Taking root

In 1969, a man from a farming family in Villeneuve stepped off a plane from Canada and set foot in a sprawling shantytown on the outskirts of Lima, Peru.

Father Denis Hebert, ordained a Catholic priest about a decade before, was sent to Peru to help develop a pastoral program in one of the Edmonton Archdiocese's sister parishes. Little did he know this trip was just the start of a lifelong mission in Latin America.

"When I saw the poverty in the barrios on the outskirts of Lima, I had never seen anything like that in my life. It was extreme poverty," reflected Hebert, adding he initially thought he was foolish to accept such a challenge.

The Villeneuve native was the 13th of 15 children. He began his work in the church at a young age through Catholic Action service programs, which eventually led him to study at the seminary in 1952. After being appointed to mission work in Peru, Hebert continued to missions in Panama, the Caribbean island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines over the next several years.

Now 83, Hebert is still on South American soil. He describes himself as "semi-retired," working in Managua, Nicaragua where the operations of a charity he founded – FUNDACCO – take place right next door to his home. The organization works to empower local people through educational scholarships, agricultural co-operatives and access to health care. FUNDACCO is supported by a sister operation, the Roots of Change Foundation, based in St. Albert.

"What we're doing is trying to help people. We want to lead them to action," said Hebert. "The way they think and how they can improve their thinking so they can move ahead. It's working right down in the roots of their life, so they can have a good solid base to work from."

Roots of Change and FUNDACCO began work with local farmers in 2008 with the long-term goal of establishing self-sustaining farms. So far the agricultural co-operative has established new farming practices including the design and implementation of an irrigation system, which allows farmers to plant and reap crops year around; before they could only work during the rainy season.

Hebert explained the initiative not only works to increase the revenues of farmers, but more importantly it builds confidence and optimism. Crop losses can be devastating to those already living in harsh economic conditions. This struggle Hebert describes as "demoralizing."

"We're not here to make the people rich like those in St. Albert, " said Hebert. "We're there to help them lift themselves up and slowly grow. "

Approximately 12 locals are employed by FUNDACCO and act as facilitators in various community projects. Most recently the organization has established savings and credit unions to encourage villagers to save the money they earn and become self-sufficient.

Roots of Change also funds educational projects including five community libraries and a post-secondary scholarship program. Hebert noted numerous Alberta families from Grande Prairie to St. Albert have committed donations of $1,800 per year for the length of a university program to allow local students to continue into higher education.

FUNDACCO also runs youth mentoring workshops and summer programs (led by youth mentors) for hundreds of children in six neighbouring barrios. The organization has also trained six local women to run first aid posts out of their home, with a visiting doctor, to increase access to health care in the area.

Taking root

Forty-four years after first arriving in South America, Hebert acknowledged there have been challenges working in incredibly impoverished communities, one of which was his own immersion and integration.

In the early days of his mission work, Hebert found himself frequently asking, "What did I come here for?" His faith was only renewed when he began attending language school and bonding with the locals. In the early days, Hebert ministered to almost 55,000 parishioners, whom he described as "people of the hills" living among the rocks in the most barren parts of Peru.

Despite the barriers the people face, Hebert still holds an unwavering optimism for their futures and their potential.

"These people have initiative, they have capacity, and they have interest. These people are not going to be downtrodden, they're going to lift themselves up and do something," he said proudly.

"It may not be that successful, but it works for today, it works for tomorrow and that's what's important."

Hebert said he has recognized the importance of formal education, but also education of the spirit. The process of empowering the people starts deep within the conscience, changing long held cultural beliefs such as the treatment of the disabled in society.

He described a situation in which a family had hid their daughter for nearly 20 years because of her deformed hip and foot. Her parents came to FUNDACCO needing help to find a specialist so their child could go back to school, go to youth group and have a better future.

"We're asking them to be honest with themselves. We're asking them to be truthful. We're asking them to be just. We're asking them to respect one another, " said Hebert.

"We want to lead them to action. It doesn't happen overnight and sometimes it takes more than 10 years for something to move, but we stick with it. "

Hebert said although he won't be around in the next 20 to 30 years, he's hopeful that the partnership between Roots of Change and FUNDACCO, and thus the partnership between Canadians and Nicaraguans will continue to grow.

"In Third World countries, in my opinion, it's not a good idea to start something and then have to give it up, " explained Hebert. "People have suffered enough failures in their lives because they are poor. We want to set up programs that have a chance of continuing and prepare people to do good on their own. "

"It has been a tremendous experience," he reminisced. "I have discovered tremendous heart, tremendous faith and a tremendous sense of community (in Nicaragua) and a tremendous need to help one another. "