Touring a Global Village

Posted by Gabe on August 10, 2009 under Kids are Heroes | Be the First to Comment

Yesterday we had such a wonderful experience.  We had heard about a Heifer International Global Village that opened up in Sharpsburg, Maryland a few months ago.  It is a bit of a trek for us (almost an hour drive) so we had to pick the right day to go and yesterday was it.  We called ahead and got no answer (we later discovered their phone system was down).  Not much more info on the web site either, but we figured we’d just go for a drive and see what happens.  We arrived to find (almost) no one there.  We didn’t know that most of the events there are scheduled in advance (they had put on an open house the day before).  We did find someone and instead of just telling us they were closed (which was indeed their right) she took the time to give us the tour of the village.

For those of you who are unaware of Heifer International, this is a non-profit whose mission is “To work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth.”  One of the ways they do this is by supplying animals that can provide sustenance to impoverished communities and teaching them how to take care of it.  The Global Village concept is relatively new.  “Heifer’s Global Village programs offer the extraordinary opportunity for people to experience some of the challenges of global hunger and poverty – and come away with a re-energized determination to be part of the solution.”

So what this is is a program that allows youngsters (6th graders and up) and/or families to experience life in other cultures first hand with one of their 24-hour programs.  The village in Sharpsburg showcase houses built that represent homes built in different areas of the world.  Mozambique, Kenya, Guatemala and the USA were represented and they are in the process of building more.  The homes are built as close as possible to the ones that are in the actual communities despite still having to follow the local building codes.  The floors are mostly mud floors, except for the trailer that represents poverty in the USA.  There is no electricity at all in any of the homes, so if you stay there you are reminded that the only reason to use the home is to sleep. 

Knowing several children from the Kids Are Heroes web site who are drilling wells in Africa, we knew personally of the challenges to get even dirty water to drink.  What we didn’t know is that firewood is almost as precious a resource.  According to our tour guide, more than half of the world is without electricity so they burn wood to cook.  Some must travel long distances just to get the wood.  It was interesting to see the different villages and the specific challenges that face each one.

As we were swatting bugs away I couldn’t help but think that we should spend the night there at some point.  I hesitated for one simple reason: I don’t want to. I don’t want to spend the night on a hard floor with no air conditioning.  I don’t want to be without the comforts I am used to having.  Not for one night.  I am ashamed of this but it is true.  But the meaning of it all is certainly not wasted on me.  I was so happy that Ann took the time out to show us her village.  I highly recommend everyone attend their next open house if you are within an hour or so drive.  Next year they will have animals as part of the experience to further demonstrate what Heifer is doing.  This is such a great organization and we hope to feature heroes that have saved up and purchased an animal for a community somewhere.

For more information on Heifer International’s Global Village and to watch a demonstration, click here.