This is a message going out to the world asking for some assistance. What assistance would a great man like you need? I hear you say (I better not start off being too cocky or I’m not going to get anywhere). Well, Pamela said to me the other day that she is thinking of starting an NGO in Honduras which assists young people with, or getting into, education and giving them an opportunity to display their talents. We are still looking at the finer details, as well as some time in the future. Part of it is looking at illiteracy and helping young people build their skills and empower them so they can function in everyday life and make a success of themselves, instead of getting sucked into gangs, street life and drugs. It’s a not a million miles away from some of the projects at Casa Alianza. We could bring out volunteers from other countries or ask ex-students to help in the long-run. But, like I said, we are still thinking of the finer details i.e. target markets, aims of the organisation, the values etc.
I have looked on the net and seen a massive amount of websites about NGOs but it all looks vast and some say different things.
Has anyone out there set up an NGO in Latin America? Furthermore, does anyone know of any good books or reading material to look at? A bit like a NGOs for Dummies book, which just gives a guideline for people to follow.
Just leave you comments at the bottom if you have any advice.
I wrote this poem this morning and I thought I should put it online. It was inspired by something I heard on Radio 4 and the Daily Squib website.
Dirty Little Tories
Dirty little Tories,
Ploughing our health system to the ground,
Doing little to wipe clean the debt,
Only cut services and high unemployment can be found.
You punish the people and cut the benefits,
And blame New Labour for your own tricks,
While you laugh all the way to the pictures,
To see that Iron Lady flick.
The wealth gap gets bigger by the day,
The working classes feel the force of your fist,
While the elite have access for a university study,
And soon we’ll all be joining a private healthcare list.
Will there be a reverse in your decisions?
Or will you keep on protecting the elite class,
While you live in the lofty hills of southern England,
And turn this country into an voluntary working mass?
Young people should not be slaved for the rich,
And Tescos don’t need help stocking shelves,
A big society means a collective spirit,
And under a Tory government we don’t feel right within ourselves.
Nick Clegg is just a scab,
And Andrew Lansley has business interests through his wife,
David Cameron rubs shoulders with the banks,
And I’m shitting myself if I ever have to go under the knife.
Please save our country,
Instead of protecting your own back,
Because with the eejits we have in power now,
Poor Old England has well and truely lost track.
Here are two interesting facts for you: Belize has only 330,000 or so people and homosexuality is banned. Not many countries can say that. What I love are the news and weather reports: Hurricane Watch. I am going to sound very pompus and English now, but I think a school boy made the programmes. It’s amature but I love it.
That morning we visited Joan Musa’s charity, which helps people living in poverty get suitable eye-wear. I was missing the nose piece of my glasses, so they were kindly fixed. The next duty was to visit Joan Musa’s grandson at a lodge with swimming pools and lagoons and parrots and stuff. It was his third birthday, but I can’t remember his name. 32 years old and losing my memory. In the lagoon was a baby croc. Apparently baby crocs eat nachos and cheese. Unfortunately my mum and dad have the photos and they’re in Cuba so I can’t show you. So, just for fun, here’s this video of a baby crocodile biting someone.
After this, we went home and ate conch soup, and then went into Belize City to have a look around. We went to one of Joan’s sons, who have gallery of Belize art. We then went to get me a new camera before we went to Caye Caulker, which would be tomorrow. Brilliant. Sony. It’s a small beast of a camera. It was an early xmas present from my folks, as well as money from my Uncle Pat and Aunty Gill. We went to see the theatre, which has a lovely art exhibition, and then watched the sunset over the harbour and watched the fish and tourist boats come in. Then we had some drinks at a lovely colonial hotel which is white-washed and serves Chinese food. Here is the first pictures taken with the camera.
After, we went to Chaps. Unfortunately there seemed to a hen night who got there before us, so service took a while. I had a meat feast with a massive rack of ribs. Ironic, because the next day something unfortunate would be happening to my own ribs! I was full. It was nice chattning to the former Prime Minister though, and his thoughts of the politicians he has met and his experiences in office. I really admired the way he gave people time to talk and explain their concerns. I think Cameron should take note. I was surprised by how much he liked Tony Blair. He really liked him. I felt Tony Blair was a bit of a let down, but I never met him.
Anyway, we went home and packed our bags before we went to paradise. AKA. Caye Caulker!
Saturday 26th November 2011
We awoke reasonably early, had breakfast and then got ready to leave. I got to use my camera and take a few snaps. Boarding the boat was interesting. We were helped on first by Mr Musa’s security men. I found it great. Poor Joan found it embarrassing. Said, like I said, get’s a lot of attention. He speaks with everyone and gives them time. He’s very diplomatic and I like that about him. The ferry was boiling inside. So hot. It was raining too. Luckily it was a smooth crossing. The windows were too high to look out of to see the horizon, so not to be seasick. On the way we stopped off at another island. It was owned by an American. He wanted to sell it. $50 million was the asking price. We got to Caye Caulker and strolled through the main drag looking at the lovely art shops and stalls. We got to our hotel and WOW! The views were beautiful. We were all hungry though. We found a nice little place at the tip of the island. We all had fish fingers. Slightly crooked fish fingers but a lot more fresh than the Birds Eye back home. We then went back to the hotel. I wanted a swim. I went off by myself and took myself back to the tip of the island where we had lunch, as there was another small island just 75 metres away or so. The currents were incredibly strong but I made it. Once on the other side of the island, I went for a little explore. Lots of little hermit crabs crossed my path, but so did a lot of washed up rubbish and polution. After three minutes of strolling, I came to a house. Suddenly, two big dogs appeared, baring their teeth and looking pissed off that someone, anyone, should step foot on their territory. I did what everyone has since told me is wrong to do: I ran in the opposite direction. I legged it fast. Out of pure desperate in stress, I bellowed, “FUCK OFF! LEAVE ME ALONE!” thinking that these fiendish little canine bastards would listen to me. My girlfriend laughs at me and says they were chichiuauas or poodles or something, and I have heard similar things from my Dad, but I assure you they were beasts. While I ran, I lost my balance and fell on my chest. I got up and dust myself down while feeling agony in my arm and lower chest, while also seeing scratches on my chest. By this time, the dogs had stopped stalking me but I could still hear them barking, so I legged it more and did a Baywatch dive into the water, which stang, pardon my French, the fuck out of me. Not only that, because my chest and arm were hurting, I found it hard to swim and the currents were really strong. I felt I was going to be swept out at one point. I somehow managed to get in while tourists looked at me and said nothing. An aussie woman then greeted me and said, “Facking hell mate. You poms are facking fanny. Welcome to Caye Caulker. Have a beer mate.” She then told me how she came to Caye Caulker every three years to spend a year, and work two years solidly in Australia working with people with drug problems. She was cool, but told me to becareful of water snakes and crocs on the other side of the island. I just felt relieved to escape the hounds of hell. I went back to the hotel and mum cleaned me up, while dad scoffed at me and my adventure. It then dawned on me that my chest was in a bad way and I couldn’t lie down or do much, which worried me because we were planning on snorkelling the day after. PUCHA! DAMN! Only two hours on the island and I’d crippled myself. Nick and paradise should not be married as one.
That night we went for some snacks on the balcony above the hotel, as well as a bottle of wine. We then went to a fish restaurant and had fresh grilled snapper. WONDERBAR!!! It was great, as were the portions.
After, we went back to the hotel and I had the most uncomfortable sleep of my life. Broken ribs for sure. No pain killers. It was strange though. Love Actually was on television. Watching this on island in the hot Carribbean, where I should have been in a bar getting drunk on cheap rum. Oh well.
I took this picture for my niece, Ella, and nephew, Leo, because they like animals, and like these animals, like sweets and probably watermelon. I named these “monos” after my favourite little “monos” back in Crowle
It was raining all day today so I sat down with a couple of kids and did some drawing with them. The two pictures below are by a boy I’ll call “Danny”, who I interviewed and he told me he doesn’t think he’ll live beyond the age of 20 because of his past and people seeking revenge. I liked what he drew.
By "Danny"
By "Danny"
I also drew a couple. My mum has always had an artistic hand. I think the genes completely skipped me. Thank God I’m in Honduras and you can’t throw stones at me (then again, there might be Hondurans here reading this?!).
"The Ugly Lady" by Nick Rogers
"The Ugly Man" by Nick Rogers
Suffice to say, the kids were pissing themselves when they saw my artwork. I tried to kid myself into thinking they were jealous, and then I took a second look at my drawings and, yes, I agree with them. In fact, I have no idea why I’ve scribed my name to these insults to art.
Below I’m including a poem, again inspired by the girl called “O”. As I said yesterday, she’s back in Casa Alianza although I’ve not seen her since her return. The Spanish is below, and the English follows.
Dulce Niña
Yo pienso en ti, dulce niña,
Estoy muy preocupado por ti,
Las lágrimas de dolor que corría por sus mejillas
Fueron de un lugar oscuro y que sentía por ti.
Sus sonrisas me llenan de alegría,
Y su descaro me hace reír,
Hay un personaje más grande que uno se da cuenta,
Y su ser querido por la gente más de lo que piensa.
Por favor, recuerde esta
En sus momentos más oscuros;
Usted tiene mucho que ofrecer al mundo
Y pronto estos tristes días pasará.
Pero lo más importante,
Tiene que ser amable con usted mismo,
Manténgase a salvo, pero caminar con orgullo,
Y tratar de disfrutar de la vida, olvidar los recelos.
Sweet Child
I think of you, sweet child,
I’m very worried about you,
Those tears of pain that ran down your cheeks
Were from a dark place and I felt for you.
Your smiles fill with with joy,
And your cheekiness makes me laugh,
You have a character bigger than you realise,
And people love you more than you think.
Please remember this
In your darkest moments:
You have much to offer the world,
And soon these sad days will pass.
But what is most important
You have to be kind to yourself,
Stay safe and walk with pride,
And try to enjoy life, forget it’s misgivings.
NICK "EL CATRACHO" ROGERS 