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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday May 16, 2008 - 21 Making a difference in Guatemala By Hiba Kesebi SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Nine years ago, Johanna dressed in rags, walked barefoot, and hid behind trees. Like most other people in La Union, Guatemala, she also lived in poverty and suffered from malnutrition. Thanks to the Canadian Central American Relief Effort (CCARE), and its founder Hilda Rossi, however, Johanna now lives in very different circumstances. This is because CCARE gave her the opportunity to defeat her fate of poverty, and to make a difference. Today, 21-year-old Johanna is a health care provider. "CCARE decided to sponsor Johanna's education," explained Rossi. "She went to school, and learned how to become a health care provider. She's also going to apply to become a registered nurse." Although she is currently practicing outside of La Union, Johanna hopes to one day return to help the people of her village. Her vision replicates that of Rossi's childhood dream. Rossi was born in the Merendon Mountains of Guatemala. When she was in Grade 4, her parents sent her to boarding school. She admits that her family "was one of the blessed ones," because her parents were able to send her elsewhere. "My family was still considered working class. My parents were only able to afford to sned me somewhere else because they never stopped working, " said Rossi. Every time she went back to visit the Merendon Mountains, Rossi would feel determined to make a difference and spark change. "I'd always tell my mom, `One day I want to help those people. I want to make their lives easier. And my mom would sigh and tell me `Hilda, go play. You are a dreamer.'" But 10 years ago, Rossi proved herself to be far off from a dreamer. After watching the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, which stormed through Central America, destroying villages, killing 9,000 and leaving one million people without a home, Rossi knew it was time for her to help those in Guatemala. That is why in 1998 she established CCARE, an organization aimed at improving the living conditions of com- BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER LASTING AID: Hilda Rossi, founder of CCARE, visits a patient at the dental clinic her organization built in La Union, Guatemala with the help of dentist Dr. Russell Glover. munities in Central America. With the help of Dr. Russell Grover, a dentist, CCARE built, what Rossi believes to be, the organization's biggest accomplishment this year--a dental clinic in La Union that provides services to the public free of cost. "Five years ago, people in Merendon Mountains didn't even know what a toothbrush looked like. Today they have their own clinic," she explained. And while some may argue that opening another medical clinic or hospital in the area would be a better choice than a dental clinic, Rossi believes otherwise. A lot of the communities in the mountain suffer from sever toothaches because they completely neglect their dental hygiene, said Rossi. "Toothaches hurt, they hurt a lot, and now hopefully because of this clinic they won't have to continue to live their lives in such pain," she continued. Twenty-five volunteers and program organizer traveled with Rossi this March to provide help and support for the people in Guatemala. "We broke up into two groups," she said. "The first group specialized in health, education and economic development and the second group specialized in dental, water and fire safety issues." CCARE does not aim to solely provide money or resources to those communities in need. "Sending money does not solve the problem. We're not Santa Claus. We don't give and go. We teach them [communities in need] what to do," said Rossi. That is why Rossi is glad to have a firefighter in her mission this year. "The fire department plays a very big role in the community. In fact, in La Union if you are having a baby you call the fire department, not the hospital, because it arrives the fastest." As a result, Ron Kyle, a fire fighter from Toronto, helped teach the firefighters in the community new skills. "It can be difficult to teach people there," laughed Rossi. "Most of them don't know how to read or write. And even after you have taught them something, most of them will forget it within two hours." As a result,some volunteers start to get impatient. According to Rossi, some Canadians are so used to a fast-paced life style they fail to realize that a person's inability to grasp simple concepts quickly does not necessarily mean that they are not bright. The people there don't sleep on soft surfaces like we do in North America, nor do they have the resources that allow them to choose what foods to eat. Rather, they are forced to eat and sleep on whatever is available, said Rossi. "They even have a hard time getting water. If the people there want a drink of water, they have to walk around one kilometre up the steep Merendon Mountains because there is no water in their villages." Aldo Joseph Villanovich, from the Rotary Club of Bolton, is trying to change that. He accompanied CCARE on their mission this year in the hopes of making the people's journey for water, at least a little easier. "We dream to get water running inside homes. But for now, we want the fastest choice and that is to get water running in their villages," Rossi explained. 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