This is what community partnership looks like.
by Megan Herrera | September 17, 2020 | Springfield, MO
Last weekend, I had the chance to spend time with Arch United Methodist Church during their worship services. This is the church I grew up in, and the church that introduced me to Rainbow Network. It is always an emotional time to reflect on not only my personal journey of growing from a high school senior to a volunteer to a Rainbow Network leader, but also the journey that Arch has taken with their partner community, El Paraíso.
Our first trip to see El Paraíso was a simple stop on a Go & See-style trip in February 2010. We wandered up a cow path onto a piece of land, which was the place the community dreamed of building 25 homes. On the way back to the US, our group brainstormed and thought of all the people and churches that we could get involved with and make that dream of new homes a reality. Ten months of fundraising was all it took, including 30 different church presentations throughout northeast Missouri. So many people played a part in this project.
The following February of 2011, we traveled back down to participate in the beginning of the construction process and get to know the new home beneficiaries. We visited their current living conditions, which were essentially barracks on a coffee farm. Each family had a small corridor to sleep in and keep their belongings. There was no possibility of growing a garden, no lights for children to study at night, and no chance at living a successful, independent life. Living on a coffee farm could be considered modern-day slavery, and without a hand-up from an organization like Rainbow Network there really is very little chance that someone can break free.
Also during that trip we met moms who were walking three or four miles each way to the school every day so that they could cook nutritious meals for the children and make sure they received reinforcement classes each afternoon. We met children who had big dreams for their future, but saw no way of reaching their goals.
November of 2011 marked the dedication for the homes, in which we were honored to participate. There were an estimated 500 people who showed up to celebrate with the 25 families receiving their keys and a Bible that day.
Every trip since November 2011 has been an eye-opening experience. Every trip shows a new sign of development.
First, we saw fences put up and gardens being started. Then we saw families painting their homes and adding additional rooms and kitchens. We saw stores and sewing businesses start up and support families. We saw children running and playing without a care in the world.
The community we first met did not see the importance of finishing primary school, and now high school and even college are becoming the expectation. Families pay their mortgage payment a year at a time, usually in December during coffee season. Children are healthy. Parents are following in their children’s footsteps and finishing their education as well.
The culture of this small paradise has changed forever because of Rainbow Network and its generous donors who made opportunities available. The people are free.
This is what community development looks like. This is what community partnership looks like.
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