"1 out of 3 adolescents suffer from bullying here in Guatemala. Today we promote respect". Angel is trying to connect with about 700 restless INBACCO pupils. We need 400 of them to participate in our project. Will they be convinced to give us their phone numbers?
Giving up your phone is not anything you do without consideration here in Guatemala. Barriers range from controlling parents to extortion through the cell-phone. Normally, you wouldn't trust just anyone, at least not without a proper explanation.
Angel is really doing his best, but the crappy sound system is not helping at all...
700 teens intoxicated by hormones have a hard time paying attention to hear our message. We are six people with each our computer, ready to register participants. Angel finishes his presentation with an encouragement to participate and leaves his last slide "Sign up at our kiosks!".
Nobody moves...
They didn't get it.
Shit...
We wait...
We hope...
Nothing...
Then one of the teachers grabs the microphone. In a very teacher-like strict voice, she says; "You obviously didn't hear their message through all your small talk and noise did you? They are here to help us with bullying in our school. This is a pilot project and you are the first ones in the country, in fact, in the world. They need your phone number, so if you want to be a part of it, you must get in line"
After understanding what it was all about the youth get in line and start signing up to the project.
To not bore them we show videos about bullying and Angels entertains with games they can participate. Some pupils have also prepared marimba music and a dance performance to show their resistance towards bullying.
Click to check out this short video from the event!
Even though we had a rocky start, at the end of the event we have a list with 426 numbers.
We have reached our goal.
WE ARE READY TO LAUNCH!