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Guatemala City, Guatemala
Introduction
For those of you who don't know me personally this is a brief introduction, and also an explanation of how I have come to the decision to come to Guatemala to volunteer.
Who am I?
My name is Rory O'Connor I am 29 years old, from Ashford in Co.Wicklow, Ireland. I went to Ashford National School and De La Salle Wicklow secondary school. In 2004 I was awarded a BSc Degree in Construction Management by Waterford Institute of Technology. This qualification has allowed me to work as a QS, Site Engineer and most recently as a Project Manger both at home and abroad.
Why Volunteer?
My first experience of volunteering was while in South East Asia as part of the round the world trip in 2008'.Cormac Creed, a senior estimator, and life coach : ) whilst working in New York told me about a place I should visit in Cambodia that he had done a lot of fundraising for. To be honest I went there initially out of respect for Cormac and a feeling of duty. Myself and my good friend Mairead Lucey spent a little over a week only working in an Orpahange run by Mr. Chan Norn the founder of STC Cambodia. To be fair my expectations were blown away. The kids were so happy not just for kids with nothing, they were simply happy kids. All credit has to go to the people who run the place like a big family more so than a typical orphanage. The children were always happy to see you and appreciated every little thing that you did for them. Whether it be, buying them a pencil or playing a game of football with them the smile you got was ten times more reward for the act you had done. My time there has always stayed close to my heart.
The Decision to Come to Guatemala
Last March or April, I met a family friend Michael Dempsey who had just returned from Guatemala where he was volunteering as an English teacher. In fact he was my school principal many moons ago. Probably the most interesting cup of coffee I have ever had. He told me how EIL had set him up with Inlex a Guatemalan not for profit organisation. Inlex have a Spanish school near Antigua and also set up volunteers in positions they are suited to. The more Michael told me about his experience I knew that I had to do something similar. Something in my heart told me that of all the ideas going round in my head this one was right for me, and if I could use the skills I had as an engineer then even better. The chance to learn spanish also appealed in a big way I wont lie.
Why Now?
The last construction company I worked for went out of business over two years ago. Since then I set up my own business and completed a MSc. in Sustainable Architecture. I was busy sporadically, shall we say and the Masters helped to fill in the time when I wasn't so busy. I actually had been the busiest I had since April up until September, incidentally the time since I first heard about Inlex. If I am honest with myself I have been disillusioned with the capitalist search quest for wealth long since before Ireland got itself into the state it is in. It is hard to get out of the cycle however. Work dried up in around September which roughly coincided with a relationship I was in ending. To be fair neither, work or my ex girlfriend could have stopped me doing this sooner but I had them as barriers or excuses in my own head so as soon as I was single and work had dried up I knew where I was headed. Sometimes its easier to be pushed.
Getting Organised
I called EIL on Wednesday 7th of September. I finished my last project on the Friday before. I arranged an interview and went to Cork the following Monday and paid the deposit for the programme to start on the 27th of October. I could have went in September but I had a few loose ends to tie up and had to get the remainder of my fee together. i.e. borrowing what I could and selling anything that was sellable. With the little savings I already had I paid for my return flights.
EIL put me in contact with Joseph McLean. A volunteer who they had arranged a construction related placement with a small charity called Seeds of Help. Joe was very helpful and it was on his advice that I decided to fundraise money for construction materials for the project I would be working on. Joe explained that often the man power is available but simple materials such as cement or steel simply could not be afforded so times were often frustrating even with the best intentions.
Fundraising
I decided to host a poker night and a benefit night which included a raffle, an auction and a charity waxing to raise money. The poker night raised €350 and between the charity night and other private donations the remainder of the €2100 euro's was reached. My most sincere thanks to all who donated, or helped in any way, or went out of their way to attend either function. Special thanks to Elaine and Deirdrefor agreeing to wax myself and the lads despite what their stomach's may have told them. Gazza, Joey and Viv for agreeing to be waxed. Leighton for getting the Jerseys signed for the Auction. Debbie (Aristacuts), George (Chester Beatty's), Bash Barry (Martsworth), Nuala (Ashford Pharmacy) and Padhraic Humbey (Diageo) for providing vouchers and prizes for the raffle. Chester Beatties and Ernie's Bar for providing the venues. Mam, Dad, Trina, Shar, Viv, Sprock, Gaz, and Conor for encouragement and support for which I could not have held the functions without and support which made the trip possible.
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