Promoting peace amid poverty

from The Metro West Daily News

WAYLAND -

Shunned by society, children and their parents earn their living scavenging the dump in Guatemala City.

Exposed to methane gas, pests and rodents, they pick among the garbage littered with broken glass and twisted metal for recycled material. Roughly 560 children, from babies to age 20, live with their families in shanty houses made of tin and corrugated cardboard that line the dump.

Combining her passions for theater and resolving conflict, Wayland's Anna Hadingham helps preteens and teens in that area deal with another big problem plaguing the city - gangs.

Through the nonprofit organization Safe Passage, the 22-year-old started a program last September to teach conflict resolution to children who live and work in Guatemala City's dump.

To a group of about 50 at First Parish in Wayland yesterday, Hadingham talked about her experience as a volunteer. During her first visit home since she began the project in September, she showed pictures of the at-risk children children living in squalor and poverty.

In her classes, the 2003 Wayland High School graduate teaches children metaphorically about controlling the "sparks" in their lives.

"I try to get the kids to change sparks from setting off fires," said Hadingham. "The kids are getting it. One boy previously involved in gangs is now a peer leader."

The children now speak of aspirations beyond life at the limiting dump.

"They want to be doctors, vets and a lot of them want to be teachers," she said.

At her presentation, Hadingham, petite in stature, easily captured the attention of her audience with her message.

After graduating from Syracuse University with a bachelor's degree in acting and nonviolent conflict resolution, Hadingham thought about going to New York to become an actor. But after meeting with an agent, a different destiny called to her.

"That was not my best choice when there are so many other things I care about," she said. "Social justice has been my lifelong commitment."

In the classes Hadingham calls her "Non-Violence Theater Project," she presents hypothetical, dangerous situations to the children. Through discussion, they explore serious issues and create nonviolent solutions.

"It helps build self-esteem, confidence, and identity," said Hadingham, who wants to produce a video project for the children to create their own story, learn something about video cameras and produce the film.

"Her presentation was very moving," said Ann Knight, a Wayland resident who attended the talk. "We are grateful for young people like Anna who take the time to make a difference and bring the message to the rest of us and keep the situation at the forefront of our consciousness."

Hadingham has done a good job at mining her interests of theater and conflict resolution for social justice, said Lea Anderson of Wayland. In turn, the drama program at Wayland High, taught by Richard Weingartner, helped Hadingham mine her interests.

"He captured her attention by dramatizing many of the issues she now deals with in Guatemala," said Anna's father, Evan.

After Hadingham completes her year in Guatemala, she plans to continue teaching nonviolence through theater in urban settings in the United States.

With donations, Hadingham hopes to buy used video cameras for the children in Guatemala. To make a financial gift, visit safepassage.org and write "non-violent theater project" on a check.

Hadingham also sells note cards of pictures the children drew. The cards may be purchased for $1 by sending an e-mail to Anna.Hadingham@gmail.com.

Those interested may also send letters to the children by sending an e-mail to Anna. In English class, they can translate them to Spanish.

For more information on the city dump, view the documentary "Recycled Life," which is available online at www.recycledlifedoc.com.

(Kathy Uek can be reached at 508-626-4419 or kuek@cnc.com.)