Volunteering & Volunteer Students

Irina Lorena is 36 years old and is attending the women literacy program of Camino Seguro/Safe Passage. She has five children, ranging in age from 10 to 18 years, and one grandchild. She is a single mother. Read her interview, by Volunteer Claudia Reuter of Germany.

How did you hear about the project of Camino Seguro/Safe Passage and when was it?

7 years ago, I heard people in the street talking. They said, there is a “Gringa” knocking on people’s doors and asking to take their children. Some of them were really skeptical, however, others said that she wants to send our children to school and wants to give us support. It took me some years before I came to the project, which was at that time in the church in front of the garbage dump entrance. I asked for a place for my eldest daughter. She was twelve and completing her 6th grade when she entered the project. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to pay her school fees any longer.

What about your other four children? Could they go to school as well?

At that time they weren’t at school. They came in 2003, and the little one in 2004, to the project. In the beginning I had some difficulties getting them in because we had brushed their hair and cleaned their clothes. I was always happy to talk to Hanley. When I told her about the problem to get my kids in the program, she arranged everything immediately.

What are your memories of Hanley?

She had a lot of quality and warmth; I haven’t seen it again in anybody else. She was so human with a big heart for everybody. We certainly miss her spirit.

Can you tell me a bit about your childhood?

I grew up with my grandmother and my three siblings in [Guatemala City's] Zone 8. Our house, which was just one simple room, made of wood with a dirt floor; we didn’t have any water, only electricity. My mother went to the United States when I was 4 years old. She was hoping for a better life and wanted to send us money but we never got it. She returned once when I was 18 but I haven’t heard anything from her again. My father left us when I was 11; I haven’t heard from him personally but I know he is alive. My grandmother hadn’t had a lot of money to send us children to school. I just went to school from the ages of 6 to 8. So I had to start working early.

What did you do for work?

I worked as waitress in a hotel and in many different factories.

What happened next in your life?

I lived with a man, the father of all my children. He worked, as almost all our neighbors did, at the dump close to our house. He was very violent with us and had many women. After I separated from him, I was alone for 6 years. In 2002, I met a new man. Soon I was pregnant again. At the same time I recognized a massive change in my body and realized that something must be very wrong with me. I weighed just 83 pounds and had yellow skin. Then I got the message that I was, indeed, very sick. I didn’t know what HIV was. Now I know, I will die sooner. I lost the baby and suffered a huge depression. The yellow color was because I have hepatitis B as well. I wasn’t sure which man had infected me, and because I know now everything about my illnesses and the infectiousness, I was very afraid my children would also be infected. However, as my first boyfriend died only 4 years ago from all different kinds of illnesses because of his weak immune system, it was clear that it was he. It is a miracle that all of my children were born healthy because my first boyfriend was violent and hit me even through my pregnancy; they were all born by Caesarean. God knew that and let them be healthy.

How are you living with that knowledge/certainty?

I’m very lucky Camino Seguro/Safe Passage provides me with the medications I need to keep myself healthy. Because of my weak immune system, I’ve already had to go twice to the hospital for a few days each. The last time was one year ago. Every time they asked me, where I want to leave my children, who will take care of them, I told them that I will do that. I will go home and raise my children. …I think they thought I wouldn’t leave the hospital. When I was ready to go, the doctor finally believed me! My children mean the world to me; they are great kids and I’m very proud of them. The oldest children know about my illness and are doing everything when they see I’m not feeling well. When I see their smiling faces, I know I have to be there for them and it gives me this energy to continue. I don’t know why this is happening to me; I may never know that.

And now, are you still living with your second boyfriend?

No, he was killed 3 years ago. We sold clothes next to our house on the street. Many people think that when you sell many clothes, that you have money. But this is not true, the clothes were not ours, we had to bring them back every evening and got the money for the clothes that were sold. On this day two men came and wanted our money, which we didn’t have because we hadn’t sold any yet. I was able to escape and ran away. A few seconds later I heard a gun shot, this was the shot with which they killed him. We had spent just three years together. He was one of the good men.

Could they find the men who did this?

Who are “they”? …No, never.

When did you come to Camino Seguro/Safe Passage?

I couldn’t help my children with their homework, who were visiting the project of Camino Seguro/Safe Passage already for 5 years, and I felt dumb. Then I heard about the “Alphabetisación” program of Camino Seguro/Safe Passage. In this program are women who learn the basic things like writing, reading and mathematics. I asked if I could attend. Two years later and I’m in my 7st Grade (1a Basico). Two times a week I visit “Alphabetisación”, helping a beginner’s class and learning. When our project CREA started, in which we are making jewelry; I became the first president.

In which way could Camino Seguro/Safe Passage help change your life?

Without Camino Seguro/Safe Passage my children couldn’t study and I wouldn’t know what I know now. I cannot – or don’t want to – imagine how my life would be without Camino Seguro/Safe Passage. Now, my children have so many opportunities for their future. My life changed completely, all our lives here did! We are almost all single mothers; our men are dead or with other women somewhere. It is necessary for many of us to know more about our rights and how we can continue our lives healthier and with a more positive direction. For me, it is like a big family. I enjoy being here to learn, the people are amazing here. Furthermore, we get these big food bags once a month, help with life skills and confidence, and medicine. With the selling of our jewelry I can earn money which helps me a lot and makes me very proud.

What are your plans for your future?

I live every day as if it would be the last, and I’m so grateful every day that God let me study. I want to see my children grow, study, and be good, happy human beings. I’d like to have a house made of stones and help people. I want to see the United States, to walk on a street when it is snowing…