Diversity at NPH

In spring, 2016 NPH USA created the Diversity Taskforce within our International Volunteer Program. The goal of our taskforce is to help ensure that NPH and NPH USA are diverse organizations that reflect the children that we serve and love.

 

NPH volunteers from around the world are a diverse group, and don't always fit the stereotype of how others may expect a "gringo" volunteer to look. Volunteers of color can face stereotypes, awkward questions and lots of teachable moments about race and ethnicity while serving at NPH.  Former volunteer and Diversity Taskforce member, Kimmie, shares some reflections from her volunteer year in Honduras in 2010-2011. 

"You look like Mulan.""Are you related to Jackie Chan?"
"Put your hair in a bun like they do in your country."
 
It never occurred to me that my race would come up as a volunteer at Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos Honduras. I’m mixed race (Asian and white), but it honestly hasn’t been much of an issue in the United States. Don’t get me wrong – I’ve experienced a slew of microaggressions (mostly of the "Where are you from? No, where are you FROM?" variety). Most upsetting were the occasions when people wanted me to explain why I didn’t speak Vietnamese. Because apparently bringing up someone’s painful family history is an acceptable consequence of satisfying one’s own curiosity. But I won’t pretend to have it as bad as many people of color in this country do; no, if people make assumptions about me, they tend to be positive.

So imagine my surprise upon arriving at El Rancho Santa Fe and immediately being labeled “la china.” And yes, every one of the above statements is a direct quote from a pequeño. I remember one night early on in my volunteer year, all the kids gathered in talleres (workshops) to watch the latest Karate Kid movie and every time the little Asian girl appeared, I would hear shouts of my name. It was crazy. I don’t even think I look particularly Asian (I know that most people who ask about my heritage just want to know why I’m brown). It wasn’t just on the Ranch. Walking around the streets of Tegucigalpa, people would frequently point at me and refer to me as “la chinita.” I kind of get it. Honduras has a surprising number of Chinese restaurants run by immigrants. Latin Americans are used to gringos looking a certain way (blond, blue-eyed). I suppose they were trying to make me fit into their schema somehow.

I did my best to clarify. My dad is Vietnamese, a refugee of the war. My mom is white. Both are American, as am I. This sometimes backfired. One night, I was eating with the boys in the hogar Arca de Noe and my ethnic background came up. 12 year-old Carlos insisted I must be Chinese. I explained that I was half-Vietnamese and that Vietnam is a country to the south of China. “Ohhhhh,” he replied. “I know. You’re a geisha.” Another volunteer tried to delicately explain what a geisha was, which only resulted in him requesting that I paint my face and entertain him. Fail.

Despite incidents like these, I did have my share of success. I worked in the hogar for the oldest girls, Hijas de Pilar. I developed incredibly close-knit relationships with my girls. Through those connections, I was able to share my background with an audience that cared about me and wanted to understand who I was. It was incredible to watch the girls jump to my defense. When a young boy asked me to say something in Chinese, María explained, “She’s from the States. She speaks English.” Sometimes they were a little too forceful. Upon hearing me called “chinita”, Sara exclaimed, “She’s Vietnamese, you moron!”

As a volunteer of color, you have to walk a fine line. You want to be respected and have your identity honored, but you have to remember you are in a foreign country with its own cultural norms. In Honduras, it’s quite common to use nicknames based on appearance. One of my girls was “Pecas” (“Freckles”) and a dark-skinned boy in the baby house was referred to as “Frijolito.” This might be considered offensive in the U.S., but we have to be careful that we’re not trying to bestow wisdom on the ignorant natives (hello, Savior Complex). I also recognize that it’s problematic to ask people of color to constantly educate. It’s never bothered me personally, but I think it’s inappropriate to make assumptions about whose job it is. I’m okay with taking on that role, especially with kids, because I know their questions come from a place of curiosity rather than malice.

Being a volunteer of color was definitely an interesting experience, but it didn’t define my year. What defined it was relationships. Relationships like the one I had and continue to have with Carlos. He still calls me Geisha, but it’s now a tongue-in-cheek term of endearment. He recently drew this picture of me as a new mother. He sees my race, but he sees me too. And that’s what’s important.

 

 

 

 

We left with our hearts full of love for the NPH children….

Below is a reflection written by sponsor Victoria Lloyd after her she, her husband, and their three young children visited NPH Mexico this summer.

In July my husband, my three young children and I spent a week at NPH Mexico. After meeting the Pequenos last fall during their tour in the Boston area, we were eager to see the children again and become more involved in NPH. Having never done anything like this, we went not knowing what to expect, or how our own children, ages 9, 10 and 12, would react to such a different environment. Would they be able to relate to these children whose lives are so different from their own, who don’t speak the same language, and who have experienced such great difficulties and in some cases, tragedy, in their young lives?

After a few hours in the home, we realized we had nothing to worry about. Seeing our own children and the children of NPH play together, without sharing a language, made us realize why we became involved in NPH in the first place. These are kids, just like ours, who want to play, laugh, connect with people who care about them, and just be kids. And that is exactly what NPH does for them. During our week, we saw how hard the caregivers and all of the employees work to provide a safe and loving childhood for these kids. Our job, we quickly realized, was to just reinforce that love and let the children know how blessed we felt to be even a small part of their lives. 

During the week we had the opportunity to play with the kids, do arts and crafts with them, and help out in repainting their basketball and volleyball courts. Through all of this I was amazed at how my own children and the Pequenos were able to connect and enjoy each other. It didn’t matter that we don’t speak Spanish, we created bonds with the kids that transcend language. Seeing my own kids and the Pequenos laughing over inside jokes they somehow created together, making up dances together, braiding each other’s hair, playing a spontaneous game of tag, or frisbee, or any other activity that kids do during their summer vacation, made us realize we had done the right thing in going on this trip. Our kids have been asking since our return, “Can we go back there at Christmas instead of doing Christmas?” 

We went to the home bearing suitcases full of supplies that our parish donated to the home, and we left with our hearts full of love for the children of NPH. Though it may not be for this Christmas, we know we will definitely be back!

 

 

 

 

By the end of my week there, I wanted to stay forever!

Below is reflection written by sponsor and Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Junior Board member McKenzie Perkins.

 

My time that I spent at the NPH home in the Dominican Republic was easily the best and most life-changing week of my life. From the moment I stepped foot in the house I was going to be spending time in, I knew that these kids would forever change my life. Spending time in the park with all of the kids was by far my favorite time throughout my week there. Every afternoon was spent on see-saws and monkey bars, or playing a game of soccer. Seeing their constant smiling faces made me realize how truly special NPH is and how the children that live here are truly happy. I made connections that I will never lose. By the end of my week there, I wanted to stay forever. Saying goodbye to some of the best friends I have ever made was one of the hardest things I have had to do. Even though I know I will be back to see them, it was devastating to leave their beaming faces when my time there came to a close. I cannot begin to imagine what my life would be like without NPH, all the children I met, and my godchild in my life.

 

 

Meeting our God Daughter after 15 Years!

Below is a post written by Northwest Regional sponsor, Barb Schultz! Last month she visited NPH Nicaragua and got to meet her goddaughter for the first time in person! Here is her story: 

We first encountered NPH through our parish in Sumner, WA.  My daughter, Megan, and I attended an event to see the dancers from one of the homes perform, and then heard the amazing stories from some of the pequenos.  God led our family to a decision to sponsor a child – so my daughter picked little Marbely from the photos posted on the big board in the lobby of the church.  Her birthday was the day before Megan’s so she thought that was pretty special.

For these past many years, we have sent our monthly donations, and written letters and cards back and forth with Marbely.  I always thought it would be wonderful to meet her someday, but to be honest, I never really believed it would happen.  Nicaragua seemed another world away.

Then this spring, I got the annual postcard in the mail announcing the NPH NW’s yearly trip.  I was just ready to send it to the recycle bin, when suddenly it hit me.  This year they were visiting Nicaragua, Marbely, now 22,  would soon be leaving the NPH home there, and Megan’s summers at home in between college may be limited in the future.  This was our chance!

We took the leap of faith and booked the trip – so excited to meet our god daughter after all these years.  Luck was with us and Marbely was at the home on break from the university where she had just begun classes. 

I was a little anxious about how our meeting would go since our communication had been pretty basic in letters due to the language barrier.  But when we first met, all fears dissolved.  We hugged as if she was truly another daughter/sister.  A little shy at first, Marbely was more and more talkative as the week went on.  Her basic English and Megan’s basic Spanish (and both laughing at my attempts to speak) worked well enough for us to share how excited we were to meet her and see the home that has been hers for all these years.  We talked, we laughed, we taught each other card games and played soccer.  It was truly a touching experience for all 3 of us.  We even managed to involve my husband and son by sending voice messages over a phone ap. 

By the end of the week, Megan felt like she truly had a sister and I another daughter.  There were lots of tears and hugs when it came time to say goodbye – for now.  We’ve already been in touch several times since arriving home.  We have a real person on the other end of our letters and messages now, rather than just a name and photos.  She is part of our family and we love her!

 

Siblings Beyond Borders

Ashley, a former volunteer at NPH El Salvador, never imagined she was going to find the brother she always wanted so far away from home.

For as long as I can remember, I had always wanted a brother in my life and it didn’t matter if they were older or younger. I didn't care which. However, I'm the oldest of three sisters so I had long ago accepted my reality, that is, until I came to NPH El Salvador as a volunteer and met Jameson* in 2013.

Though Jameson appears in many photos from my previous visits to the home, I didn't get to know him until I moved to El Salvador. We bonded over washing dishes after dinner, or when we would tell jokes and talk about our lives while leaving the office for the day. One time, Jameson convinced me to try a pepper that he picked from a nearby tree. "I promise it's not hot! Try it. You'll like it." Well, it was the hottest and spiciest thing I have ever eaten, and I had to chug water to relieve the misery. He's never let me forget that moment.

He's one of the few pequeños who told me his story, about his life before NPH. He knows about my life and the personal struggles I have faced. Our mutual trust is something I've never taken for granted, as I know how hard it can be to share. We offer one another counsel and advice, share our hopes and dreams, and laugh like there's no tomorrow. I can't say that enough, we laugh so much when we are together.

When Jameson graduated high school I made him a small collage of a picture of us and pictures of his biological sisters (who are no longer with NPH). I found them when I was archiving old NPH El Salvador pictures for the home. He didn't have any pictures of his sisters until then. Jameson told me it was the best gift he had ever received. I went back to my room later that day and cried. I thought it was just a piece of paper with a few pictures, but it meant more to him than I ever expected.

There is this connection between Jameson and I that I've never been able to explain. We just clicked one day and started calling each other brother and sister. He is a very special person in my life, and I always tell people about my two sisters (he also calls them his own sisters) and my brother.

A few months before I moved back to the U.S., I asked Jameson if I could sponsor him. He said ‘yes,’ and from that point on, he started calling me his "hermadrina." This is a word he made up that is a combination of the Spanish words for ‘sister’ and ‘godmother.’

To me, hermadrina is one of the highest honors a person can hold. Getting to know Jameson over the years and to have him in my life is one of the greatest blessings. He is in college now, and I am so proud! Jameson is a wonderful person, and I know he will change the lives of everyone he meets.”

*Name changed to protect privacy

I became a sponsor because Kendra, Madelin, Lily, and Livia changed my world...

My name is Anna Ricci from Renton, Washington.  I want to share a bit about why I became an NPH sponsor.  I had the privilege of traveling to the home in Honduras and becoming more involved with NPH last year.  While in Honduras, I met my adorable and fantastic Goddaughter Livia.  While there are many reasons that I could share about why I felt compelled to sponsor Livia, the most impactful of these occurred during my visit to Honduras. To try and give you the best image of my experience I would like to introduce you to a couple of people who I had the blessing of spending time with while I was there….

First is Kendra.  Kendra is a feisty, strong-willed 10 year old who grabbed my hand one evening and insisted that I sit next to her during dinner.  Kendra’s house eats in silence, so we didn’t have much time to get to know one another.  Instead we broke bread together without words.  Kendra held my hand, taught me the norms of her family with grace and compassion, and laid her head in my lap when she finished eating.  The innocence that Kendra accepted me with was truly moving.  She didn’t need to know anything about me to invite me into her home, her family, and to care for me.  She accepted me without conditions and without question.  I did not have to do anything to be worthy of her praise, I just was. Kendra embodied Christ’s grace in the most raw form.

Next we have Madelin and Lily.  These two highschool girls walked into a space in my heart that my own students at Eastside Catholic School also occupy and made an ordinary evening truly sacred. Immediately after being welcomed into their home, Lily was braiding my hair, showing me her uniform, commenting on how long her skirt was, and telling me all about the boy she was interested in.  Madelin was my dancing queen.  She danced the night away with me despite my lack of coordination or rhythm, and my frequent eruption into odd American dance moves.  She was willing to be silly with me, we laughed constantly and ended up sweating profusely-but that still didn’t stop us. At the end of the evening the girls gave me hugs and said that I wasn’t old enough to be a teacher, but they would believe me when I came back with my students.  I still feel the vulnerability of this moment.  The honesty, joy, and authenticity of our evening is what I will continue to strive to create with my own students in the U.S.  They were my teachers and I their student.

And lastly for Livia. Livia was one of the first girls I met when we got to the home.  I brought a coloring book over to color with her, but she was not interested in coloring.  I asked her questions, and yet she didn’t seem to want to chat either.  I was about to get up and leave, thinking maybe she didn’t want to play with me, when she got up and sat in my lap.  She played with my bracelet and sat in silence for about 30 minutes.  I continued to try to make conversation in my broken Spanish, but slowly realized that she was content in the silence. Maybe it is my own hidden introverted tendencies, but something about us clicked.  Throughout the week we went on several walks together.  Always me commenting on the cows, the garden, or the other kids, and her content just to accompany me along the journey.  Sharing with me God’s presence in the silence and simplicity. 

On one of our final evenings in Honduras, Stefan, one of the directors of the home told us “We might not change the world, but we may change their world and that is something.”  I became a sponsor because Kendra, Madelin, Lily, and Livia changed my world.  Now I am looking forward to getting more involved with the Associate Board for young professionals here in Seattle, and I am excited to lead a trip with my students from Eastside Catholic to visit NPH Nicaragua this summer. 

I hope you too will consider and experience the incredible blessing that it is to be invited into the NPH family with these children. 

Thank you.

*Children's names changed to protect privacy.

I support NPH because they are my family and my home…

 

Below is a reflection written by sponsor and Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Junior Board member Caroline Swenson.

 

I love to travel, but for some reason whenever I leave home there is always a lingering sense of homesickness in the pit of my stomach. The feeling lasts throughout the plane ride, and usually the first few days of any trip. However, traveling to NPH DR is different. The instant I step onto the grounds, through the blue painted gates, I feel like I am home. Each year I am humbled by every single kid I share a smile with. The amount of love encompassed in that one home is incredible. Words will never be able to describe the feeling you get when a kid sprints up to you, shouting your name with the biggest smile on their face after a year of separation. Or the feeling of the tightest, warmest, most loving hug you get before you are forced to drag your feet back into the visitor house for the night. The feeling of knowing that you are unconditionally loved by this enormous family is a feeling I never want to lose.

 

 

There are so many reasons why I support NPH. I support NPH because of these memories, and millions of others. I support NPH because I support opportunities, and that is exactly what NPH gives to deserving kids. I support NPH because I believe in the smiles and giggles and genuine happiness I see when I visit the Dominican Republic every year. I support NPH because they are my family and my home, and I know for a fact that every time I am dragged onto the plane back to the US, the homesickness is a thousand times worse than before.

NPH has changed my life in so many different ways…

 

Below is a reflection written by sponsor and Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Junior Board member Gillian Garvey.

 

I first became involved with NPH during my middle school years at the Glen Urquhart School. We held many fundraisers and sponsored 3 children. I have always been interested in helping my community and trying to make a difference in the world. When I learned about NPH, I was very excited to help. In 8th grade, my class went on a weeklong service trip to the NPH home in the DR. The trip was absolutely eye-opening and life-changing. I had never experienced anything like it and the trip was one of the best weeks of my life. The NPH community was so different than any I had been exposed to in the Boston area.

 

I loved the culture and feel of NPH. There was so much love and happiness and the children were all so amazing, even though their lives have been so difficult. Although I didn’t speak Spanish very well, the kids didn’t care and would run up to me and give me a hug and hold my hand. Those expressions of affection don’t require words. They were very patient with my terrible Spanish skills and often acted out their words like a game of charades.

 

Leaving was the hardest part of the whole trip. There were many tears but one thing that I will always remember was the kids saying “No adiós, hasta luego”. I was so moved by the experience and so passionate while explaining the details of my trip to family and friends that my grandmother decided to sponsor one of the children. In order to extend my NPH experience, I immediately joined the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast Junior Board. As a board member, I became aware of additional opportunities to travel to NPH homes. When I saw that a trip was being scheduled over my April school vacation, I jumped at the chance. I wouldn’t have thought it could be possible, but I had an even greater experience and made many more wonderful memories. I also had numerous opportunities to spend quality time with the young girl my grandmother sponsors.

 

 

NPH has changed my life in so many different ways. I have come to realize how lucky I am to live where I do and have a family that loves me unconditionally. My NPH experiences remind me of the simple things that are most important in life, such as food, shelter, health, safety, love and happiness.

A godparent's support goes far beyond financial assistance...

This story was reported by Communications Officer Amanda Thomas at NPH Honduras.

Doctor Tuttle first heard of NPH through one of his medical students around five years ago. Doctor Tuttle had been involved with medical missions in La Ceiba, a city on the northern coast of Honduras, but the area had become too dangerous to carry on with the mission trips. When one of his student’s mentioned NPH, he set out to learn more.

When he first visited NPH Honduras, Doctor Tuttle was impressed. "The people are amazing - from the children, to the staff, to the volunteers." Doctor Tuttle now regularly visits the ranch to participate in surgical brigades, which are groups of medical professionals that spend their time and expertise to work for free at the Holy Family Surgery Center. During the brigades, surgeons, doctors, nurses and other medical professionals perform surgeries for the underserved population that live in surrounding areas.

"The patients are so grateful," says Doctor Tuttle. Doctor Tuttle wanted to stay involved with NPH, and so he returned for a second medical brigade. It was during this trip he became a "godparent." An NPH godparent is someone who sponsors a child at one of our NPH homes, develops a bond with them, receives regular updates on their academic and social progress, and exchanges letters and cards with their "godchild."

On a subsequent visit Doctor Tuttle brought his daughter and one of his sons, and each chose a child to sponsor as well. "Now I have five godchildren!" laughs Doctor Tuttle. The relationship that exists between godparents and their godchildren is a very special one. "We bring them small gifts when we visit, and they introduce us to their friends," explains Doctor Tuttle. "They also come to dinner with us while we are on the ranch during the medical brigades. The best part is just spending time together and talking."

Mabel* is the godchild that Doctor Tuttle's son Mitchell began sponsoring during a visit in 2011. Mabel's face lights up when she begins to describe her godparent. "Mitchell writes to me, and I write back," says Mabel. "I tell him how I'm doing in school, about my grades, and the events we have at the home. Mitchell encourages me to do well in school." The importance of her godparent in her life is evident.

A godparent's support goes far beyond financial assistance. Godparents often visit the ranch, attending graduation ceremonies and spending time playing and chatting with their godchildren. Letters they write to their godchildren are treasured and family photos are stuck inside lockers and albums, as our children cherish being part of a family that spans two different countries. Godparents reinforce that NPH is a family, albeit a large, noisy, tangled one, that covers a large part of the globe!

*Name changed for privacy purposes

We have been in their lives and they have been in ours...

Below is a reflection from great supporter Joe Klag on just how the children of NPH have changed his life and how supporters like him surely change their lives.

Good morning friends, I have been asked recently why my family is invested in NPH. It is my wife’s fault!!! You see she went down with the teens from our church for a couple of years. There she met children who came from life circumstances that you and I could not understand.

Two very special girls, Chave (Maria Isabel) and Marisol age 4 and 2. They are two sisters from a family of four sisters. Their mother died after Marisol was born. Their father could not or would not care for them. Thankfully, instead of being forced to live on the streets all four of them found their way to NPH (Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos). We met them and our lives have been changed.

Since then we have been in their lives and they have been in ours. We go down to see them once or twice a year. One of the great benefits of NPH is that we were encouraged to develop a relationship with the kids. They are now 10 and 12 years old and we look forward to making the trip to Mexico to see them as often as we can. I enjoy emailing them too.

The vision of Fr. Wasson when he started NPH was to take children who had been orphaned, abandoned, abused physically, sexually, psychologically and raise them all as one family. That is why we can not adopt the girls and bring them here. These children who call NPH home did not have a “family” before coming to our homes. Now they are nurtured, educated even sent to the university if they have the grades, nourished and loved. Many of these kids have experienced love in their lives only after they came to NPH.

You see, I thought it would be a great thing to go and see these kids and help them. In many ways, they have done more for me than I could ever do for them. A year ago, Chave wrote a letter to us thanking us for being in her life. She could not understand why someone from another country who didn’t know her or Marisol would come and want to be involved in her life. In that letter, she wrote how much it meant to her. Every time I come back from visiting an NPH home, I realized how I benefit from it. These kids give us more than I think we ever do for them. In their world where they have nothing, they have everything. While they are normal kids, they are given the gift of love by all their little brothers and sisters (NPH) in the home and they know they are loved and they share that love.

As Bob Goff wrote in his book, Love Does, love compels us to act. The work NPH does can happen without great people like you. If we don’t help these children, who will?