What can we learn from a Colibri*?
The hummingbird is known to be the smallest and, in terms of its body size, the fastest bird in the world. The Colibri however is less known for its incredible flying skills: with 40 to 50 wing strokes per second, it can hover to access Nectar. It can fly backwards, sideways and if danger occurs, is able to make incredibly fast U-turns. And something else makes the Colibri a survivor: in times of crisis, it lowers its temperature and thus reduces its metabolism and therewith the energy consumption.
Carolina, a 2019 kanthari graduate, founded “Centro Colibrí”.
Since she was little, Carolina was fascinated by the birds’ survival skills. For her, the hummingbird stands for a fighting spirit and constant change. She enthusiastically recounts her studies: “When they come together in droves, they can scare away birds of prey. And by pollinating colorful flowers, they are changing the landscape, Little by Little!
Carolina is from Bolivia. She grew up in one of the most beautiful landscapes, between crystal clear streams, meadows with colorful flowers, forests, cows, and hummingbirds. But as the daughter of a mixed-race marriage, she experienced discrimination, physical and psychological violence, and sexual assault.
After many years, she returned to that place again, and found it to be a place of darkness. Only after therapy she was able to write down the following words:
“And one day you wake up, and you see life in a different way. Your favorite things in life- a clear sunset, birds singing, the smell of my morning coffee, or the smell of bread just coming out the oven, are all the more vivid; and you realize you can experience them inside of you like you are a new you. I had such a day, and that is when I said to myself, no more pain inside of me. Finally seeing life at its fullest, with new eyes. It took me many years to reach there. And now having healed, I can boldly say… My name is Carolina and I am a survivor!
Uncovering roots of violence
Bolivia is a landlocked country in the middle of Latin America. It is culturally and ethnically diverse and has a population of about 11 million people with rich traditions and many natural resources. There is much to like about Bolivia, but there is also a dark side which is not obvious to strangers. The country has the highest figures of poverty and sexual violence in South America.
Margarita was 13 when a cousin of her came to visit for a holiday. He raped her. When Margarita told her mother, the mother became angry, not at the cousin but at her own daughter. She started to beat her with a stick, almost killed her, blaming her it was her fault. Margarita became pregnant and attempted suicide. Relatives rescued her and helped her to run away.
Centro Colibrí
With the help of Catholic nuns, Carolina gets in touch with girls and young women with these and similar fates. In most cases, the girls are silent. Nothing comes to light.
According to Carolina, this is a typical story, and there are many, in all social layers of society. However, most affected are the poor. They have no money to hire a lawyer and have no idea about their rights.
For the fact that violence and sexual assault are seen as an everyday ‘cavalier’ offense, Carolina blames the deeply rooted culture of machismo in Bolivia.
“Men are brought up to be strong and powerful. Women and girls must obey. In songs, literature, and advertising, women are reduced to sex objects, and therefore become predominantly ridiculed victims of physical and psychological violence.”
Centro Colibri
Carolina is setting up a center of refuge for women in need. But it is more than just that; She wants to help girls and women become hummingbirds. “They are small and seem vulnerable, but they are fast and can defend themselves.”
In three phases, she will support the wounded girls and women to fly again.
The first phase is called nesting. The victims of violence are nurtured in a protective environment, so they get mentally and physically healthy.
The next phase is fledging. That is where they learn to fly. Through training in handicrafts and through music and painting, they learn to free themselves from the traumatic experiences.
In the third phase of pollination, they will swarm back into society with their newly acquired self-confidence to change the landscape, the culture, Little by little.
Carolina, thanks to therapy, has been through this healing process and now feels strong to help others in their emergency situations, to help them overcome crises.
In a telephone interview, she says: “The Corona crisis is not just a health hazard. This is a crisis which particularly affects women and girls. During the lockdown, they are locked up for weeks and many are exposed to domestic violence. And for the poor, hunger is added. Not having enough food will result in more aggressiveness.”
The current situation lets Carolina feels a bit powerless. Like a hummingbird, she hovers on the spot and cannot take direct care of the women and children in need.
Lately, when she went to the market, she met a woman who belongs to a Mennonite community. The Mennonites are a free church community that emigrated from Prussia to Canada in the 18th century and then to Bolivia at the beginning of the 20th century. Like the Amish in the USA, many Mennonites live in strict seclusion. In Bolivia, these communities are known for oppressing women and girls. In 2011, there were several cases of rape that became public by a Canadian author.
Otherwise, however, we do not know much about the Mennonites. And so it was very special for Carolina to meet an unaccompanied Mennonite.
The woman had come to the city by bus, which is strange as it goes against the Mennonite culture. They usually travel exclusively in private transport or always with someone else, and reject all modern achievements, be it household appliances, televisions, computers, or agricultural equipment. The woman did not speak Spanish and so they spoke with each other in English.
Carolina inquired how the Corona crisis had affected their community. The woman seemed confused, and Carolina soon realized that they were not very affected or in crisis due to Pandemic. There seemed to be no hunger or disease in their colonies. Mennonite farming and the way to keep the own food, which feeds hundreds of thousands (across the world), is carried out exclusively using traditional methods. Due to their emphasis on the virtues of thrift, diligence, frugality, and humility, they, in the course of time, learned to earn a living on the poorest soils. They drained swamps to improve fertility, and they experimented with different ways of farming until, in the course of centuries, they developed both skills and a reputation as expert farmers.
“Hunger however remains an issue, whether caused by imposed lockdowns and/or climate change. And here we can learn from the techniques of Mennonites, especially how to keep, plant and conserve food.”
Carolina is now planning a new flight maneuver for Centro Colibri. In addition to craftsmanship and music, she will now also include traditional agriculture and ways to preserve the food in the program. “During times of crisis, many doors have been closed. But we should look out for those that open up”
http://centrocolibribolivia.org/
(*a Colibri is also known as Hummingbird)