This is a story about one of the students we support in Ecuador I thought I would re-post it so people could understand the relationship we have with our communities in Ecuador.Yadira was one of our first students. She is studying geographical History and will finish her studies this summer. Although she did say to me this last trip that she would like to go on to law school. Thomas or as most know him Panchin is Yadira’s older brother. His studies fall under Tourism. He is currently studying English so he can better guide the tourist in his community.
Yadira and Panchin are the only siblings that are both receiving funding from South American Secrets. Generally South American Secrets has a policy of spreading the wealth and trying to have only one student per household funded. But as you will read these two are very special and have special circumstances. Panchin and Yadira are from Zancudo and are of a family that has made every effort to improve the future of their community via ingenuity, hard work, and foresight. If it wasn't for Panchin it would be next to impossible for us to visit the communities. His family started a cocoa business that helped fund the purchase of a motorized canoe. With this canoe Panchin helps South American Secrets and his own community members travel up and down the river. His family has also made accommodations for visitors to stay in.
Many of the the students we work with have ancestry from Congo, and or the Cariben. Many people found their way from Jamaica. When you see Panchin and Yadira you see very strong beautiful African physical characteristics. Anyway, their family is beautiful and strong in many ways. Like most of our students, they have had to overcome many obstacles and invent success for themselves. The Alman family like many of the community members have suffered through extreme poverty, injustice and death time and time again.
As Panchin and I have become closer over the years he and his sister have opened up to me, telling more stories about there personal life and some of the tragedies they have had to face. For instance just before I had met them they were struck a major blow, their father had been shot and killed in Borbon. Apparently some young men had been taking advantage of their father and he confronted the men about it, so they shot him. Now the interesting thing about their situation is the communities are very small and everyone knows everyone, but justice is not very prevalent. These three men who were involved in the death of our student’s father were never prosecuted. As Panchin tells me these are not the kind of men you go up against and survive to talk about it. The truth is these men interact in Panchin and Yadira’s community frequently.
Panchin told me one of them approached him and asked him if it was true he was going to avenge his father’s death. He responded by saying “it is not my role to decide your future, that is the will of God.” He told me if he didn't have a sister and mother to worry about he would have taken things into his own hands. As it is now Panchin sees these men on a weekly bases, they talk to him as if nothing ever happened. Imagine seeing the killers of one of your parents and not being able to have justice! The truth is this is the reality of life in the Jungle, not just in Ecuador but many places in Latin America, Asia, Africa, Middle East etc.... We are very blessed and should be reminded so though stories like Panchin and Yadira’s.
Aside from loosing their father, six month ago they lost one of their brothers. As Yadira told the story her brother was killed by a man over a woman and this man too was never prosecuted and she and her brother’s killer travel the same paths on a daily bases. Stories like this are so common it is heart breaking. Again I remind myself how lucky I am to know these people all while living most of the year in my safe Glen Ellen and Sonoma communities surrounded by wineries and a much better judicial system. Even as I boast of my safe and serene life I have to admit the Afro-Ecuadorian learns lessons about life we will never know. Life teaches these people lessons much faster, harder, and with much less compassion. Meanwhile it is passion you find all around you when you are with these people. They are sincere, caring people with a drive to better their lives and the lives of the people around them. While I am in the Jungle in these communities I do not worry about my safety or about my belongings. These communities are ten times safer than the more developed parts of the country. They are happy we are with them, eager to learn about their culture and history.
