I joined other volunteers from the UK, USA, and Mexico itself to work for Armonia, a Christian organisation that runs three community centres in the slums of Mexico City. As well as running holiday clubs for kids in one of these centres, I helped out at clinics run at the centres by a volunteer local doctor. We also monitored the children's heights, weights and general health.
The centre where I was working is built on the site of an old rubbish dump in an area called the Jalalpa Ravine. The sides of the ravine are covered in dilapidated and cramped looking buildings and it runs down to a lake of sewage at the bottom. However in the midst of this, the Armonia centre seemed like a little oasis. Inside, the centre is colourful and friendly and the kids get lessons in different subjects, as well as a square meal and a lot of fun.
Having already had an interest in the effects of poverty on child health, I found it useful to learn a bit about how absolute poverty affects health from the perspective of the director of the organisation, Saul Cruz. In Mexico the inequalities are staggering: 25 rich families earn in one day what 25 million poor people earn in one year. These kinds of inequalities are bound to infiltrate into health. I also learned that some of the elements of poverty are exploitation, isolation, helplessness and hopelessness. One of the best things about working for Armonia was that, although the available medical resources were limited, the children we worked with could at least know that they are not isolated and that people from the other side of the world care enough to come to spend time with them year after year.
It became evident in Mexico City that health is not just about physical needs but also about spiritual, social and educational ones. The poor are whole human beings whose minds, souls and bodies have aspects that need to be addressed. I think that I am really fortunate as a Christian to be in the position where sometime in the future, when I'm a doctor, I will hopefully be able to address people's physical needs and on occasion their spiritual needs too.
It was a privilege to meet and work with the children who came to the centres. Even though there was a language barrier for those of us who did not have much Spanish, the children were somehow able to get over that barrier and demonstrate their affection and gratitude in many ways.
In the past when I have been abroad to serve God it has been a time of real closeness to Him. Being at Armonia was the same. Through the challenges and situations of that trip I think God has changed me a bit and I am so grateful I had the chance to go there.
The centre where I was working is built on the site of an old rubbish dump in an area called the Jalalpa Ravine. The sides of the ravine are covered in dilapidated and cramped looking buildings and it runs down to a lake of sewage at the bottom. However in the midst of this, the Armonia centre seemed like a little oasis. Inside, the centre is colourful and friendly and the kids get lessons in different subjects, as well as a square meal and a lot of fun.
Having already had an interest in the effects of poverty on child health, I found it useful to learn a bit about how absolute poverty affects health from the perspective of the director of the organisation, Saul Cruz. In Mexico the inequalities are staggering: 25 rich families earn in one day what 25 million poor people earn in one year. These kinds of inequalities are bound to infiltrate into health. I also learned that some of the elements of poverty are exploitation, isolation, helplessness and hopelessness. One of the best things about working for Armonia was that, although the available medical resources were limited, the children we worked with could at least know that they are not isolated and that people from the other side of the world care enough to come to spend time with them year after year.
It became evident in Mexico City that health is not just about physical needs but also about spiritual, social and educational ones. The poor are whole human beings whose minds, souls and bodies have aspects that need to be addressed. I think that I am really fortunate as a Christian to be in the position where sometime in the future, when I'm a doctor, I will hopefully be able to address people's physical needs and on occasion their spiritual needs too.
It was a privilege to meet and work with the children who came to the centres. Even though there was a language barrier for those of us who did not have much Spanish, the children were somehow able to get over that barrier and demonstrate their affection and gratitude in many ways.
In the past when I have been abroad to serve God it has been a time of real closeness to Him. Being at Armonia was the same. Through the challenges and situations of that trip I think God has changed me a bit and I am so grateful I had the chance to go there.
