Most of us wouldn't consider giving up our sacred vacation time to work at hard labour in a hot Central American country, but that's exactly what Wade Smith did.
Wade Smith works in the Mechanical Department at Abitibi Consolidated in Stephenville and only recently returned from Guatemala City, where he spent two weeks working on a school.
Mr. Smith signed up for the trip with a number of other men and women as part of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland. Each were responsible for their own travel expenses, bringing building supplies and of course, free labour.
"We have so much and they have so little," says Mr. Smith.
"There are two million people living in the city and to see so many of these children and families living in poverty is just heart wrenching."
A number of Canadian and US agencies have been sponsoring projects in Central America and Mr. Smith's group was only one of numerous others taking part in a two year project in Guatemala City.
"We are working on a trade school where the kids who attend will receive meals and an education."
Guatemala is still feeling the effects of a civil war and although it has ended, residents of the city who were involved in the war or were victims of it, are trying to escape poverty or looking for new careers.
"We have been helping children get an education but we can't send them back into poverty with no skills. We are helping them go on to learn basic trades so they can get meaningful employment."
A bunch of Newfoundlanders in Central America
Mr. Smith and his companions were the first Newfoundland group to lend a helping hand in Guatemala City, and they certainly left a lasting impression.
"Newfoundlanders have always been known as hard workers and I guess it was really noticed by other groups. On our second day we were three days ahead of schedule."
Those who were working on facilities for the new school had brought a trade or talent with them that would help with the construction. Labourers were needed for everything from laying cement to doing electrical wiring.
"I was really surprised with how much everyone helped in any way they could, and it was 30 degrees or more outside every day."
He also recalls that with Guatemala being in an active earthquake zone, construction required a little more rebar or reinforcement than usual.
"We had to use so much rebar compared to what we would use while laying cement for a foundation here in this province. We also used very little wood in our construction because of the termites that would just eat through it."
Another difference in construction noticed by Mr. Smith was their use of pine wood.
"We treat pine like it's gold in this province as it's expensive to buy. Down there we were using pine in forms when laying out cement," chuckles Mr. Smith.
He also recalls being surprised that his group didn't have a tougher time in customs when taking bags of galvanized nails, antibiotics and other drugs for hospitals in Guatemala. But there were no problems, and to his surprise, none of their bags was lost either.
Life in Central America
Once the group of Newfoundland travelers arrived in Guatemala City, they were bused to a gated compound, where gates were locked immediately behind them.
The city is located 4,000 feet above sea level and nestled between towering mountains. Mr. Smith recalls that even going to and from the work site, volunteers were bused back and forth, but were a little nervous about leaving the compound for other purposes.
"Armed guards were present at every building throughout the city but there were no major incidents, just one minor one (a stolen wallet)."
Mr. Smith says that he and a couple of his companions did decide to do a little exploring outside the compound, but didn't go far.
"On one of our bus trips we did see a man lying in the road who had just been shot. There were other men telling us to keep moving."
The city is a combination of both rich and poor but Mr. Smith says there are no social programs, such as pensions or security for the poor. In Canada, there is always somewhere to get a hot meal or sleep in shelters, while in Guatemala, there is nothing.
In comparison to Canadian provinces and cities, Mr. Smith says Guatemala City was dirty.
"But parts of the city were absolutely beautiful."
The foundation of a complex being contructed by volunteers in Guatemala City.
Wade Smith of Stephenville works with a couple of other Canadian volunteers to lay the foundations for a new school.
In Guatemala City, armed guards are a common sight outside most buildings.
This is the regular classroom setting for most children in Guatemala.
