'Because we were born here and here we grew up. Here we will stay.'
This banner with these words is full of strong emotion.It hangs outside a community of temporary houses built by people who are fighting for a 'decent life'. A group of 200 are living on land that the government has zoned for housing. Housing that was promised over a year ago now. Construction has not begun, nor does it look like it will begin in the near future. In fact, government decisions about housing are affecting 7000 people.
This is called a población, the people that live here struggle to provide for their families each day. They are troubled and have many challenges just to meet basic needs each day.
They want the right to live a ‘decent life’. What does this mean?
This población is only five minutes away from our house. It is manned by a police presence 24/7. I find this lifestyle confronting. This población is one of many. I drive by two regularly on my routine rounds.I want to understand what a ‘decent life’ means for these people. However, it is difficult to discover this, it is hard to enter these people’s lives.
I am not welcome.
Apart from the fact that I am a foreigner, I have blondish hair, they call me 'rubia'; I also live on the other side of the river. Who would have thought that this would even be a consideration? This river creates much more of a divide than just between the two sides of the banks.
I have many questions.
'Our fight is bigger that a house.......neighbourhood and a decent life'
So where do you live? Peñalolén I reply and then I cringe as I wait for the next question.
Which apparently is still important to ask even though they already know the answer.
Oh, you must live on the other side of the river?
A big abyss fills the conversation, a divide I cannot really understand nor cross easily. What is this divide? I see people like me in the sense that we all have needs, desires, feelings, struggles. They see injustice, difference, judgment. All unspoken of course and presumed.
We all want to belong. Neighbourhood is part of their cry. Community. What does this mean for each of us? What do we fight for? Can the divide be crossed and how? What do we desire? What is a ‘decent life’ and how should we live it?
