Inspiration - Irhad Strika

I have once again been reminded of the cruel reality surrounding us, whether we like it or not. Being able to have had a chance to hear an extensive talk about the reality of militarization in the state of Chiapas and the Zapatista uprising has again made me feel a little bit upset about the unrealized and often hidden truths of continuous dehumanization and exploitation of ordinary people. I have realized that the only certain thing about the current travel experience is the battle between hope and despair. My group and I are learning about the horrifying stories of people's suffering, while trying to build up our own. These experiences are often so harsh that it is almost inevitable to get to the point of feeling desperate and powerless. It is as if there is no way out. It is striking to the point where people feel no desire to keep living; they feel like dying.

Then again, there is another half of the wave, the one that strongly picks you up. There is a light at the end of the tunnel; every storm ends with the shining sun; every closed door opens another. I have to come to realize that very often one specific event or one day can depict the most profound emotions and oscillations in our lives. On a sunny day of 9 March 2011, I have had an opportunity to enter the sacred space of Centro Indigena de Capacitacion Integral (CIDECI). Just roaming around their campus made me feel very optimistic and energized, as if the buildings, plants and humans were exhaling a unique, powerful and epidemic sense of hope.
Centro Indigena de Capacitacion Integral (CIDECI) is a campus based community that works on providing opportunities for people from indigenous communities that have no chance of proper basic human needs, and specifically education. It is completely free, and they currently have around 120 students learning number of different areas of knowledge including literacy, agriculture, agro-ecology, philosophy, systems of autonomy, analysis of world systems, automechanics, hidrography etc. All of these areas of knowledge have a very pragmatic approach in terms of the way they are thought, and teachers have a position of being a role model and a close friend to students. The most significant part of the community is their autonomy, which is defined as the independence from the central government and ability to live their lives as they please. They have their own well, electric generator, sewage and trash system. Farm produces 30-50% of their food needs and surrounding forest is where they have houses for sheep, pigs, chickens and rabbits.

A center of “knowledge building” breeds a life of dignity and trust. It is a place where those previously ignored get their voices heard; those without opportunities are given a chance for the first time in their life; those misinterpreted and misunderstood are carefully listened to; those without hope find it and fortify it all over again.