Questions from Mr. Flom's 6th Grade Class

Prior to our most recent trip to Tierra Santa, Mr. Flom's 6th grade students from Oak Point posed some questions for me to answer following our trip. Here are my responses. Thanks to Mr. Flom's students for their genuine curiosity!

1) What other major problems are in Honduras besides water pollution and how do they affect Tierra Santa?

Water pollution and lack of clean drinking water is definitely an issue. Very few children in Honduras receive the water they need. Most get just enough to survive. And while it may not be a health problem, so to speak, many Honduran families do not have water that flows into their homes. Many rely on water flowing through open canals as the water they use to bathe in, wash their clothes, and wash their dishes. Many, many homes in Honduras do not have indoor plumbing.

Besides the issues around water, Honduras has many of the same issues that affect developing countries around the world. Remember, too, that Honduras is the second poorest country in the Western hemisphere. Honduras has a huge poverty issue, with over 27% of its adults unemployed, adults averaging incomes of just over $2,000 per year, and 22% of families living below the poverty line.

This nation-wide poverty has a huge affect on Tierra Santa, in fact it's the primary reason Tierra Santa exists in the first place. Most of the children at Tierra Santa are not orphans. Rather, they come from families who just can no longer support them. The families do not have enough money, adaquate homes, or sustainable income to provide for the children, so the children end up at Tierra Santa. Tierra Santa can provide food, shelter and an education - things the children's families cannot.

And speaking of education, this is also a major problem in Honduras. Many children do not attend school at all and most of those who do, stop going after 6th grade. Very, very few children finish high school and a very minute number finish college. It is almost impossible for the cycle of poverty to be broken when children are not receiving a proper education. This is another reason why Tierra Santa is such an oasis of goodness in these kids' lives. All Tierra Santa children attend school as long as they live at Tierra Santa. This means that if students stay at Tierra Santa though their teenage years, they are guaranteed of finishing high school. Many Tierra Santa children also continue through to college.


2) How can kids like us help the water situation?

This is a great question, and I'm not sure I have a fantastic answer. Tierra Santa has taken control of its water problem and has done something about it. Through donors from the U.S. and elsewhere, Tierra Santa has constructed a water purification building at the home. It is not yet operational, but will be soon.

The concept behind the water purification building is that Tierra Santa will now be able to take city water and purify it. This has never been done before. Until now Tierra Santa has been forced to purchase all its water in the form of large bottles that are very expensive. Now, not only will Tierra Santa be able to provide its children will all the drinking water they need, they will also be able to bottle water and sell it to the community, thereby providing a source of income for the home.

This is really an astounding step for the kids of Tierra Santa. They will soon be able to drink all the water they want to. Never before have they been able to do this.

So back to your question, how can EP kids help with the water situation. Well, thankfully, this problem has all but been resolved. We can be grateful and say that thanks to the help of others before us, Tierra Santa no longer has a water problem. The next issue to tackle, I suppose, would be food. Tierra Santa struggles every day to provide adaquate food for its children. Maybe this is the issue that you, as EP students, would like to help resolve for the kids of Tierra Santa.


3) What service project can we do to assist the kids at Tierra Santa?

Again, thanks for this terrific question. Right now the Eden Prairie School District through an initiative called Global Connect, has established two ways that we can help Tierra Santa. Those two things are constructing a new boys home for the boys of Tierra Santa and helping to provide funds to keep Tierra Santa children well-fed for years to come.

Currently Tierra Sanat boys live in two rental homes adjacent to the main Tierra Santa home. Over 15 boys are crammed into each of these homes, causing a less-than-ideal living situation for these boys. Also, besides the poor living conditions, these homes are rental homes which means the landlords could kick the boys out on a moment's notice.

It is imperative that Tierra Santa find a stable, suitable home for these boys. The plan is to build a new boys home on the Tierra Santa property. But, of course, this costs money. Oak Point is planning to do a fundraiser this spring to help fund the construction of the home. You, as OP students, could be instrumental in this effort. I'll be looking for OP kids to play leadership roles in this fundraising process. If you are willing to fill one of these roles, you will be helping the kids of Tierra Santa in a huge way! Let me know if you'll be willing to help!

Regarding raising funds for the food needs of Tierra Santa, we are always open to donations. Anytime you would like to donate money, throw a birthday party in which guests give donations to Tierra Santa rather than presents, or have a lemonade stand in your neighborhood, we would welcome that with open arms. I know that you could get very creative regarding ways in which to help the kids of Tierra Santa. They would greatly appreciate any help you could give them! You have the power to make a difference in the lives of these kids!


4) What is your goal to accomplish the next time you go to Honduras?

I will be returning to Tierra Santa over spring break 2009. Once again I'll be joined by a group of EP teachers, students and families. I cannot wait!

As always, one of main goals will be to build relationships with the kids of Tierra Santa. This is the greatest thing we can do for these kids. Remember, that these kids either don't have parents or never get a chance to see their parents. And at Tierra Santa, there are about 12 kids for every adult. These kids just do not get the adult attention that you do, nor do they get the adult attention they deserve. One of our greatest gifts for these kids is to just give them the attention they deserve - sit with them and talk, play games with them, do craft projects with them, whatever. Then most important of all, we continue those relationships with them after we leave Tierra Santa. These kids need us, and deserve our love and attention. Maybe one day you can visit, too, and forge a friendship with a child a world away.

We also hope to continue our work in the Tierra Santa preschool. On our most recent trip we prepped, painted and decorated the preschool room using materials we brought with us from Minnesota. The next step is to make sure the teachers at Tierra Santa have the skills and tools necessary to utilize this room to the best of their ability. Preschool is a foreign concept to most in Honduras. School starts at Kindergarten, unlike in the U.S. where many kids spend one or two years in preschool prior to entering kindergarten. Because of this, teaching preschool is not something teachers know how to do in Honduras. We hope to give the teachers at Tierra Santa the education they need to help teach these little preschoolers. Educating kids at ages 3, 4, and 5 will be a huge jumpstart for them before they enter kindergarten. Preshool has been shown to provide huge results for kids in our country. We hope the same will be said for Tierra Santa kids in the future.


5) What are some differences between the students at Oak Point and the kids in Honduras?

There are so many differences, but also a huge number of similarities. Tierra Santa kids are kids, just like you. They love to play games, they love sports, they love music and fashion, and they love to laugh and enjoy life. I wish you could meet all of them. You would have a blast hanging out with them and discover that they are very similar to you. Come to Tierra Santa with your family and discover this for yourself! Seriously, you can do it!

The kids of Tierra Santa are different from OP kids in some ways, though. This is true. Many of the kids of Tierra Santa had no schooling prior to coming to Tierra Santa, so in a lot of ways they are not as educationally advanced as kids from Oak Point. For instance, you might find a 13-year-old Tierra Santa child in third grade. That is because the child didn't come to Tierra Santa until they were 10, and never had any formal education prior to that. This is the reason why many Tierra Santa kids don't graduate from high school until they are 20 or 21.

Another difference is that many of the kids of Tierra Santa have had very difficult lives and have experienced very difficult things in their early years. They may haved lived on the streets prior to coming to Tierra Santa, they may have come from abusive homes, they may have faced severe hunger or serious health issues prior to coming to Tierra Santa. Kids in Eden Prairie, for the most part, haven't had to deal with these types of things in life, thankfully. Of course, these types of experiences shape the kids of Tierra Santa. Quite a few children suffer anxiety or depression due to the difficulties they have had in life.

Lastly, not to knock OP kids, but the work ethic of the Tierra Santa kids seems to be stronger that OP kids. Tierra Santa kids are constantly doing work around the home. They don't have custodians to clean up after them. They are responsible for keeping the home and school clean, for washing clothes, and for cooking meals. The kids of Tierra Santa work, work, and work. They take pride in their home and school and take the responsibility to keep things looking good around them.


6) How has this experience affected your life, and how will it help you in the future?

The experience I've had working with Global Connect and interacting with the kids of Tierra Santa has affected my life in huge ways. I'll never be the same because of it. I hope all of you can one day experience what I've experienced. You, too, will never be the same.

I'll never again wish I had a bigger house, or more "things." I now realize that I have enough. I don't need more stuff or more material things. The people of Honduras live with so little. It seems unfair, really, that we in America have so much and people in Honduras have so little.

One thing that struck me from the first instant I was at Tierra Santa was how happy the children and adults that live there are. They all have so little - little food, little water, just the basics in terms of shelter - yet they know how to enjoy life. They seem happy, they seem to know how to live life for the moment and enjoy the things that they do have. We in America have so much yet we struggle at times to be happy.

I've also learned a lot about love - as corny as that may sound. The kids of Tierra Santa are so loving. They open their arms to you for hugs and they have no hesitations about saying "I love you." It's really pretty amazing. Coming back to America I realized how important love is and that I shouldn't have any issues telling those close to me that I love them.

Lastly, I've learned to slow down and not to sweat the small stuff. Life in Honduras is so laid back, and people spend so much time just talking with one another and enjoying one another's company. In our society we're constantly busy, rushing off to the next important thing. In Honduras "NOW" is the most important thing. The other stuff can wait. Talking and chilling out with people is a priority. I really like that and hope to make that a part of who I am.

The lessons I've learned from the kids of Tierra Santa and the people of Honduras are huge. We often think in America that we have all the answers because we're such a rich, successful, powerful country. But we don't have all the answers. The biggest lesson I've learned from these experiences and the lesson I'll take with me in the future, is that you need to open your mind to learn from everyone you encounter in life, even the homeless 6-year-old.


7) Do you think you have made a good impact on these people’s lives, or do you think there is so much more to be done?

Both, really. I know that I've made an impact. Anyone who goes to Tierra Santa and chooses to make an impact, does. It may be small, it may not hugely change the lives of the kids, but going to Tierra Santa and working with the kids definitely has an impact on them. When they see people coming from the U.S. just to be with them, the kids of Tierra Santa feel valued and feel that their lives have worth. We take that for granted in our country, but these kids need to feel valued. Visiting them and becoming their friend, gives them that value.

It's the old saying, too, if I can affect just one kid, then all the effort is worth it. I really believe that. Perhaps one of the kids I meet will be inspired to go to college because of me, perhaps one kid will choose to study English because of me, perhaps one more kid will not go hungry because of me, perhaps one kid will have a roof above their head because of me. If one kid is affected because of my work, then it's all worth it.

But, yes, there is a lot more to be done. We've really just begun our work as partners with Tierra Santa. Eden Prairie Schools Global Connect has many more goals for this partnership. We want to educate as many EP students to the issues facing Tierra Santa and kids from all over the developing world, we want to raise funds to construct the new boys home, we want to lead many future trips to Tierra Santa giving these experiences to hundreds of EP students and families, we want to provide Tierra Santa with the food and resources it needs, and so much more. I hope you can be a part of all of these fantastic projects as we move forward in the future.

8) Because you have seen these kids, has it changed the way you think about how thankful and lucky you are?

YES! Is that a simple enough answer?

We are all lucky to live in the U.S. I know that now for a fact. The problems we have in this country dwarf problems that most Honduras live with on a daily basis. We have drinking water that flows endlessly from our taps, we have food stocked in our fridges and cupboards, we have cars, we have big homes with green yards, we have money to travel and buy the toys we want, we have safe neighborhoods, we have wonderful schools and colleges, we have high-paying jobs, we have garbage collection and clean streets, and we have a government that we believe in and feel a part of. I would safely say that most of us take most of these things for granted. But we shouldn't. We should wake up each and every day and be thankful for what we have.

But more important than being thankful for what we have, we should recognize what others around the world do not have and begin to do something about it. As Americans, we are part of the larger world and we need to remember that. We cannot isolate ourselves from the issues that face people around the globe. This is my opinion, you may disagree, but as members of the world it's not enough that we look out for the concerns of Americans, we need to look out for the concerns of everyone who shares the planet with us.

If kids are starving in Africa, if kids' homes are being bombed in Gaza, if kids are living amongst garbage heaps in India, those are our problems, too. We can't ignore these problems and pretend that they don't affect us. They do. We are very lucky to be America citizens. We need to not just recognize that, but also do something about it to try to make people around the world just as lucky as we are.

Remember, these are my opinions. Don't just read what I say and agree. Learn about these issues and come to your own conclusions. That is the important thing and why you come to school every day.


9) What do you think the process is for water purification?

I'm going to leave this last question unanswered, because in a few days I'll be posting a video that will answer it better than I can in words. You'll see video footage of the water purification building and a man explaining how it works.