Jo in El Salvador: October 2005

The Barrios ..

The lesson I learnt this week is everything is life isn’t as it seems. And even the best intentions sometimes do not gain the expected results. On Friday, we decided to head back to Trinidad’s community in the heart of the “Barrios” (slums). We didn’t want to walk away the minute the rains stopped. Yet at the same time we didn’t want to create a dependency between the community and us. In truth, they don’t need us. They have their families, friends and support systems in the community that cater for their needs. They might be poor and their houses in ruins, but the happiest that runs though the community is deep. Yet, we, I, needed them. We need then to reconcile our rich expat lifestyle, to show people we care and to perversely satisfy our curiosity about life in the slums.

After racking our brains about what to we could possibly do without intruding, we landed on the idea of photographing the children of the community. After consultation with Trinidad, it became apparent that none of the families had pictures of themselves let alone their children. Their lives simply revolved around living; this meant providing money to stop the hunger pains in their children’s stomachs. Luxuries, like photographs and owing a camera aren’t unimportant; they are simply never considered. When you’re battling with disasters like the recent floods, you have scared time to think of photos.

Yet it is human nature to grab at “luxuries” when they present themselves and Trinidad’s community were delighted at the prospect of the photographs and were ecstatic when the “photographers” (Karen, Marek and his sister, and myself) arrived last Friday. Upon our arrival at the Albergue (where many of the families are still living) shy children, scrubbed head to toe and bearing their Sunday best, were pushed forward in front of the lens. A new allure of soap floated over the community and evil glances were thrown by cautious mothers at children who started to play in the mud.

Yet, the children didn’t agree with the community’s grand photo plan. The minute the camera started snapping, a spiralling effect was created; the screams started hollering, the tears started rolling and legs started running. Dread set in. Did the children really want photos of themselves? Are photos really necessary here, in the slum?

However, as questions searched my head for answers, the braver, bolder children stepped in front of the lens and timidly allowed themselves to be eternalised on film And then, chaos.

The tears dried up, the legs returned to their resting places in front of the lens and the hollers were placed by the peace and quiet that had resided over the barrios before our arrival. Suddenly, they all wanted to be photographed and they didn’t want us to stop. Poses were developed, practised and shot. Different combination of groups (boys only, girls only, mothers and children only, us and them) were formed, unformed, assembled and disassembled. Beautiful youngsters grabbed at my arm shouting, “I want a photo just with you.”

When we eventually left the barrios, we took with us the hopes and dreams of those children encapsulated on our memory cards. The kids literally “ran” us out of the barrios; not because they wanted us to leave but they wanted us to return as soon as possible with the prints. They shouted their heartfelt goodbyes until we clamped into our car.

Our photo plan had been a hit; yet on the visit we discovered something else we had done for the community had also been a hit but not in the way we had expected. Alongside the food we took last time, we also brought lots of clothes for the people to wear. Yet, one or two sets of clothes are obviously enough for them. One of the community leaders sold them for $5 a piece! An unbelievable sum to money for here. Some of the rice and beans also ironically ended up at Karen’s house as Trinidad felt that she owed Karen so much that she cooked her a lovely lunch made from the very same rice and beans we took her. The fact Karen is on the Atkins diet and doesn’t eat rice surprisingly hadn’t occurred to Trinidad’s generosity!

Hope you are all well.

Jo