THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 3, 1996 TAG: 9605010162
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By PHYLLIS SPEIDELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 108 lines
WHILE OTHER TEENS headed to the beaches for spring break, Courtney Hundley got on a jet and landed in Guyana, a country of lush greenery, exotic flowers and delicious, but often unfamiliar, foods.
Beautiful as Guyana may be, it is also a country of need where no one drinks the water and electrical power is uncertain at best.
Inspired more by humanitarian impulses than a desire for an awesome tan, Courtney, a Churchland High School senior, volunteered to spend almost two weeks assisting in a medical outreach program sponsored in Guyana by Rotary International. A grant from the Churchland Rotary Club helped pay a portion of her air fare, but the bulk of the trip was at her own expense and she had to compete with hundreds of other teens for the privilege.
Guyana, a former British colony on the north coast of South America, is the only English-speaking country in South America, but its culture is strongly Caribbean.
Guyana survived 25 difficult years after gaining independence from Great Britain in 1966, and only since the 1992 national elections has the country begun to recover economically. Medical professionals in the capital city of Georgetown face chronic shortages of facilities and supplies while outlying areas lack many medical and dental services.
Courtney was part of a mission started by the Rotary Club of South Richmond and the Georgetown Central Rotary of Guyana five years ago to bring help to the 750,000 people of Guyana, focusing on education and health care.
Since then, Rotary clubs from all over southeastern Virginia have joined in supporting the Guyana Initiative. Five teams of Rotarians have traveled to Guyana including Courtney's team, which was comprised of two dentists, several Rotary volunteers and four teens who represented Interact, the high school wing of Rotary International. Courtney was president of the Interact Club at Churchland High.
The four teens functioned as dental assistants, working chairside with the dentists, passing instruments, sterilizing equipment and, when the lights went out, holding flashlights.
``Most of the little kids had never seen a dentist,'' Courtney said, adding that the sight of a cotton swab was enough to unnerve some of the more frightened children. ``Most of them were calm, but when one of them yelled, they all yelled.''
Courtney's blond hair and blue eyes attracted instant attention wherever she went, but it was her skill with a basketball that won the Churchland varsity basketball player a round of cheers. In a land of cricket and soccer, Courtney saw only one basketball court, in a small village outside Georgetown.
``I borrowed a ball from some boys on the court and showed them some of the dribbling drills that our basketball team does in warm-ups,'' Courtney said. ``They thought that I was really good.''
Courtney and the other Rotarians were hosted by the Guyanan Rotary members, staying in their homes and dining with them in some of Georgetown's better restaurants and clubs.
During the day, however, the group was kept busy bringing dental care to villages outside Georgetown and traveling by van, boat and airplane.
James R. Hines, chairman of the Rotary's Interact program, was instrumental in arranging for Courtney and the other three teens to accompany this latest mission.
``I took on a lot chaperoning four teenage girls, but they did a real super job helping the dentists down there,'' Hines said. ``I think what they gained from the trip was a knowledge of how little people have in a Third World country.
``That knowledge will have an effect on their lives and ultimately make them better people.
``I know it did for me.''
Courtney kept a journal of her experiences in Guyanna. Some of her observations:
They drive on the opposite side of the road here and animals roam free. There are cows everywhere, and goats, chickens, and horses.
We went to David Rose Community School, a school for the children that do not pass their tests to go to high school. It was a very sad school. The children do educational and vocational work here. They stood up for us when we entered their classrooms and were disciplined well. The technology class needed wood, saws and hammers in order to make things. There was not even a sewing machine in the Home Ec classes. Nothing. Need help.
We went to Kaiteur Falls and Orinduk Falls today and met at the airport to get our weight checked because the plane could only hold 1,500 pounds. Got to Kaiteur Falls after much delay because of bad weather conditions. Went through the rain forest which was very interesting and beautiful. The Ambassador of the Bahamas was also taking the tour and her personal guide carried an umbrella around over her and got her water. Different!
Near the falls was an Indian village where about 30 people lived. There were many Amerindian children in the village and when the plane left they all waved.
We went to Moca today, a very poor village 10 or 15 miles away from Georgetown. We were working in a schoolhouse that was not being used. I have never seen so many children! We saw 120 adults and children, many of whom had never seen a dentist. It was a long morning with just one dentist.
Worked at Palms, an elderly persons' home. Many were calm but many were very scared, and cried and screamed when we tried to help them.
Went to Enterprise (an East Indian Village) for Phagwah (a Hindu spring festival). We went to a Hindu service where everyone wears white because it symbolizes purity. After the service everyone threw colored powder on everybody - in the church!! It is a celebration of good over evil. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Courtney Hundley spent her spring break in Guyana, assisting in a
medical outreach program sponsored by Rotary International. Hundley
was one of four teens representing Interact, the high school wing of
Rotary.
by CNB