When I drew this image, I felt it would be part of something, a project perhaps, but at the time could not have understood what it would be. I finished it last year, and something about it made it special in my eyes. Was it just the vibrant colors? or was it something to do with the idea, the hummingbird was wrapping its wings around the world as if protecting it and yet also filling it with the abundance of joy it holds in its heart. When ideas like this come into my mind, I know it flows from “Spirit”, guiding me, inspiring me to produce such an image for purposes unknown. It would be months before the idea formulated in my mind to start Project Hummingbird (Projecto Colibri). Again, I understand the beauty of this project comes from “Spirit”.
While working on my script for the documentary, I began to see the prospect of the hummingbird image, the idea formulating over several weeks. In conjunction with my efforts to finish my script, I was also introduced to a woman living in Quito, a friend of Elizabeth, the owner of the property where I have been staying here in the Intag.
I had been approached by Elizabeth regarding her friend Louisa, a woman with 3 daughters, from Venezuela, who as you can see has cancer. For her, the medicine is quite expensive, so Elizabeth hoped I could make a small donation to aid her in buying medicine. My means are quite limited unfortunately, so my donation seemed rather small, especially knowing how much she probably needed. It was not long after this, I began to see the hummingbird as an asset for not only Louisa, but many people who are in need of help due to their difficult situations. Here at Victoria Ecolodge, Elizabeth hopes to create a haven for women struggling to find themselves, begin again, learn to believe in themselves. To me this is incredibly appropriate, as Victoria has been a place of great healing for me over the last 14 months. I have often thought of this property as a refuge for abuse victims such as myself, a place for retreats, honoring the tranquility of the surroundings.
I met Elizabeth only last December 2019. I suppose this seems strange, given how long I have been living here, but I had been unaware of the identity of the owner of this property. She lives and works in Quito, so her visits were few, and I was never introduced to her until she came to relieve Nathaly and her family of their caretaking duties. I took a chance, something quite difficult for me, and introduced myself, explaining my purpose for being here. We became friends during the moments we began our discussions, I think. For me it was so amazing to meet this incredible young woman whose thoughts reflected so many of my own. At times such as this, you can’t help but think…..”wow if only we had met a year ago”….. But then everything happens at the right time for the right reasons, and I realized I had not been ready to explore such ideas. My healing journey had really only just begun in some ways, when I came through the gates of this magical place.
It has taken some months, a lot of courage, and spending the reserves of my dwindling cash to formulate “Project Hummingbird” in more detail, some of which I will share in this post, in order to begin what I consider my purpose for being here. I hope to inspire many with the image, the concept and the reality there are so many of us in need of assistance.
The purpose of the shirt, is to promote the documentary which speaks of healing from difficult trauma, the artwork being an important aspect of my healing over the years. The hummingbird to me represents joy, so the picture depicts there is enough joy in this tiny bird to wrap the whole world in its embrace of love.
The idea of sharing my story came from many people over the years, who insisted it should be told in order to help others on their healing journey. Shortly after coming to Ecuador, I met a man who told me there are many here with stories similar to mine, but they do not have the courage to share them. I felt we were in agreement that my story and the fact I was willing to share it, would be of benefit to those who could not. Sort of like a huge group therapy session, where hearing someone else tell what happened to them confirms you are not alone, that it was not your fault and you have the right to become whole once more.
How does one become whole after tragedy?
Well it is different with everyone, I suppose, so I want to ask each community – what is it you need? How can what I went through, serve you? How does knowing what happened to me, and why it happened, help?
If we work together, support each other, can we find strength in our sharing? Enough so that we remember who we are, what we wanted before the trauma? Can we become whole again? Then help someone else now that we have begun our journey back?
To me there is purpose in our tragedies if we can use the experiences to help someone else. Our experiences can make us more compassionate, more understanding, more patient because we know what it takes to face the fear of what we went through, thereby understanding what someone else is facing.
In wearing the shirt you accept the idea of recovery – for you or for someone you know and care about.
The shirt represents the possibility of sharing, understanding, compassion, acceptance, forgiveness and healing, no matter what caused the trauma or illness you face.
This is the story Susi wished to share with you, that you may better understand the importance of her project. Our projects are separate, but we are working together in the hopes of building the shelter faster. Our common goal is helping us both find purpose from the tragedies of our past……….
Hello, my name is Susana Navarrete; I am 34 years old and I have 3 daughters. Ever since I was 17 years old, I have been very interested in learning how to get ahead as a woman, while leaving behind my fears. Because I had an abusive experience in my life, I had the idea I could help other women with similar experiences, suffering emotional and sexual violence. Although I do not have a university education which can be a problem, my dream never ceased to exist as the years have passed.
While it may not be in the same category, my experience (until January 2020) gained with environmental education locally, I have been helping in a different way to create awareness. I feel these things are connected. In one way or another, my children have an awareness of care and protection of the water and with nature because of my interests, which is very important to me. I have been very happy to help in this way, but now I feel the time has come for me to create a refuge, fulfill my lifelong dream.
This refuge for women who have suffered like me, I believe, will create an environment of safety allowing them to begin a better life. Together we can strengthen ourselves by joining hands, opening new horizons – together we can begin to overcome our fears. Meeting Gabriel and combined with her desire to help, I have been given the opportunity to advance my dream. Knowing the situation of women in the area, I wanted to create a shelter for abused women. But I also understand that in order for them to truly begin a new life, they must first learn to be independent and have the means to earn a living. This led me to the idea that we could begin by using my knowledge from the sewing course I took, to begin making and selling sheets sets to the local hotels. At first, the money earned from this initial step of providing local businesses with sheet sets, would be needed to build the shelter. Once the shelter is up and running, I can then teach the women the skills I have learned, giving them an opportunity, perhaps for the first time in their lives, to do something for themselves. Unfortunately, my circumstances were such that I could not purchase the machines needed to begin this project. Through Gabriel, my story found its way to a very kind soul who provided the means to purchase the new sewing machines to begin my project.
Having the sewing machines allows me to begin first with making sheets and tote bags, then in the future perhaps the t-shirts for the hummingbird project. The tote bags will be hand embroidered not just by me, but also the women from the shelter. In this way the women under my care will begin to earn their own money, based on the structure of the hummingbird project. It is also my plan to teach the children of the women finding refuge in my shelter these skills, helping them to understand they have the right to choose, be independent and be strong in their own right.
There are many additional options to be provided at the shelter including educational talks for women to strengthen their self-esteem. it is my hope this will create a very self-confident group in the refuge. It is our aim to attract a tourism trade, selling the handicrafts made by the hands of the good women here, which in turn educates those interested in our project and the importance of what we are doing.
I feel very blessed to know Gabriel who is an exemplary woman and in her eyes the hope of freedom shines. My message to all women who have suffered violence is never to give up, not to be ashamed. We are not to blame for the acts against us by the aggressors, but were at the mercy of their belief we did not have rights. I believe in a god who sees him and everything that was done. His justice is better than that of us as we are learning to forgive, once more fill our hearts with love and hope. Without forgetting that God heard my request, I invite you to hold hands and together we can make a beautiful dream come true for the benefit of women.
introducing Charles, another contributor to the project 
back to Otavalo to purchase fabric 
thread, fabric and embroidery thread for the tote bags.
It seems our timing may not be the best, as we have found ourselves in a world wide lock down. At first, I thought, “wow, this is not good”….but then I considered what the hummingbird represents, what the project represents, and I decided, the show must go on. Right now, more than ever, we must focus on something positive, look to the future. Where there is hope, there is someone inspiring us to keep going. Susi is not giving up, she is my hope that this project will succeed and provide hope for others who are in need of our help. I will not give up either, this project seems to be behind the reasons I came to Ecuador.
Speaking with Lucas when he was here doing the filming of my documentary, we decided that he could also be part of this project in Canada. With his connections, and him organizing things, I hope to put together a great team up north. You can follow Lucas on his FB page…..
https://www.facebook.com/ApolloMultimedia11/
Do you know someone who could benefit from our project? Would you like to become part of the project? For me, I would love to see the hummingbird reach every corner of the world, spreading its joy as it goes. I feel we can best heal our wounds by focusing on love, the beauty around us, and forgiveness. I hope some of you will join me on this aspect of my journey. We are strong, we are capable and we have survived, allowing us to give a hand to someone else who needs our support. As Susi said….”I invite you to hold hands and together we can make a beautiful dream come true for the benefit of women. “
***I would like to add that for me the Hummingbird Project is not just for women. There are many who have suffered, many who are struggling to find their balance, their purpose, their “self” from both sexes. I do not wish to presume that only women have suffered abuse, for this is simply not true and we must not exclude anyone who needs our help. We benefit from standing side by side, united in our purpose to heal, to become whole once more and to respect the journey we share.