment of all people give the villages that we visited a much higher social capital than anything I have experienced in the United States. It is unlikely that any single culture has created a utopia, but Guatemalan culture gives US (western) culture a lot to consider about how it treats others, and about how success, prosperity, and value is determined.
I plan to dedicate myself to protecting and enhancing the environment – our only Earth. But the environment does not exclude humanity or our society. Environmental justice is social justice, and by experiencing the cultures of other people, my ability to understand what ‘justice’ may look like increases. Programs like ConstruCasa do not only build homes, but understanding, community, and environmental integrity – solar power is used to power their homes, and compost is used to help grow their own food. Limiting my measure of worth to only financial consideration is irresponsible – and the same way a strong community is valuable beyond a dollar value, a strong environment is likewise valuable.