Sopar de la Fam 2005

Last Friday march the 11th we held a penitential dinner at Centre Heura in Josepets Parrish (Barcelona) More than 50 people from all ages assisted to the meeting.

Three groups presented their experience as volunteers:

• Bernat, a 21 year old student of “Social Education”, shared on behalf of Hèdera’s Association his experience as a volunteer in the prison of Quatre Camins. He remarked the impact and welcome of the work developed by volunteers, and life conditions in prison, especially monotony and anguish. From his experience he questioned the efficiency of reinsertion in our penitentiary system.
• Carme and Mrs Dies commented on the difficulties they have to go through to develop Càrites aid tasks in the most poor local environment of their neighbourhood , economical, support from the local administrations, pride and negative responses from the people affected. They focused in two ilustrative cases in detail: An elder argentinian married couple that from night to day found themselves without economical resources (because of the argentinian crack) and a separated mother in need for help to scholarize her daughter. Both cases pointed out the difficulties to keep a fundamental right as is a home compatiblizing it with their feeding necessities and in contrast to the capacity of working and superation of the affected. These cases reflected the need for a small but unavoidable help that entities like Càrites or the same parish through it offer.
• Bea from Clam per la Dignitat showed the darkest side of a potentially rich country like South Africa from the experience of a work camp which took place in the summer of 2004. The aim was the construction of a school and dinning room for physically and psychically handicapped children. The attendees focused in groups on constructive and educative tasks. After setting a frame for the entity and project she enumerated the contrasts lived and the welcome from the different communities. She then commented on the future objectives for the next triennium.

To finish the event we had a frugal dinner composed by bread with oil, salt, water and fruit juices. A volunteer donation was collected from the assistants for Càrites and Clam per la Dignitat.

Aleix Layola