The Unity of Community
Especially important during a time of political alienation and individualism, community can help to create friendships, give support and provide a space to learn while all the time creating something much bigger than the sum of its parts.
Using one NGO facilitated community, this project aims to examine, through the stories of four different people of varying ages and experiences, the many benefits of bringing people together.
Despite this, located right on the edge of the city in the corner of both Misti (pictured) and Chachani lies the neighbourhood of Flora Tristán. Built up because of immigration from all over Peru, the families living here face uncertainty on a daily basis with issues of land-rights and corruption not to mention a lack of basic services such as safe drinking water, sewage systems and paved roads.
However, for the past 7 years HOOP, a local NGO, has worked to facilitate a community that officially provides English classes, workshops, social care, psychology and fights on behalf of the rights of residents living here while unofficially cultivating a caring environment of tight friendship bonds between the women and children developing their self-confidence and trust.
Below we hear four stories from people involved and the varied benefits each of them gain from being part of it.
As a teenager, the community is vital in providing backup to their state education while providing a safe space to hang out with their friends and meet people from around the world to broaden their horizons, developing their confidence in every area of life.
Watch the video below to hear all about her experience.
Many women didn’t have friends but learnt to be open and trusting of new people gaining an abundance of friends with whom any issues can be shared. The HOOP community has helped with self-esteem, child care skills and the confidence of their children.
Watch the video below to see how HOOP has helped her to make friends and increase her confidence.
Not only has the NGO facilitated a safe space to learn, make friends and share experiences but it also provides health screenings which many community members wouldn’t normally have access to due to healthcare inequality between rural and urban populations.
Watch the video below to hear how these health campaigns have a huge effect on the people in Flora Tristán.
Credits
Filmed and edited by Adam Weston
Interviews conducted by Lucía Cárdenas and Alonso Méndez
Music by Alonso Méndez
Translations by Jennifer Lazo
A huge thank you to all of the participants for their generosity in taking part
Thank you to my friends and colleagues at HOOP for their help and support throughout the duration of this project: Estefania Núñez Messa, Lucas Luna, Yves Trionnaire, Lucía Cárdenas, Alonso Méndez, Marina Lobato Guzmán, Noa Hakånsson and Andrés Bermúdez Paz
4. "I now know how to feel value in myself"
Not only can being a member of such a positive community have impacts on an individual and their mental health but it can also help to put things in motion which will create long-lasting change for everyone.
Watch the video below to hear how raising awareness about the environment is making Flora Tristán be a better place to live.