Seeking justice in education

I didn’t know exactly what to expect when my Christian Brother friend asked me to accompany him out to a public school that was in bad shape. He said they were lacking many things a school should have and that as part of the Franciscan Movement of Justice and Peace, it would be good if I saw it to understand the situation better. I got up early one day and it took me 1 ½ hours to get to the school, just over the border of the southernmost limit of the city of Cochabamba, which is also high up in the hills.

We got out at the end of the route of the public transportation van and walked along gravel and dirt to get to the school grounds, which I wouldn’t have recognized if my friend had not pointed it out to me. He showed me a building that had recently been roofed and is used for the 1^st grade class and the 2^nd grade class, and then he showed me the bathroom that had been built was locked so the kids had to squat in the school yard or street if they needed to relieve themselves.

Next I saw the space used for the two kindergarten classes, two tiny rooms rented out from the bottom of a house next to the school property. I talked with the teacher of the 5-year-olds so I got to see her room, but not the other, although I think it is identical. There were no windows, no lights (so the only light they had was from the door left open) and hardly any furniture for the kids to sit on and work. They were really packed into a little itsy bitsy space and they are 5 years old!

(This is a view from the back, it's the smaller building on the left)

 

We talked with some of the parents, the director of the school, the director of the neighborhood committee and I left very confused with conflicting versions of the story. Together with two Christian Brothers, we decided (without telling anyone in the school or neighborhood) to visit the mayor of district to find out if he was aware of the conditions of this school that has now been in existence for 3 years. After more than 2 hours waiting for him, we got to see him and expressed our concern for the well-being of the children because every child has a right to an adequate education, in conditions that reflect their dignity. He listened to us, saying he didn’t know it was so bad because no one had informed him and of course blamed the neighborhood committee and the parents etc. We asked for dates of when the bathroom would be opened, when they would get desks for the kids and when they could build appropriate school rooms, and we got vague answers.

About a week later I found out that the neighborhood committee and the parents committee went to visit the mayor on their own initiative and got him to sign an agreement to build 4 new schoolrooms in 2013. I was thrilled! Later when we returned, they thanked us for having gone and spoken to him, saying that we helped make him aware of the situation so he was more motivated to act when they went. Now the question is at what point will he begin construction, but at least it’s a start and the community members were the main protagonists, seeking justice in education for their kids.

5 Things I’m grateful for today: seeing a Bolivian friend this morning who moved to La Paz but came back to visit; receiving girl scout cookies in the mail from my dear mother, mmmmm yummy!; having time this morning to jump rope and laugh really hard while watching one of my favorite series on DVD; finishing my laundry before it got dark; listening to a little boy on the bus sing a funny song over and over because he loved it so much. 

A Jesuit priest from South America becomes pope and takes the name of St. Francis!

“Nora!  Why do you think they keep ringing the bells in the cathedral?”  That’s when I knew a new pope had been chosen.  All afternoon I was running up and down the stairs of the office trying to listen to newscasts in both English and Spanish about who the next pope would be.  There was suspense in the air, trying to win the competition of who would be the first to find out which cardinal was elected and if he would be from South America or not. 

As Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio walked out, I watched, waiting to figure out who he was and what he would say.  When he bowed asking for a blessing from the people, whom he would be serving, before giving them his blessing, I had a good feeling.  When we found out he chose the name Francis after Francis of Assisi, the good feeling grew.  When I heard from the news commentators that he was a Jesuit, my hope grew more.  Having served in the Jesuit Volunteer Corp, I came to appreciate greatly the values of Simplicity, Community, Prayer, and Service. 

I’ve always said that Francis of Asisi and Ignatius of Loyola were very similar, despite what each of their orders say about the other in jest.  They both came from the upper classes, both were soldiers and suffered physically from battle, and while recovering had major conversions, recognizing what made life meaningful and recognizing God in other people.  Two people who really lived out what it means to love and to serve, and these same two people are clearly significant to Cardinal Bergoglio, and that type of deep respect and appreciation doesn’t happen all that often, so I was really surprised.

To be fair, I should not judge what kind of a leader Pope Francis will be based on his past.  As a Christian Brother commented to me the other day, none of us like to be judged based on our past, rather given an opportunity in the present, free of judgment.  I don’t know what Pope Francis will do, whether he will continue to maintain his habits of simplicity (taking public transportation to work, even as a cardinal; cooking his own meals), but the fact that we both share an affinity for the values and way of life of Saints Ignatius and Francis, I am very hopeful he will continue to follow Jesus’ example and teachings, using Ignatius and Francis as constant examples and inspirations to follow.

Of course it was exciting for almost everybody here in Cochabamba, Bolivia that someone from a neighboring country was named pope, that in itself is a pretty big deal.  The Catholic Church, which is made up of individual people, is extremely diverse, and it’s nice to see someone in the leadership role who is from the southern hemisphere, where so many of those individual people have lived their lives.

Yet, I’ve also heard negative commentaries in the news, mostly from people in Argentina, who say he didn’t support them when they needed support.  The Argentinian president and homosexual community have also criticized him.  I’m not sure what has happened in his life before now, but I do hope very much that he be a leader who holds true to serving the marginalized, loving and not hating, seeking peace where there is conflict, and respecting the environment in its entirety. 

Welcome to my new blog!

New Year. New Path. New Blog!

I'm happy to be writing once again to share with you my experience in Bolivia, this time with Franciscans International - Bolivia, the Bolivia arm of the Franciscans International global family.  In the past 3 years I've worked with Franciscans International (FI) - Bolivia as one my ministries, and after much reflection, I have decided to return to work with them full-time.

Many may be wondering what is Franciscans International? FI is the presence of the global Franciscan Family (lay people and religious brothers and sisters) at the United Nations.  They are a non-profit with consultative status at the UN, and in opening the doors of the UN for the poor and marginalized to share their voice, they aim to promote peace, care of the planet, and eradicate poverty (the 3 P's).

 With Franciscans International-Bolivia, I hope to continue some of the work I have been doing:

• Contribute to the continuance of the two radio programs on social and environmental topics, (I talked about this work in this blog entry)
• Continue to give talks and retreats on creation and faith through a Franciscan spirituality lens, (This blog entry mentions one of my retreats)
• Most immediately, coordinate the preparation for Bolivia’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) by the Human Rights Council of the UN.

The UPR is a tool used to ensure that all 193 Member States of the UN are regularly reviewed on the fulfillment of their human rights commitments and obligations.  Each country undergoing the process submits a review of their human rights situation. Franciscans International, with other Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), submits a report in which issues of injustice that may not be included by the government in question, are put on the table to be considered. 

Several months ago, I began the process of collaborating with other religious orders present in Cochabamba, such as the Daughters of Charity, Divine Word, Christian Brothers, etc. in order to come together in a joint report to be submitted by July 2013 for Bolivia’s review which is set for 2014.  After reviewing the recommendations to Bolivia from their review in 2010 we agreed to narrow our focus to an issue we feel is most urgent to bring light and change to: violence against women and children, with sub-topics of child labor and social exclusion of women. 

After living in Cochabamba for three years, having the gift of getting to know so many different people and entering their lives, I feel very deep sorrow for the violence that occurs on a daily basis especially against women and children.  I know too many stories, too many lives affected by violence to let this opportunity to contribute to allowing their voices to be heard at the UN pass me by.  I wrote some about poverty and domestic violence being push factors in creating child labor in this blog.  I know the process of change is slow, but through FI’s presence and recognized status at the UN, there exists real potential to let more of the reality be known, and for more peace and justice to be sought.

For these motivations, I feel called to return and continue this work, with the inspiration of Saints Francis and Clare’s great examples of solidarity and commitment to seeking to build a better world in whatever way they are called to do so.  I have committed to work 1 more year with Franciscans International-Bolivia. As I didn’t get to this point in life alone, I know that I also can’t go through this next year without other people playing a part in the journey with me. 

I ask for your prayers primarily and also any financial support you might be able to give. My goal is to raise $8,386 (or $698.83 a month), which covers my budget for Housing, Food, Health Insurance, Travel, Living Stipend, and Emergency Savings. 

Tax-deductible donations can be made by writing a check to "Franciscans International" and the funds will be available to me in Bolivia through FI Bolivia.  A note should be attached to the donation indicating that it is for Nora Pfeiffer´s work at FI Bolivia. Checks written to FI can be given to me directly or mailed to:

Franciscans International
211 East 43rd Street
Suite #1803
New York, NY  10017
Telephone:  +1 (917) 675-1075

If you prefer to give a donation directly to me, either in person or mailed to my family’s home, that is also fine, just note that it would not be tax-deductible.  

As we are in a new year, my resolution is to write more frequently and concisely, so as to keep you involved in the journey. Please be assured of my prayers for you, and my sincere thanks. 

It is with bitter-sweet emotion that I depart again, and yet I am drawn to follow this tugging sensation I feel to continue being a part of the good efforts to build community, peace and care for creation in Bolivia.  Thank you for supporting me in whatever way you can.  Please let me know how I can support you too!  We’re all in this walk of life together, one family.

With Hope and Gratitude,

Nora