CFS Guatemalan Style

Some of you, especially my child protection peeps, are probably wondering what happened with Kenia. Well unfortunately it wasn't the result that I, and for sure Kenia, had hoped for.

I busted my butt to get to the project early so I wouldn't miss Thelma as the plan was to go at 8:15 right after her meeting. On a beautiful morning, with the sun shining and trees abloom with the start of summer, on the way I ran into one of the guys from the shelter, Walter, who always goes out of his way to greet me. I typically see him early morning standing in front of a medical clinic waiting to wash cars, which is how he supports himself. Around this time the area is bustling with women cooking in their portable food stalls, people eating breakfast or waiting to get into the clinic.

What impresses me about Walter (who is 20) is that he just started school in the evening. Despite staying in a shelter 3 nights a week, and sleeping on the street the other nights, he has the motivation to go to school in hopes of having a better future. What is even more impressive is that he hasn't gone to school since he was a young boy, so is starting from square one, elementary school. He is currently in grade 6. That must be hard to take for a man his age, but he seems determined. I sat and chatted with him one day during which he told me that as a kid he didn't like school, and that at the age of 9 he got a job being an "ayudante" (helper) on one of the chicken buses. After some time he was able to drive the bus! Geez Louise, no wonder there are so many accidents if kids are driving here! It sounds like he and his family are estranged as he doesn't live with them despite them being in Antigua. His silence when I asked about his family tells me a lot, as do the battle scars on his face. Despite that, he takes very good care of himself physically, and if he could control his drinking (which I've heard is an issue for him), perhaps he really could have a better life.

Sorry for digressing...so I arrived early and Kenia wasn't there yet, which got me worried that she wasn't going to come. But she did, on time even, and greeted me with a big hug. Thelma eventually arrived as well after which we went to meet with a man who I later found out was a lawyer who works with the project (Nuestros Ahijados). He assists in cases where children are brought to Casa Jackson for malnutrition issues and as well, on human trafficking cases, as there is an agency affiliated with the project that focuses on that issue. I had hoped to work with that agency but unfortunately they don't take volunteers due to the sensitive nature of the cases they work with.

Thelma ended up ditching us as she had something else to do, and that left me terrified, that I would be on my own to try and understand what was going on and figure out what Kenia needed to do. So me with and my developing Spanish skills were left to meet with this guy.

He asked Kenia some basic questions after which he read from the report written following the removal of the children (for my CFS peeps, it would be like Long Form Particulars haha). Kenia seemed shocked by what was written, which was that she had abandoned the children in the market. On top of that there were allegations of physical abuse. She didn't understand the meaning of the physical abuse reference and that, combined with her shock at the details of the report, got me thinking that perhaps she is illiterate as otherwise she would have previously read what was said as she had her own copy. I had previously asked her if she could read, and she said she could. She also said that she signed a statement after the kids' removal as she trusted the organization (PGN) as well as the law. Now I am not so sure she can read and think that she may just be too ashamed to admit that she can't.

Regardless, Kenia adamantly denied the abuse allegations, and in regards to abandonment, explained that she had left the kids in the market for 1.5 hours while she walked around asking for money. She explained that she left them so they didn't have to walk with her and seemed genuinely surprised to hear about the various risks to children that are left alone, which the lawyer shared with her.

The lawyer was pretty direct with her but said he was asking her tough questions not to judge her, but rather to be able to give her the best advice. He asked about her origin, family, the fathers, whether she drank, used drugs, prostituted etc. It turns out that the father of the oldest 2 abandoned them and now lives in Houston, Texas. The father of my little mono is in Guatemala but is a drinker and provides no support.

Interestingly enough the laws on child support are pretty tough in Guatemala and fathers are sent to jail if they don't provide for their children. So one good thing that could come out of this situation is that someone could help initiate the process of getting Kenia some support for the children. But sadly in the meantime it is the single mother who is being punished for not being able to provide for her children.

The way Kenia answered the prostitution question made me wonder whether it may have been apart of her history, or current situation. Given her circumstances I could certainly see her resorting to it. I'm pretty sure the lawyer thought the same, but he didn't press her. I asked Kenia again when we were alone, and tried to validate the fact that women often do resort to prostitution when they are without options. But she denied it again.

What the lawyer then shared knocked the wind out of both of us I'm sure. The report stated that there would be no court hearing for the children until August (ironically on my birthday), and that in the meantime the organization that took the children, the PGN (basically CFS), would monitor the children and assess them medically, psychologically etc. to determine whether they had been maltreated. At the hearing Kenia would have to prove that she was not abusive nor neglectful, and as well that she had the ongoing means to support her 3 children.

The lawyer suggested that she gather all of the necessary documents and information first (a complicating factor is that Kenia is Nicaraguan while her children are Guatemalan). Secondly, he suggested that she go speak with the PGN to get a copy of what she signed in order to understand the case against her, and to be able to demonstrate that she had addressed the issues which led to their removal. Very similar to Canada.

He further explained that once she was ready she would need to meet with the judge to request an earlier hearing, and as well to request visits. Have I mentioned that she has already tried to meet with the judge 3 times without success? So clearly the process is not easy here.

We left that meeting stunned and dejected but continued on to the PGN in Central Park. Their location is really ironic to me as it is smack dab in the center of where the majority of the children of Antigua are working, which is technically against the law. You see little kids as young as probably 6, shining shoes, selling gum, scarves..anything. I'm not suggesting that there was no justification for Kenia's children to be removed, but there is a much bigger problem in Guatemala when it comes to child labour/neglect, which doesn't seem to be getting the same kind of attention.

Anyway, we show up at this very official office and luckily were able to meet with the social worker right away. This woman was very official, with a very intimidating presence, no smile and very direct. I myself was intimidated by her so can't imagine how Kenia felt. Before the two started talking I introduced myself and included that I did child protection work in Canada, but it was obvious that this clearly didn't impress the woman.

This "social worker" proceeded to shut down Kenia real quick. She didn't have an interest in hearing about the circumstances of the removal or what Kenia had been doing since. She simply relayed that she had no power to do anything, and that Kenia needed to go meet with the judge, and if she received an order from the judge to investigate further, then she would. Nothing would happen without the judge's order. In terms of visitation, she said that parents could only visit once a month at the hogar (kids home) and that each hogar had a different schedule. Kenia would need permission from the judge before she could go. The risk here was that if the set visiting day was at the first of the month, and she didn't yet have permission, then she would have to wait yet another month to see her kids. Probably more significant though, is that the children would have to wait to see their mother another month, and I can only imagine what they are thinking not seeing her for so long.

Not having very good social work skills, the woman talked over Kenia, more interested in getting HER points across. An example of what not to do as a social worker basically. Kenia tried to get her to listen, and even sssh'ed her at one point!  That kinda made me cringe as I knew it wasn't going to go over well. But, I would rather see her be bold and assertive rather than have her sit passively and just take what comes without question. She clearly wants her children back.

It was obvious to me that if this woman is Kenia's ongoing social worker, that even if the judge orders the PGN to investigate her situation, that it is not going to be easy for Kenia to prove that she is able to care for her children.

After we left the PGN Kenia was focused on gathering what she needed in order to see the judge, such as the kids' original birth certificates. So she and I went to the registration office and I helped her get them, although she ended up without one as she couldn't remember her oldest daughter's date of birth. That may seem really strange to you as birthdays are such a big thing for us, but birthdays don't have the same significance here, most certainly for those living in poverty. Many people have come to the shelter and not been able to answer when asked for their date of birth. It's sad to me that there are people who will never experience the excitement of celebrating a birthday; having a cake, party, anything..even just hearing Happy Birthday (well here it would be Feliz Cumpleanos). But again, our reality is not that of millions of people in this world.

I left Kenia to continue doing what she needed to do and asked that she call me next week or come by the shelter with an update.

That day I was feeling positive that Kenia had a pretty good shot at proving her case. She had a job doing housework for a woman (earning 1000 quetzales per month or about $130) and was able to live with her for free as well. But afterwards Thelma explained that according to the law, her earnings would not be considered sufficient, and neither would living with her boss. She would need to get a second job, find a place to live, and enrol the children in school/nursery while she worked. My Spanish teacher also informed me that typically there are a series of hearings, meaning not just the one planned for August, and that Kenia will have to prove over a period of time that she not only has what the children need, but that she can maintain it as well. It will involve monitoring by the PGN before they return. Now in principal this isn't a lot different than the system I work within in Winnipeg, but the delay in process, and with the parents having almost no rights in terms of visitation, information etc, I would say parents in Canada are much much better off. Especially with the great social workers I work with. Anyone like that witch would be weeded out reaaaaal quick :)

　



Maria and Kenia

I have some big updates!!!

So today as I was on my way to the bank around Central Park I passed by my favourite coffee shop, then by the man that I usually by my paper from. As always the same old woman was sitting there as well; I'm pretty sure she is homeless but she doesn't come to the shelter as she seems to be a drinker. I thought nothing of it as I passed by until I noticed another woman next to her who looked like Maria Esperanza. I kept going but then turned around just in case it was her. When I got close I realized that it was Maria, but she looked nothing like herself. Her face was red, puffy, she looked out of it, and was not in great spirits, which she confirmed to be true by saying "me molesta" (I'm annoyed, bothered). A woman selling papers came over right away and explained to me that Maria had had several attacks that morning, and had fallen many times in the park which she sleeps in. The woman told me that Maria was having so many attacks because she didn't have her pills for epilepsy, which I had always thought was the problem, but it had never been confirmed until then. She also said that the night before the police had come and thrown Maria's clothes in the garbage, which made me so mad!! Maria sat there catatonic as the woman and I talked.

I asked what kind of pills she took and Maria was able to tell me. I don't know if what I did next makes any sense because it certainly isn't a long term solution, but I said that I was going to get her some pills, and off I went...

So I go to the first pharmacy that I see close to Central Park, which is also gringo central (meaning lots of tourists) where I'm told that they have the same medicine as what I needed, but a brand name. It was going to be like $40! I knew that Maria wasn't buying these pills as she would never be able to afford that, so I went back empty handed to tell Maria that I would try and find her pills that afternoon, and that she should come to the shelter that night. I wasn't sure whether it would sink in given how out of it she seemed, but went on my way. As I was leaving, my newspaper guy was giving Maria some food which was nice. So from now on I'm not going to buy my paper from anyone else but him as he clearly has a good heart...

That afternoon my Spanish teacher explained that medicine is very expensive in Guatemala, especially when you don't buy generic, which some pharmacies don't sell, especially the gringo ones. So thankfully with her help, that afternoon I found a local pharmacy and bought probably close to 10 days pf pills, for $4. I was pretty proud of myself!

That night Maria arrived at the shelter and much earlier than normal. She still wasn't herself and almost seemed like she had been the night when she got upset about losing her shoes. She looked mad and said nothing to nobody. There was certainly no smile like the one I usually see from her. I gave her one packet of pills and asked the staff whether the rest can stay at the shelter for them  to dole out. They said yes thankfully so I am thinking that maybe that will help to ensure that she gets them. I am also thinking about how I can get her to the project's medical clinic where she can see a doctor and get free medication. Will have to figure that one out yet...

Alex told me that her attacks started early Tuesday morning (the morning after I had been there). She fell twice in the shelter early that morning causing them to call an ambulance. Apparently her vitals were okay so the paramedics left her and soon after she went on her way. But it seems like this is a bad week for her. The only good news is that it is possible that the police didn't actually throw her clothes out, as Alex said that she had left at least one bag at the shelter the day she had her attacks. It's not surprising that she forgets so many things given all the falls she takes..

Now, the most exciting thing happened as well tonight. I was manning the gate as usual (and I am proud to say that I am getting better at assessing when people are under the influence). I actually told one man that he couldn't come in once I had talked to him a bit, which is even more challenging given that I have to do it in Spanish!

So at one point I heard someone clang on the gate and went to see. I can never tell who it is until I get there as it's dark. Well, it was Kenia! We kissed eachother's cheeks like old friends..it was so good to see her! She told me that there was still no progress in getting the kids back. It's been 3 weeks now, and she still can't get a meeting with the judge, and still hasn't seen her kids. She told me that she had come just to see me, to see whether I would come with her the next day to try and meet with the judge. I have to say that I felt pretty honoured to have her ask me that. It turns out the following morning I was going to the same place (Chimaltenango) to help with a clothing drive, so I started to think about how I could make it work. Then I thought that we better talk with Alex to find out what the best thing to do would be.

As we talked I got more information about her situation, which sadly is similar to Canada's dark child protection history with Aboriginal people. The day the kids were taken Kenia signed something while in the organization, but she doesn't know what it said. She said she is tormented with not knowing where her children are, and more so, is worried that they will be adopted out, perhaps out of the country. Sound familiar? Alex and I both told her that wouldn't happen. Thankfully my mom had just told me about a documentary that she had seen about an adoption scandal in Guatemala where children were essentially being sold. After the scam was discovered, the country tightened things up and now out of country adoptions are prohibited.

Kenia seemed to feel somewhat reassured after hearing this, but is still clearly suffering with the delay and lack of knowledge about her children. She said that there has been no help from the organization that took the children, and no information about the process. She was quite animated as she talked about how stupid the process was and how those that were involved were like animals. She just couldn't understand the reason for them being taken. As a result Thelma and I explained to her how there was a huge problem in Guatemala with children being exploited, sold and trafficked...well she had no clue.

I of course have been involved in the same kind of work that Kenia now despises, but thankfully in Canada parents have rights, there is a formal legal process, and as well there is help for parents trying to make things better for them and their children. This is not the case in Guatemala unfortunately.
 

Alex suggested that Kenia secure a lawyer to help get the process going and it sounds like there is something like Legal Aid which she wouldn't have to pay for. We also talked with Thelma who seemed to know more about the system. She said that the process usually took 3 months. Kenia pulled out a report that had been written about the circumstances of the removal (to all my CFS peeps, it's kinda like Long Form Particulars I would say, haha). I didn't have the opportunity to read it tonight but I sure want to. According to Kenia it isn't accurate. For example it says that she is a beggar and that they had been homeless and staying in the shelter. Well Kenia had only been without a home for 1 week and they had only stayed at the shelter one night. So perhaps they don't have the facts straight..Regardless, she is still working, has a place for them to live, and she has already bought a bed and other things. She continues to impress me with the speed at which she is pulling things together. I would be returning her kids ASAP in this situation and at most be going for a Supervision Order if I were her social worker :)
 

Bless her heart, Thelma offered to go with Kenia to the organization that took the children. I offered to go as well so that's the plan, first thing in the morning for the three of us to go! I not only want to learn about the process here but also want to see that the ball gets rolling for this family that I have become so fond of. I have learnt, right or wrong, that in developing countries, being a foreigner brings a certain prestige or power. So if my presence there will bring extra attention to this family's situation, then great...

So tomorrow it is..stay tuned!!

Mikayala

I love when people connect with my stories, and the people that are in them. I've received posts asking "have you found your mono?" or asking about the mother who lost her kids. Your interest motivates me to keep writing, and about them, because really, it's the people who make an experience.

Kenia hasn't been back to the shelter in a week. I think that's a good sign though, as she must be working and getting her place in order in hopes of getting her kids back (including my little mono). I wish I could find out what happened, but unfortunately in these parts, one can't just do a surprise home visit to check on them. I have no idea where they are but hope they are together once again.

I'm a little worried about Henry, the guy who once lived in Canada, as he hasn't been around for more than a week, which is not like him. His appearance varies greatly each time I see him, sometimes with him looking really ill, likely mentally ill, so I hope he is okay. I want to have the opportunity to call his mother as he requested of me, to find out more of his story, and as well as to see whether his family will help him. Unfortunately, I suspect that they have given up on him.

Blanca has been MIA for about a week as well but I don't worry about her really, as she most likely has a new boyfriend. She's also quite a spunky girl, and resourceful as well, going from place to place where people feed and take care of her. So I'm sure she will be alright.

Unfortunately though, Blanca and Maria Esperanza (my favourite) got into a little spat a couple weeks ago and haven't talked since. So that could be apart of it too. Women are so funny!! The spat was over Maria's shoes going missing at the shelter. How that was Blanca's fault I have no idea, but I sure saw another side of Maria that night. Boy was she mad! Lying on her mat with her arms crossed, refusing to eat and saying she wasn't coming back. It wasn't nice but the staff and I kinda chuckled about her snit given that she probably didn't even lose her shoes as she forgets things all the time due to her illness. Thankfully she did come back to the shelter though and seems to have forgotten all about her lost shoes. But she and Blanca are no longer best buddies which means that Maria is on her own in the park these days. I jokingly told her I would join her, but I know that I don't have anywhere near the strength that she has.

This week Monday was the most interesting night at the shelter. Normally there are between 20-25 people, with most being regulars. Well early into the night, a big group of about 9 people (with 7 being children) showed up with lots of burlap bags, filled with what, I'm not sure. The younger boys were helping carry them, and bent over from the weight as they brought them inside. Well then another group showed up and before long we had I believe 3 families with about 18 kids in total!! As one man said as he entered, it's like a party of children!  

Well as it turns out, a whole slew of families came from Huehuetenango that day, and it took the whole day as it is super far. The purpose was to look for work, most likely in the coffee farms as the area surrounding Antigua is a big coffee area. Unfortunately there was no work to be found though, and no way for them to go back home until Wednesday (2 days away) as that was when their bus was returning. They had no money to return any other way, which meant they had to wait, with no place to stay.

Thankfully someone told them about the shelter and so in they came. The kids were pretty grubby looking but took advantage of the showers and came out happily, looking much better. The adults looked old and worn, certainly not the parents you would expect of such young children.

There were lots of little ones, pretty shy and well behaved just like I like 'em :) Well there was a little girl that I fell in love with from the get go. Her name was Mikayala, about 3 years old, with hair in pigtails, a big elf-like grin with a couple teeth missing, chubby cheeks, and oh just the cutest thing! She got a little braver with me as the night went on and so we played around, her always with that big grin as she looked at me. I wanted to eat her she was so cute!

The people just continued to come, and come and come like no other night. Some regulars, some new. Then I started to get worried that there wouldn't be enough food! We never know how many people are going to come but the amount of food is always the same, so there is always a risk, like this night, that we would run out. So the big tub of soup arrived, as well as atol de platano (a thick plantain filled warm drink), but no bread. Well if you've spent any time in Latin America you will know how important bread is here. There are bakeries on ever corner and everyone eats bread (if not tortillas) with their meals, especially in the evening it seems. So the thought of all these people eating soup without bread...well I just couldn't handle it.

So off I went to the panaderia (bakery) to buy bread (or rather buns because really that's what they eat here rather than loaves of the kind we do). So for 40 quetzales (about $5) I was able to get bread for over 40 people, with them being able to have seconds. Gotta love Guatemala for that! Everyone happily ate their soup, bread and atol, with even the little kids coming back for seconds. You could tell everyone was content. They've probably never had a free meal in their lives! And I say this because the parents had sent the older kids out to buy tortillas, thinking that there wasn't going to be a meal. That's all they were going to eat, tortillas, which sadly is very common in the poorest parts of Guatemala. 

After dinner the kids got braver and all crowded around me, with one of the older girls taking advantage of the opportunity to practice her English. I was really impressed as she knew all her colours and some body parts. It may not seem like a lot, but here, having a command of English, or even just some, could mean a much better future for her. So before I left I encouraged her to keep learning.

I just had to take a picture with my little Mikayala, and then the rest of the crew joined in as well. I sure didn't want to leave that night, especially when as I was leaving many of the kids came up and gave me a kiss on the cheek or a hug. How sweet is that!

Well the next day all I could think about were these children who would be sleeping in the park. The youngest child was only 2 months old and it's so cold to be outside at night. Many of you probably saw my Facebook post about this as it bothered me greatly.

I have to say it again..we all think that we have it bad at times, and with my infamous Debbie Downer nature I am certainly guilty of this as well. But everyday that I am here I think about how lucky I am, and how the rest of you are as well (you all know who you are!!). As we really have no idea just how bad it can be...

If you care to see a picture of my sweet Mikayala, please like my Facebook page "Karuna in Guatemala" which I created in honour of the shelter in Antigua :)

My Little Monkey

This will shock some of you, but I was really looking forward to seeing a little boy at the shelter on Saturday night.

On Wednesday night, a mother arrived with her 3 young children, 2 girls (about 11 and 7) and a little boy (4). The mother, who I now know as Kenia, gave me a kiss on the cheek as she entered, common in the latin world, but not at the shelter. So it caught me a little by surprise. After entering the little boy immediately put his hands up for me to pick him up, but not being one to encourage indiscriminate behaviour, I avoided it.

As soon as they came in the mother went straight to work washing their clothes. And she washed, and she washed. The girls eventually joined in as well, scrubbing away while their little brother bounced around the shelter like a ball in a pinball machine. I started calling him "mono" which means monkey as he was climbing on everything! A little Curious George he was, very cute, making faces and playing around with me. He was pretty cheeky for such a little guy, getting me back by calling me "mona" meaning female monkey! Loved the kid..

They sure must have had a lot of clothes as they washed forever, then took everything outside to dry. The little guy even walked out with a pail of clothes that he could barely carry.

We eventually served dinner, which happened to be donated pizza, so of course that was a hit with the kids. But perhaps not so much for the traditional, elderly men that were there as well.

After dinner I said my goodbyes and away I went..

On Saturday I was working the gate when Kenia arrived solo. Confused, I asked where her kids were? I was told that they were now in a hogar because she didn't have a home or job for them.

At the time I thought she had taken them there herself, as she presented as very matter of fact about them being in the hogar, with perhaps even an air of relief, of freedom. I myself was sad to hear it though, as the kids had presented as quite close with her, and of course thinking of my little mono who was so cute. It is rarely easy for kids to be separated from their mother, I know that too well after so many years in child welfare.

I didn't talk more with Kenia that night but Telma, one of the staff did, and she felt as well that Kenia seemed fine with her kids being gone. Telma felt that it was better for the kids to be in the hogar, explaining that on the street they would be at risk of being sexually assaulted or trafficked. Plus, how could Kenia work and at the same time look after her kids?

Two days later, on Monday night, Kenia arrived again by herself, and this time looking very sad. After she had settled in I went to talk to her and she was clearly struggling with missing her kids. It was then that I learnt that she hadn't dropped them off herself, but that instead a government organization had seen her with her kids in the street and had taken them from her. In Guatemala it is prohibited for parents to have their kids with them while they are working, say in the market, or living on the street.

I have been on my fair share of apprehensions, removing children from their parents, and it was never fun. Despite my experience doing the same work, I still couldn't imagine what it was like for these kids to be caught by surprise in the street and to have been taken from their mother. The oldest girl had seemed quite concerned about and close with her mother at the shelter, and my impression was that they were a tight knit family.

Well in 2 days Kenia had already found a job cooking and cleaning at a church, and had found them well a room as well! I was so impressed with her! She had also already gone to see a judge about getting the kids back, but unfortunately the judge was out (probably having a siesta), so she had no choice but to wait. She explained that once in front of a judge she would explain her case and that social workers would come and investigate whether she had what she needed for the kids. She had no furniture yet but felt that it would not be essential to the kids coming home.

I tried to get a sense as to how she had ended up in this situation. She said she has always worked and provided for her children. She once had a home but when she went to visit in her home country, Nicaragua, people broke into her home and basically trashed the place leaving them without a home to live in. The fathers, and there are 3, are not involved, but she seems to have some support from her in-laws.

Perhaps it was a dumb idea, but I did tell her what I did in Canada, essentially that I was the same as the people who took her kids away from her. When I talked about us taking away kids for reasons such as abuse, drugs etc. she seemed to get that, as it wasn't her situation. But she thought it was "malo" (bad) for kids to be taken in her circumstance, as she felt she was able to provide for her kids. She said they had never slept in the street because they had family that they stayed with. Despite having the option to stay there herself, she had chosen the shelter that night, as it was less crowded and more peaceful for her, She told me that there were 8 people in a two room place where she and her children would stay. Meaning 12 people in 2 rooms. I didn't get into the safety risks for the children when they don't have a stable place. Regardless she is doing what she needs to do to get back on her feet for her and her children.

So whether she gets them back, and when, will be up to the judge. She is worried about how they are doing without her and hopes to be able to see them. From what I am told, visits aren't something that are encouraged here, and don't seem to happen often or at all. It is felt that when the kids cry for their mother, that it causes emotional trauma and that as a result they are better off not seeing their parents. I explained to her that in my opinion, it was important for her to see the kids if she could, as kids often worry about their parents, and need to know that she is ok. She agreed and does seem to care about them a lot. I hope she will be able to see them.

Kenia was quite emotional, which made me feel for her, but it was certainly better to see than the first night when she seemed content.

I work again tonight (Wednesday), so I look forward to an update from her. I sure hope for the best...