Ten young people from across the globe joined a group of Argentines in greater Buenos Aires to build up walls and break down stereotypes this month. The international group came as volunteers with Subir al Sur, an Argentine organisation that strives to create peace and understanding between diverse people through collaborative service projects.
Cecilia Milesi, president and founder, named the organisation ‘Subir al Sur’, literally ‘to go up south’, to convey the organisation’s goal of inspiring people to think unconventionally.
International volunteers from the Ukraine, Korea, Mexico, Hungary, Germany, the UK and the US came ‘up south’ to meet Argentines from Malaver Villate and reconstruct the community’s cultural centre, the final step in transforming the area from shanty town to suburban neighbourhood.
Residents of Malaver Villate have spent the past 15 years working to rebuild the former shantytown with the help of government funding. They created a network of paved streets and reconstructed nearly all the houses. Today, residents proudly offer to show guests around their well-constructed homes, most of which were formerly made of paper and plastic.
The cultural centre was the final piece of the puzzle. Together, the international volunteers and locals plastered walls, set up electricity, designed a mural, painted rooms, and restored the community’s last shanty house as a meeting room and reminder of the town’s history.
THE REAL GOAL
But according to Milesi, such service projects are just beneficial excuses for the real goal of the organisation:
“On a micro-level, Subir al Sur is about trying to create bridges between people of diverse backgrounds in hopes of destroying stereotypes. On a larger scale, it’s about decreasing the amount of hatred in the world. It’s a small part of the global movement towards peace and understanding.”
The organisation works toward its goal by inviting international volunteers to collaborate with Argentines, not only on service projects, but also in workshops that connect their project with global issues and inspire volunteers to think more deeply about their work.
For example, each of the international volunteers came to Argentina equipped with information about a situation in their home country similar to that of Malaver Villate. Through sharing and discussing their stories, the volunteers broadened their perspectives and analysed the reasons behind poor living conditions in the world. By presenting their own stories, the residents of Malaver Villate were able to reflect on and feel proud of what they have achieved.
“My favourite part of this experience has been sharing our situation with others and letting them see how our home is now,” explains Silvia Azamé, a local volunteer.
CHANGE BENEATH THE SURFACE
Discussion combined with cooperative service allows the international and local groups to benefit in similar but distinct ways.
“The local youth we work with are used to being the beneficiaries of service projects, not the leaders. By putting them in leadership positions, we work towards empowering them,” Milesi explained.
By taking such a leadership position and working with non-Argentines for the first time, Azamé said she has gained experience and understanding that she will apply to other aspects of her life.
“I’ve learned to organise, plan, listen to others, connect with foreigners, and see new possibilities,” she commented proudly during a break from painting the centre. Azamé also expressed her belief that the presence of international volunteers will help broaden the perspective of other residents of Malaver Villate, even if they are not directly involved with the project.
For the international volunteers, the learning experience is somewhat different. Being immersed in a community that is often drastically different than their own, they experience things that challenge them to think in new ways. Yunmi Jang, a South Korean volunteer, said she was challenged by new cultural practices, such as openly expressing emotions, something she says her culture doesn’t permit.
“More than anything, I’ve learned patience. I’ve also learned new practical skills, aspects of several foreign cultures, established otherwise impossible relationships, and broken preconceived misconceptions about Argentine culture. It has been a good learning experience for me,” she explained.
She also learned from living and working with the other international volunteers who came from very different cultures.
As Milesi hoped when she created Subir al Sur in July 2005, these two volunteers left the experience with ‘new ideas, new understanding, and an education in values’. Milesi started the organisation after being inspired by volunteering with similar models in Nepal and India. She wanted to create something that inspired ‘a change in ideals, not just assistance.’
ARGENTINES CHANGING ABROAD
Subir al Sur has partner organisations all over the world that work towards similar goals. Through these partnerships, Subir al Sur is able to send Argentines abroad to participate in similar service activities for only the cost of the flight and a $150 application fee.
In the future, Milesi hopes to further develop Subir al Sur in Argentina and send more Argentines abroad. She hopes to further the programme’s goal through increased participation, because, as she stated, “the problem is not about houses. It’s about people.”
To get more information or volunteer with Subir al Sur, visit www.subiralsur.org.ar, e-mail info@subiralsur.org.ar or call 0054-11-4867-0305.
To learn more about Malaver Villate, visit the neighbourhood blog at www.malavervillate.blogspot.com
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