What I will remember about "Roma Boots"

RISE's "Roma Boots" drop will forever be in my memories as one of the best things I have done thus far in my Peace Corps service.

Over 40 children were given rain boots to shield their feet from the harsh mud and snow that often prevents them from attending school.

There are many things about this event I can write about. I could write about the long absurd bureaucratic process and hidden fees my partners and I had to endure to get our boots through customs. I could write about crying because the clock was ticking and we couldn't get a health clearance for the boots. Or I could tell you about being stuck at the border for 6+ hours, coordinating separate individuals to meet each other in Romania to pick up our boots from Moldova with no money in my pocket to call but, figuring it out anyway. I could tell you about the RISE members' hard work taking inventory, bagging and taging all 200 pairs of boots, and then sitting outside forever trying to transport them back to Peace Corps! I could complain about the stress, the time, the people, the endless emails and the STAMPS!

Tarna Rom, helping us complete the paper work necessary for customs

But no, what I want to share with you is this:

On July 9th, 2011, Peace Corps volunteers and Samual Bistrian, "Roma Boots" founder, spent their time and money to go into a village they had never heard of before, to give out dearly needed supplies to impoverished Moldovan children.

Without much rehearsal or direction, these volunteers organized themselves, led a wonderful presentation about self empowerment, fitted and gave away boots to children in a tiny room, on a very hot day. They began to work in unison, with care and smiles.

And when all the papers were signed and the last pair of boots was given away, I looked around at all of the RISE members, and remembered Samuel's words about overcoming hardship. My final thought, "Thank you, this is why I joined the Peace Corps."

We took a last tour of Schinoasa with the local children as they played with us (and continued to try to get us wet! lol) and eventually said good bye to our newly made friends feeling that

on that day, we did something amazing!

This event was made possible by all the things I mentioned before, but more importantly, it was remarkable because it was truly a work of love, compassion and our deep commitment to spread peace and friendship. For many of us the embodiment of why we go across the world to help others is rarely something we can see, but our trip to Schinoasa was just that.

So what I will remember about our boot drop is deep wrinkles being formed by wide smiles on the faces of some of Moldova's most impoverished people. Watching children looking into their Roma boot bags, and admiring their shiny new boots with glistening eyes . Long hugs, endless thank you's, smiles filled with gratitude, an older women telling me "thank you for not forgetting us", my fellow volunteers who made me proud to serve my country along side them, and Samuel, who allowed us to participate in his dream.

What a truly memorable day!

Visit Samuel's ogranization's webpage here: http://www.romaprovisions.com/

Sam and I, "Roma Boots, giving poverty the boot!"

Brindusa is Heard in L.A.! News update from my center

Some of the amazing Brindusa Staff

Our year has been full of amazing people helping us reach our goals as educators and to provide love to our children here at our center. Even after all this we know there is still lots of work to do to bring our center up to speed with all we wish to do for our children.

Our play room continues to lack several things, our book shelves are falling apart, our walls need repairs and we would like to create a parent/child conference area for our parenting meetings.

So once again the Brindusa team and their Peace Corps volunteer (ME! :D) came together and asked themselves how can we repair our children’s room? They decided to take one of their strengths, arts and crafts, and make it into a fundraiser to reach their goals. We were going to create handmade greeting cards and sell them!

We all agreed that these beautiful cards could create more revenue for the center if we sold them abroad, hence Marlene Lopez reached out to her sister in Los Angeles Hiliana Lopez, and asked her for help.

Hiliana Lopez

Hiliana and several other people came together and decided they wanted to hold a fund raiser for the center and sell the cards there! With the help of Marlene’s family, sister and best friend Mercedes Vega, the Lopez family held a fun filled event at Mel’s Bar in Los Angeles with the slogan “Help the children of Moldova”.

Mel was kind enough to allow this event to happen there for free! The night was full of raffles, sales, dancing, and even popcorn!

The staff’s greeting cards were extremely popular, one attendee stated about the cards:“I regret not getting more! I have my card displayed at work at my desk and my co-workers asked if there were any more?! Bring some back to sell if you can! : D”

The night was a complete success and now the Brindusa center will be able to begin the repairs in their children’s room!

We thank everyone who made this event happen from the bottom of our hearts! You have truly helped the children of Moldova!

ONE YEAR IN!!

So I decided that I should update you guys on all the work I have been doing and share just how blessed my life has been up till now. :D

Marlene Lopez’s Peace Corps Service

Completed:

*One full year of English education in Lyceo Mihai Vitazul
* Created capacity building seminars around: Technology in the classroom, and Educational integrity.
*Wrote and facilitated a social theatre with Roma NGO Ograda Noastra
* Organized and executed a civic education weekend for Roma children with NGO Ograda Noastra.
*Began Mahala films project. Won a competition in Chisinau with the film “Hincesti Miracles”
* Created website, brochure, and promotional plan for the Brindusa Center, Hincesti.
* Began art program with children of the Brindusa Center.

Currently in Progress:

*Mahala Films competing in two competitions: Plural Plus NY, and Piece of Peace Corps Competition.
*Creating COD film with Mahala films, Plural Plus MD Film, and Documentary with Ograda Noastra.
*A grant with the Norwegian Embassy, computer lab, the Brindusa Center. Waiting for funds.
* PCPP grant with Lapusna Health center, sports equipment and health groups. In the 1st phases of project.
*Teaching 6a in Lyceo Mihai vitazul.
* Creating a volunteer program for the children in Mihai Vitazul, create bridge with the Brindusa Center.
* Create and help facilitate Diversity committee with Jonathan French Peace Corps.
*Small projects initiative for the Brindusa Center. Local fund raising education and training with local alimentaras.
* Design Mural for Erin Flynns English Project.
*Expanding Brindusa art lessons library.
* Collaborating with The Brindusa Centers Partner to help build a special needs playground for The Center for Disabled children, Hincesti.
*Funding for new furniture for the children of the Brindusa.

*Organizing trainings and events towards integrating and education Roma Children, Ograda Noastra

I am very proud of all the work Im doing I hope you all can join me in rejoicing in teh fact that I am finally finding my purpose in the world. I hope my second year is full of success and adventure in this land of wine and fruit.

love, the UL

Marmar

My story is not unique, but has definitely not hit mainstream either. The basics: Born to Guatemalan immigrants, who worked day in and day out to keep our heads above the water even in the most poverty stricken areas in Los Angeles. My education was a draw of the hat, a game that either gave me wonderful teachers that I would remember forever, or teachers that would help burn the stamp of a fuck up on my soul for the rest of my days. Sadly the good teachers were rare. I saw the differences between my community and others and I for the the life of me I could not put together how such a big disparity could exist. What was this monster that kept good people like my parents and neighbors so apathetic and over labored as others relaxed and never seemed to do anything? So I was a girl who felt angry, who felt something was being cheated from her, not a full bank account or nicer siblings but an opportunity to understand the world around her, so she too, may one day help those around her. At the end of the day that's what really dwelled in my heart the longing to help. Yes even that underestimated, "attitudy" kid in the back, who seems lazy but really is just discouraged WANTS to help. Not knowing how to do this I did what all teens do when they are lost; I drank! I partied, I ditched school, I hung out with some bad people etc. and I believed that those teachers, those Mrs. Solimans of the world! Until once day I got back the courage I had lost or had stolen from me (maybe both) and just stopped. I looked at myself and I didnt like who I was (this story will come later) and decided to go to college. College changed everything finally people were telling me the truth and all that injustice I thought I felt turned out to be real, I KNEW IT! :) I studied global politics learned the secrets of the intricate web of power, poverty and wealth, and so my monster became a multilayered SOB who had been rooted into the ground for centuries, so I began digging. Now after years of transformation, I am a Peace Corps volunteer in Moldova. Helping, or at least trying to help, and though I am not here to save the world I am here to put my two cents of positivity into the the jar of hope. I feel I can do that in a different way than most because of my past, because I am passionate about what I do because I know what it is to feel lost. I am one of the rare canidates that comes from my background hence my dynamic here is different, I see people I know and love in the eyes of some of the poor here all the time. This is what this blog is about, its about a once upon time that began with an underestimated latina who is not no longer this person; about the projects she is embarking upon and how she is finally learning how to help.

So this is a blog about my 2 year service and all the drama and success of the projects I embark upon I hope u enjoy two years of what an underestimated girl can do for the world.