Interviewing Kellan over breakfast at the Lazybones hostel in Léon, a woman walked up, saying she overheard us talking about Geneseo's work in El Sauce. She is Australian and riding her bike from Mexico through Central and South America, collecting stories about people who are trying to help communities and create bonds among cultures. Kellan told her about his full-time presence in El Sauce for two and a half years, and the economic development and tourism programs he's developed with the community. No one has "graduated" in traditional terms from the English classes, he said, but we have students have come three times a week for years and are using it to improve their career and their employment skills, like Manuel, who pedals a bike taxi for, at times, 10 cordobas (about 50 cents) a day and has to go to school only on Saturdays so he can work. He can't pay for glasses and gives all his money to his mother to care for the house and his brothers. Without a lot of skills, English can be his ticket to a job as a guide or working in the mayor's office or with a nonprofit organization. Claire asked the way to El Sauce, in case she can stop by. She's writing books on her trip and wants to put the Geneseo story on her Web site.
Check her out at Cycling for Cohesion
No comments:
Post a Comment