May 10, 2006
Post-Mexico Reflections: Time To Get Involved
At the risk of sounding like a broken record (see my Post-Cuba
Reflections from last year), there are a few things that I am
always reminded of when I come back to Toronto from a longer trip
abroad, particularly after going to less-developed places like Cuba
and Mexico:
1. When I spend time I always realize that my lifestyle
here is far too hectic. I run a full-time business plus
I run this travel website and as a result I wear so many different
hats, and I have a tendency to get myself into these 15 hour work
days. Not very healthy, physcially, emotionally and in terms of
relationships. I realize I have to slow down a little.
2. Coming back from Mexico, just like after my return from Cuba,
I realized how good we have it here in Canada.
Don't get me wrong: Mexico is an absolutely gorgeous country and
I had the opportunitiy to see and stay in many beautiful places.
And I have met some absolutely phenomenal people.
But the fact remains that Mexico is still a developing country,
and more so than that, it's plainly obvious that resources are divided
extremely unequally in Mexico. You'll see beautiful gorgeous villas
whose owners enjoy an unbelievably privileged lifestyle including
a number of servants, such as gardeners, maids, cooks etc.
You see mansions, hidden behind high walls, with lush tropical
gardens and electronically controlled sprinkler systems, while people
in a neighbourhood 5 minutes away only receive municipal water twice
a week for an hour each. And 5 more minutes away you see people
living in cobbled-together shacks, built without building permits,
with no electricity, no water supply, no sanitation.... The contrast
between rich and poor is simply astounding, and the minute you move
outside of the big resort areas, the harsh realities of Mexican
life hit you right in the face.
While in Cuernavaca, I went to the bathroom at the local McDonalds,
and a very young indigenous girl was waiting outside the stall.
She had seen my backpack on the floor and I had one of those mini-bottles
of yoghurt stashed away in a mesh pocket on my napsack. She patiently
waited for me to exit out of the washroom and then asked me in a
very quiet voice if she could have my small bottle of yoghurt. If
that doesn't pull at your heartstrings I don't know what will.....
I spoke with many Mexicans, and some of them came from very privileged
backgrounds. I had a conversation with one local person about the
fact that I take the local bus all the time and I enjoy riding with
the locals. Her response was "We don't take the buses. We don't
ride with those people because they are ugly and they smell...".
That comment almost knocked me off my socks.
3. Over the last year or so I have spent a lot of my time seeking
out and interviewing individuals and organizations that
make a difference. I have done interviews with Doctors
without Borders, with Servas ("Travel for Peace") and
many non-profit organizations and private individuals that make
a positive contribution, locally and abroad. Even this time in Mexico
I interviewed or wrote articles about 3 different local charity
organizations that dedicate themselves to helping the poor, particularly
the local indigenous people who suffer not just from poverty, but
also from many other social problems, including racism.
This latest trip to Mexico has pushed me over the edge. When I
saw how wealthy people just ignore and walk by the less fortunate,
I said I can't sit on the sidelines any longer. I have to get involved
myself, I have to move from interviewer and writer to becoming an
active volunteer for social causes myself. I was reflecting on which
cause was most important to me, and one of the interviews I did
earlier this year, with Kevin
Lee, from the Scadding Court Community Centre, impressed me
so much that I decided to dedicate my efforts to Kevin and his organization.
I met Kevin last Friday and he took me around his facility which
is located in downtown Toronto in a low-income neighbourhood with
a substantial proportion of public housing. This community centre
is really a social agency for this entire area and provides low-cost
daycare services, ESL lessons for new immigrants, basketball scholarships
for talented local youth, a community garden, programs for seniors
and new immigrants and many other programs. Kevin said they are
even starting a local restauarant for the neighbourhood and they
have a fully equipped doctor's office staffed by 2 family physicians
who come in and donate 30% of their medical services free of charge
to people who don't have medical coverage.
This organization impressed me so much, even more so since virtually
all the initiatives that the Scadding Court Community Centre gets
involved in are funded purely by fundraising efforts with no public
funds at all. The city only contributes the building and costs for
maintenance and repairs. All the rest, the salary for 110 employees,
the supplies and the money for all the programs is generated through
fundraising efforts. I was honestly blown away by this degree of
commitment and resourcefulness that benefits so many people in the
City of Toronto.
The International Scholarship Program at SCCC is a city-wide intervention
program that targets at-risk youth that are in danger of getting
involved in a gang lifestyle. The scholarship recipients get sent
for four months to India where they get involved in a local charity
organization that dedicates its efforts to the children of Indian
sex trade workers. Prior to leaving they learn how to teach English
and computer skills to the children in India. Once they come back
they receive pre-employment and job search skills. In all, the International
Program is an entire year long and gives young Toronto people a
chance to experience life in India and what it means to dedicate
themselves to serving community causes.
Experiences like these absolutely change lives. Many of these young
people come back to Toronto as different people and get involved
in positive community endeavours. So, the International Scholarship
program at the Scadding Court Community Center truly embodies the
idea of harnessing cross-cultural connections to make an important
difference locally and internationally, and they help at-risk youth
find their way towards a meaningful adult life with positive ties
to the community.
This cause is important to me since I believe I am truly fortunate
to live in a city like Toronto, this most multi-cultural city in
the world. It's a clean city, it's a safe city, it's run reasonably
well and efficiently, and among all the places I have visited in
the world as a travel writer, it's unique. I am not saying Toronto
is perfect, but what I am saying is that Toronto is a more diverse
and more inclusive place than any other place I have seen in the
world. Getting involved with the SCCC's International Scholarship
program is a chance for me to help improve this city and do my part
to make it a better, even safer place. And it will also benefit
people in need on the other side of the globe.
So, over the next few months I am going to be involved in working
on a fundraising project with SCCC that will benefit the International
Scholarship Program. The details are still being worked on, but
the seeds have been planted.
It's funny, being exposed to all these wonderful people who dedicate
a good chunk of their time and energy to community causes, locally
and abroad, is contagious. I've caught the bug....
Related Articles:
The Scadding
Court Community sends at-risk youth to China, India and Mongolia
for life-changing experiences
Ignite the Night - A
circus evening in Toronto benefits street kids in Peru
Bruce Poon Tip - Global
travel entrepreneur with a conscience
Fundacion Comunidad:
A Cuernavaca organization empowers indigenous women
The Cuernavaca Newcomers
Club works on social causes and creates ecological awareness
Casa Vamos in Cuernavaca:
multiple initiatives help local indigenous people living in poverty
Interviewing 2 Cuernavaca
non-profit organizations and a guided eco-hike
Skills for Change
- Toronto-based agency is an expert in immigrant settlement
Legacy International
- US-based NGO focuses on peace-building, leadership training and
international exchanges
Farzana Hassan - A progressive
voice in Canadian Islam
Preview: Chioma - a beacon
in Toronto's black community
Danielle Weiss - Sustainable
tourism expert makes a difference in Peru
Voices of diversity
- Two Toronto women create a Holocaust documentary
The 26th Annual
Bedzzz Race - An important Ottawa Kiwanis Club fundraiser
Dr. Scott Rains - An expert
on disabled travel and universal design
Pablo Chufeni -
Servas member, creator of international youth language exchange
programs
Danielle Lafond mortgages
her Toronto condo to start a non-profit organization in Peru
A walk through
Vancouver's downtown East Side
Mary Jane Mikuriya
- Servas traveller and commited volunteer in San Francisco
Robert & Bette
Allekotte - Servas members, volunteers for peace & the environment
Mony Dojeij and her 5000
km Walk for Peace
Helga Smith - Servas
traveller, volunteer for the blind
Doctors without
Borders - global volunteering opportunities
Pier 21 - Canada's front door
to millions of immigrants
Servas - Travel for peace and
intercultural exchange
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