Juan Sevilla en Mozambique Proyecto humanitario deportivo de Juan Sevilla en Maputo (Mozambique)

Third summary about my life on Mozambique

My life in CT is taking its normal course; some days busier, others calmer. However, the important thing is that everyday is a new adventure and, despite all problems appeared constantly making work more difficult than it is, children happiness when seeing me, the people's gestures of kindness and support of voluteers that I meet every week, these things give me energy to carry on with all work.

TOMORROW: damn word that I am going to hate the rest of my life... This is one of the main problems in Mozambique society (and supposedly, all in developing countries) where words like "here" and "now" don't exist. Everything is postponed for "tomorrow" however, it is never "tomorrow".
Anyone can tell me how it is possible that after one month, I am still waiting for an electrician to install light in 3 rooms? or 2 weeks to take a AIDS girl to hospital for her medical treatment? or 1 week to take a child with malarian symptoms to hospital? or 3 weeks to write an email asking for winter clothes for children? ...... The answer is always : TOMORROW. Therefore, I have no other option but acting by myself and try to find solutions in order people react and get down to work, that is TO SECURE WELL-BEING AND EDUCATIONS OF CHILDREN'S TOWN CHILDREN. Sometimes it works, but other it doesn't. SOLUTION: Persistence and work.

About my work in the center, I am quite happy about how things are going. I can see a noticeable improvement in hygiene, health and living conditions which are really bad when I arrive here. Now, after a lot of effort and repeating the same thing many times, children have assimilated timetables, bath turns, cures turns, what make and where go if they are ill....
However, the matter of which I am prouder is health matter. It was the most worrying point when I arrived: many not cured injuries, many infections, diary complaints which can be treated with a simply pill, no supervision of adults.... I could say that this improvements make some of them change their characters, they are happier. Some of them would be in cures room the whole time!! I suppose it is normal since now they can live without any constant pain and they know there is someone taking care of them.
Now, the most important work is to keep and continue all this and also, to give them responsabilities in order they gain autonomy and independence.

Another thing that makes me really happy is the treatment I receive from children and youngers from CT and also from people in the community: they stop me, they ask me, they invite me to go their homes and know their families, they stand up their seats when I get on the bus (obviously, I don't accept!!)... and many other things that let me be closer to them and have a clearer vision of their living conditions and their everyday lifes. Fortunately, in western life we can chose how and where live our lifes. People here don't have this possibility; they will be born, will live and will die with nothing..... well, with one thing; PROUD. And frankly, I have a great admiration for them.

Finally, I would also talk about the good work done by football team boys. I try to plan a match every weekend for both male and female team. Some matches are played in our school and others are out here. When we are out, I pay the transport cost so, we can enjoy a different day. This trips are incredible: they shout, sing, dance...the whole time. I will shoot one of this trip one day so you can see it.
Last weeks we have been concentrated in the qualifying round of Olimpic Games of ADPP which will take place in Machava on 19th July. At the moment, we are winning matches without many difficulties. I think I could give you good news in a future (I hope so!!).

I would like to apologize for the delay of this third text. Sometimes electricity problems, excess of work or lack of enthusiasm (sometimes), makes me to postpone "for another moment" or "for TOMORROW" (I should swallow my own words!)

Best regards

Juan Sevilla

Second summary about my life on Mozambique

It’s already one month since I arrived at Children’s Town and frankly, it seems to be 3 or 4 months ago. I suppose it is due to start days very early (at 7 a.m.) and to be doing things all day long (until 8-9 p.m.). Even there are some days I feel very tired, I have fun doing this and I think that job done with enthusiasm can only bring good results.

I always get up thinking about all the things I can do here, how I can help children, what I have to prepare for lessons, all the medicines I have to give them, preparations for football training, to help children to put mosquito nets in their beds…. And many other things that make the day by day a non-stop. But, it makes me feel really happy. And I think it makes children happy too.

The last three weeks were really intense and profitable. All this has been possible with Brian and Kim help, a couple of teachers from Michigan school (USA) who were visiting Mozambique, and after being in CT for one weekend and seeing all the work pending to do, they decided to stay some more days and help me. All of us shared responsibilities, work, bring new ideas…. And set up the projects which are explained in detail in the website. They paid special attention in the hygienic and medical matters.
After all their work, the doctors visit, the diagnostic and the according medication, it will be easy for me to make the monitoring of children health. Some of them need diary medications and cures, even twice a day. I would like to thank Brian and Kim and send them my best wishes.

However, some things which seem basic and of common sense for us haven’t been very easy to set them up in CT. We found obstacles such as culture and workmates. I think adults are who had to take the responsibilities, to show initiatives, to work all together… but the lack of education, the lack of interest and motivation of some people make very difficult to carry out even the simplest initiative. Some of them are:

• Cleaning the school once a week (it’s very dirty), It will take place on Fridays.
• Placing of boxes for throwing out papers
• To dig holes where throw out all the rubbish (they threw out rubbish without control and at any place)
• To build benches in order all children can sit down during meals. Most of them ate on the floor. We found some unused wood pieces, which were profitable building 3 benches.
• Fitting-out of 2 rooms for being used as “Health center”
• Establishment of timetable for cures (they are at my door’s house at any hour)
• Clothes airier repair in order all of them can hang their clothes out and are not on the floor.
• Establishment of timetable for boys and girls baths separately. I am the guard during girls bath turn.
• To take mattresses and blankets out in the air since the youngest children wet themselves during night.

Now that I am alone again, I only wish to be able to carry all these tasks out. I’ve been aware that other volunteers tried to set up hygienic habits previously but it didn’t work for several reasons. I will do everything in my power to carry on with all this work, with or without help, since the ones who will be worst hit are children and they are not fault of anything.

I know that it is not easy to change ideas, thoughts and habits from people who have lived all their lifes in poverty, dirtiness, bad smell… However, my job here is based on this. I knew it in advance and nobody told me it would be easy.

About me, I have been working in several areas during my first month:

• English teacher in 6th level (Wednesdays and Fridays)
• English support lessons 3 days per week
• I started a football project with children from and out of school. We usually train 2 days per week and play football matches at weekends.
• Hygiene in the center
• Improvements in children diet introducing milk, cacao and fruit. I give them a piece of fruit or a glass of milk and cacao with bread all afternoons at 5 p.m.
• Cures and medicines administration
• Administrative works in the center
• I help to make weekend programs

Next time I write in website, I would like to receive your questions, doubts… After my first month here, I could write a book but I don’t want to be heavy.
Therefore, please make your questions about my everyday life, the school, children, the community, activities… and I promise I will answer them.

Best regards