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She looked at the rubble pile, this piece of real
estate, already in disrepair then devastated by an
earthquake, and she knew somehow they would raise the
money needed for the purchase, some $130,000. This was
to be the new location for an organization that helped
street children in one of the poorest states in
Mexico. She had not come this far to doubt what could
be done with faith.
It seemed a million years ago when Jodi Bauman first
heard of Oaxaca (sounds like Wa HA ka). Back in the
early 1980's she and her husband, Harold had a nice
home and a comfortable life. Both had jobs and the
couple was happy. Then in 1985 Jodi read a three year
old article in an old National Geographic magazine. It
talked about an indigenous people, the Triquis, of the
San Juan Copala region in the state of Oaxaca. In 1986
Jodi traveled to Mexico and in Oaxaca saw firsthand
the problems and extremely poor life that the people
were experiencing.
She and Harold were to discover a people who were so
in need, that the word poverty seemed less than
adequate. Families had been separated both by deaths
and the warring conditions in their area. Hundreds of
children and women fled to the city of Oaxaca. Many of
the males remained behind to protect their campesinos.
If the family leaves the land, the government can take
it back.
Those who left traveled with what they could carry.
Some were able to find refuge with relatives; the
majority squatted where they could, seeking shelter.
Some families pay $30 per month for a tiny tin
building close to the size of some garden sheds. Most
have dirt floors. They do not have sewer or water.
Some only have three walls.
When those few men who did come to Oaxaca, could not
find work, they continued traveling, looking for a way
to help their family.
One lady I spoke with has not seen or heard from her
husband for almost three years. Another woman heard
her husband was killed but she heard the news long
after the act, too late to attend to his body. She had
four mouths to feed and selling her weaving was her
only means of support. Survival and a meal-to-meal
existence was primary. Mourning for the father of her
children was secondary.
Jodi and Harold returned to the States aghast at what
they had seen; little children in the streets of the
huge city, unable to get an education, begging in the
streets, selling Chicklets and beads to buy food and
water. They were to see toddlers suffering from
malnutrition and a high death rate due to bad water,
insufficient medical help and a lack of food. Jodi
discovered that over fifty percent of the children die
before they reach their sixth birthday.
"You can not go home and sleep on soft pillows and eat
your hot meals and not want to help," says Jodi.
She returned home and prayed that God would send
someone to help the street children and their
families. God responded, "I did send someone, I sent
you"
They were able to quickly sell their hom, their
belongings followed suit. Everything they needed to
sell, was sold in record time. Jodie knew God really
wanted them in Oaxaca.
For ten years the Baumans have supported the children
independently, using money from the sale of their
belongings.
"Each time we ran out of money, or faced an
insurmountable problem, iraculously we were aided,
sometimes in most surprising ways," says Jodi.
Jodi Bauman is like the "little mother of Mexico",
protective of the poor, and never fearful to wade into
dangerous circumstances if it means helping "her
people" At one point, even suspecting that a young boy
was armed, Jodi approached him because others said,
"he is looking for you," and she thought he may need
help. He was indeed looking for her. He told of a
ghastly tale of a mob of men murdering his father,
when the father refused to give more extortion money
to a group who posed as saviors, but took the money of
the people and gave nothing in return, except
promises. This incident took place back in the San
Juan Copala region.
In 1996 friends of the Bauman's, Dr. Freeman and his
wife Patsy, advised the Baumans to form a non profit
organization and get others to help in the quest of
helping the street children. By then numbers had
reached over two hundred children to feed daily. Patsy
Freeman had arrived from the States and joined Jodi in
the search for property. When they came across the
building that looked more like a pile of rubble than a
building, Patsy peered in through the gate and said,
"we can do it!"
This would be a place where the street children could
come for a hot meal. It would be a place where
visitors could get information on how to assist in
both a financial sense and with their volunteer hours,
to teach the children to speak the Spanish they would
need to survive in the school system. (At that point
the majority of all the families spoke, Nahuatl, the
language of the Triquis)
"We found this place, a wreck, more a rubble pile than
a building," said Jodi of the building we sat in for
part of our interview. They bargained and argued for a
decent price and then set about finding a way to raise
one hundred and thirty thousand American dollars.
Jodi sent up a prayer, " God, I did not put me here,
so if you want me to get the building, then it's up to
you." Jodie's faith was not in vain.
The first help arrived in the form of a phone call. A
friend told Jodi ,"My mother died and has left me
money, but because I believe in the law of tithing, I
must give you $11,000 for your street children."
Next, Jodi was also given some "worthless stock" by a
friend but she thought, "we'll hold onto this, because
with God, all things are possible." Two days later the
stock skyrocketed and brought in $9000. Good things
continued to happen.
The money was raised for the new building on a street
called Crespo. Volunteer labor restored the place and
Oaxaca Street Children Grassroots became a reality.
Today, the center feeds over 400 children, and offers
training on computers, through volunteer teachers,
often international students who have arrived in the
city to learn Spanish. People from many different
countries sent money to develop different rooms in the
center. Money is donated in memory of a loved one, or
simply because, in Jodi's words, "going home and
sleeping on soft pillows after seeing the children is
impossible."
Asked what he would like most in the world, one boy of
ten said, "to have a shower once a week." In a huge
number of homes there is no sewer and no running
water. Finally, in the center this young lad has his
dream. Now all the children may come and shower at the
center. Here also they can learn to sew and are given
instruction in hygiene.
"We have come a long way," says Jodi, "but still there
is so much left to do."
She often takes on chores that no volunteer will
accept. Following this woman around even for seven
hours of the day is a lesson in patience, and
understanding.Her love for the children is apparent.
"If you see the children, you can't help loving them
and holding them."
Part way through our day, Jodi introduced me to one of
her success stories, a young man she helped as a
child. Venancio was an orphan. Today he smiles and
chats with Jodi, partly in his language, partly in
hers. He has returned to the center to help others.
Jodi speaks an odd language part Spanish, part English
and part Nahuatl, the language of the Triquis. "I had
to learn their language in order to help them, "she
explains.
"There is always an emergency. There is always
something to do and with God's help even more people
will come to help", says Jodi with her ever ready
smile. This little "Mother of Mexico" continues her
work, with an energy born out of her love for the
people and the knowledge that she never works alone.
Ellie Braun-Haley copyright 2004 shaley@telusplanet.net
Footnote:
In the United States the Oaxaca Street Children
Grassroots is non profit organization 501-C and
contributions may be sent to them in care of Frank
Vannini, treasurer, 449 Crane Avenue South, Taunton,
MA 02780. Their web site is
www.oaxacastreetchildren.org and e-mail is
streetchildren@spersaoaxaca.com.mx In the city of
Oaxaca they are known as Centro de Esperanza Infantil
A.C and they are located at #308 Crespo
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ellie has done research in Mexico over the past few
years. She is the author of three books and co author
of a fourth with her husband Shawn. |
