118
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119
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ngo, l.i.f.e. (Luchamos por una Infancia Feliz y con
in that month to celebrate with their friends, accompanied
Esperanza) translated, “we fight for a childhood which is
with a lot of cake, games, presents, and hours of balloon
happy and full of hope”. The organization was run by a
modelling ! It was a fantastic experience working with
local women, supported by a constant flow of volunteers
such vibrant children, who although were not in the most
throughout the year and operated at four different
fortunate of positions, had a most positive outlook on life.
locations on the outskirts of Buenos Aires in some of the
These community centres were pivotal in many parts
city’s poorest areas. Each day several different groups
of the city as it allowed parents to sustain employment
drove out to these ‘barrios’ to small community centres
in the knowledge that their children were safe, and in
based in each location. Once here, we usually worked with
particular, off the streets where real dangers of drug abuse
about 30–40 children primarily on educational activities.
and violence were a constant threat.
local
We aimed to improve their Spanish literacy and numerical
skills whilst also teaching a little English along the way.
spent in Argentina was both culturally enlightening but also
The fact that the children didn’t speak a word of English,
allowed me to seriously comprehend the different lifestyles
and spoke Spanish very quickly with a thick accent made it
of varying people and to appreciate the importance of the
an interesting challenge both trying to understand them,
work of organizations such as l.i.f.e. My sincere thanks go
but also teaching them ! However, it was not all work;
to both committees of both the Bevir and Muir funds for
classes occasionally degenerated into spontaneous games
their contributions which allowed me to undertake this
of football, with some very talented young players ! The
BEVIR REPORTS
Nevertheless it was a fantastic experience, my time
project. I would also highly recommend Argentina, and
highlight of the week, however, was the birthday party,
even South America in general, to any future travellers: a
occurring on a rotation once every four weeks at each of
diverse, yet culturally rich continent !
the centres. It allowed all the children whose birthday fell
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T
he reason I decided to go on an Operation
a rri va l
Raleigh expedition was that it would offer a
On arriving at Windhoek airport on the 10th July 2007, all
real challenge and something that would really
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