We are Paolo and Elisabetta, two ASCS volunteers at the ‘Scalabrini’ Migrant House in Ciudad de Guatemala. For the past 2 months we have been living here, supporting the work of the operators and experiencing the activities of the home in 360 degrees, fully immersing ourselves in the experience of sharing space and time with those who enable the efficient functioning of this magnificent reality and with people in transit.

First of all, where are we? Guatemala is a small Central American state that lies just below Mexico and covers the entire landmass horizontally. This information turns out to be relevant to make it clear that it is an obligatory place of passage for anyone who is traveling from South America in the direction of the United States. As can be imagined from the economic strength of the destination country, this migration route is very busy, and this influx makes it a big opportunity for criminal organizations and individuals willing to do anything to make a living off the skin of people in transit.

In this situation, where migrants start from conditions of extreme hardship and are subject to dangers of various kinds, the Casa del Migrante ‘Scalabrini’ in Ciudad de Guatemala is responsible for providing some of the essential services. Among the most important is the sleeping space, precisely within rooms of 4 to 12 people divided on separate floors for single men and women or families. The sheer numbers of people and the desire to provide a fair service to all make it possible to guarantee one night per person, who from 4 p.m. until 7 a.m. the following day can stay inside the house and use all the other services provided. Clean bathrooms and showers, a dinner and breakfast, support from a nurse, an advocate and a social worker, along with the distribution of clothes and a time in the evening devoted to the needs of those traveling: on the one hand there is training for adults on sensitive issues concerning travel, and on the other hand there is dedicated space for play and dialogue for the large number of children who attend the Home.

The activities of the operators and us volunteers focus on ensuring these services for all people in transit, which in the busiest cases can reach 120. This requires a great deal of organization and a set of rules that allow this work to be carried on in a sustainable way with the only source of funding on which it is based: donations. It is spoken of in an economic sense but also much more practically with food, clothing and the time of volunteers (local and international) who facilitate and support the activities of the workers, in return for the opportunity to be able to see, learn about, talk about and be contaminated by a reality that is as distant as it is rich in valuable differences.

After 2 months that we have been here, we can say that the House manages to be extremely efficient, optimizing the resources at its disposal to ensure an essential service as well as much appreciated by those who are hosted, who often do not miss the opportunity to thank you. The greatest discovery was recognizing that you can give a lot and receive a lot, probably more than you could have imagined and especially in so many completely unexpected ways.