Kateri Diab, 25, Orthopedagogue and working at the Board of Education in Sorel-Tracy, has chosen to leave all for two years. Comfort, career, family, friends and a soul mate, she bids farewell to. It is in Cochabamba, Bolivia, that she desires to work as a lay missionary.

I have nothing to give

I walk in the streets of Cochabamba. I come across a woman from Potosi sitting on the sidewalk with her little children running around her. One can recognize them by their traditional clothing. She opens her hand begging for money. Each time my heart rips apart. Would giving her what she asks for, truly solve her problem? Would it not be better to teach her how to fish rather than giving her the fish?

All those street people, often times young ones, strongly stir questions within me. Where is the root of the problem? We, as strangers, when we arrive, often think that with our money we can solve all difficulties; however, we do not respond to the real needs and we do not deal with the root problem. I have nothing to give and feel powerless, but I smile to each one thinking we are all brothers and sisters in Christ; then I walk-on with the conviction that it is not ‘we strangers’ who will save Bolivia but the Bolivians themselves. Our duty is to give them the necessary tools that will boost their self-esteem, which is often diminished before the powerful ones.

I walk to Consipe the specialized school where I work. I decided to get involved in the educational system because on the one hand I am specialized in that field, on the other, I believe that educating individuals is enabling them to build a better life for themselves.

When I first began getting involved, the education system perturbed me: values, discipline, teaching methods, materials, teachers' motivation, all was so different. With time, I realized it was ‘myself’ who had to adapt to the existing context. A habit, how can it be changed if it is not first of all accepted? I decided to embrace the system as it was. Gradually, I searched for ways to improve it, keeping in mind the context, the people and their culture. What a challenge! My two years' commitment now seems too short.

Generating trust

As I arrive at school, a few students greet me. They are my deepest joy! The contact with children has always been for me magical and energizing moments. However, with teachers it is not so easy. Some consider me as a threat; I must slowly generate trust. Others see me as the expert in education; I must help them perceive me as a simple colleague with whom they can dialogue and collaborate.

On Saturdays, I meet with a group of teenagers at Casa Azul. These youngsters are at risk of finding themselves in streets, with nowhere to go because of their unstable families. At first we look at preventive ways, an eye-opener for children to keep out of trouble; then we proceed in giving them a formation in the light of positive leadership. Though their troublesome ‘teens’ behaviour often gets in the way, I believe they have much potential. I sincerely love them and they feel they are loved. Lately, Wilfredo said to me that he considered me as a mother. This touched me deeply. Crazy how Love can be a strength.

Upon my arrival at Casa Azul, I see Lucha and Anne, two other educators. We discuss the evening's agenda. Through my activities and work, a good circle of friends surround me. On the affective level, this is a great help; being far from family is sometimes difficult.

A source of growth

I live in a fraternity made up of religious and laity; not always easy, but for me it is a source of personal growth. We must learn to accept and respect the others with their differences, their character, their habits. However, they are a great support for me; they are my family here and I love them dearly. Though they were not born here, the Canadians have a deep and wide knowledge of the culture, traditions, and history of Bolivia. A good reference!

Thanks to my Bolivian friends, I am becoming closer to the heart of the culture and people; with sadness I discover their personal and family problems. Many of my friends have children, but their own mothers are gone afar; others married very young because of pregnancy and are not happy as couples. Sex education hardly exists. More so, young people from broken families seek affection elsewhere and often end-up in unhealthy love relationships. As I walk back home, I come across young lovers in parks; it is sad to think that the majority of them will endup in misery.

At Mariane Frostig School, Andrea, 6 years of age, cries every day in class and cannot accept that her teacher be absent for a few minutes. Why is this? Her mother left for Spain and gave the child to an aunt who in turn also abandoned her. Andrea is now living with another aunt, but she keeps in mind the horrible tragedy of having been abandoned. Many children are victims of this massive exodus by Bolivians who hope to find a better land.

Life in Bolivia is difficult, but I am hopeful and keep sowing my little grain of salt with all the love I can give. As Mother Teresa once said: What I do is but a drop of water in the ocean, but if I didn't do it, that drop would be missing…