Tikkun Olam project

 

            Today I worked at the construction site moving bricks and cement from eight until twelve. Then, we split the workers into groups and gave them free English lessons! They all loved it. We played “head, shoulders, knees and toes”which was helpful and hilarious because all of the workers are old men and watching them sing and do that dance is pretty entertaining. We also taught them colors, clothing, numbers, and animals. They were really grateful and it was nice for them to get an hours break from their laborious work. It’s really hard working with them when they tell us they are thirsty and hungry because we can’t do anything about it. We aren’t allowed to give them water because a) they will start depending on us and assuming we will give them water every time and there’s too many of them and b)it’s not our water to give out because the village pays for it. It breaks my heart knowing that I get to have a water break whenever I want and they don’t put anything in their mouths from four in the morning till four at night.

            When the students reach their third year, each of them are assigned a project for Tikkun Olam which means “healing the world” in Hebrew. Because Anne, the founder of the village, is Jewish, there are many Jewish values embedded in the traditions here. Each student goes into the community to do a social action project. I went with a group of students today to a school nearby for four and five year olds to help teach English. Walking there was very interesting- everyone stared at me because they have probably never seen a white person walk through their neighborhoods, and little kids were running up to me to shake my hand or touch my skin. At the school, there is no playground or toys so the little boys bundled up newspaper to use for a soccer ball and the little girls were playing hopscotch in the sand. When they saw me, they literally bombarded me- thirty or so little kids surrounded me and were grabbing my arms, pulling at my hair, and pinching my skin. I couldn’t move because there were so many of them. The teacher said it’s because they wanted to feel what white skin and hair felt like. They were adorable though and very sweet- they knew a couple words in English like “my name is..”and “I’m five years old” and all the little girls wanted to hold my hand it was so cute. Many of the kids were malnourished and had bloated bellies and very small, skeleton bodies but they were still smiling and laughing and playing. Maybe they don’t realize their hunger because they have been so used to it. We split into groups and the older students taught them “If your happy and you know it clap your hands.” When I left, many of the kids followed me for about thirty minutes all the way back to the village and hugged me goodbye. It was the most amazing experience and I get to go back there next week!