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When I left the albergie in Sevilla in March I met a 12 year old boy and the French man who was accompanying him on a walk feom Sevilla to Santiago, to Fisterra and then Irun. They will be in Bilbao tomorrow, both running out of steam.
The boy is walking this as a condition for him to be allowed back in school in the fall. Part of a court arrangement.
Just heard back back from his cowalker this evening.
Turns out that despite letting foster home and classmates know the addresses of where he would be able to receive mail I am the only one who ever sent him anything: an adventure novel and maple syrup candies, one per chapter!
I am heart broken, because I know how much he looked forward to whatever ot was he would be receiving at the poste restante. Not even a postcard from his foster home. 12 years old. Walking with a stranger, not on the Frances, full 20-25-30km stages, and even doing a double 50km stage. No music, emails, and apparently no poste restante either.
Google translate will do the job!Thanks for this contact info, Anemone. I'm off to the seaside today but will send an e-mail first thing on Monday. I wonder if there is someone in the Association that could translate from English for him. Or I'll just use Google translate.
.
mmmmm....
".....I just looked at the Association's website to see how they had identified him in the "testimonials" section, but the website has been completly redone and this boy's testimonial is no longer there. Also, since he will be finishing in about a week, I am thinking that the best way to send him anything may be through the Association, and they can then forward the letters to him. ...."
Is your information source for this "walk" is only the 12 yo boy and/or his partner he is walking with?
Please, not doubting you; but, something does now smell good here.
Possibly I missed something in my reading of this post and comments?
I finished (end of May) walking the Portuguese route. While walking ran across a similar story of a person who "had" to walk the Camino. But, had no money, family or support for the walk.
Was asking for help. Of course only would take money. duhhh wonder why.
I suspected this guy was a phony.
Hi Martyseville, I actually met some of this SEUIL people, also walking with a teen-ager. They're a wonderful organisation, nothing 'phony' about them
http://assoseuil.org/association/notre-mission/
Hi Martyseville, I actually met some of this SEUIL people, also walking with a teen-ager. They're a wonderful organisation, nothing 'phony' about them
http://assoseuil.org/association/notre-mission/
I think this: of course there is the possibility that the story is just a "story". In this case, the worst thing that can happen is that with a few friendly words I will look foolish and my ego a little offended(or not). Otherwise - if the story is true and I not react .... and no one answers ....the possibility that for some little moment make someone else happy - will be lost
What are you going on about? This post is out of the twilight zone!Is your information source for this "walk" is only the 12 yo boy and/or his partner he is walking with?
Please, not doubting you; but, something does now smell good here.
Possibly I missed something in my reading of this post and comments?
I finished (end of May) walking the Portuguese route. While walking ran across a similar story of a person who "had" to walk the Camino. But, had no money, family or support for the walk.
Was asking for help. Of course only would take money. duhhh wonder why.
I suspected this guy was a phony.
I met a similar father and son duo, son being dragged around by Camino loving father. The son was well in his 20s!I met a poor German teenager who didn't seem to want to be there at all and never smiled. He wasn't a young offender, he just had an overbearing dad.
What are you going on about? This post is out of the twilight zone!
I walked with these two for about two weeks.
The Seuil association pays for their expenses (daily 16€ per person, plus 3€ pocket money for the boy, cultural visits, and all the boy's gear). The adult gets paid to walk with the child. The only help they ever needed was for translation with hospitals when the boy had a bad foot.
These walks are done with the French court's conscent (I have seen the documents).
Where can anyone see a scam in this?
Plus my post here was just saying how sad I was for this boy when I leanred that noone from his life back home had taken the opportunity to write to him, encourage him, tell him they missed him. He always talked about the poste restante and kept wondering what friends would send him. And nothing.
How there is a scam behind me is beyond me. What is it that does not smell good to you?
And again, to all of you who have shown an interest in sending MF words of encourgament, congratulations, THANK YOU! He will have a long and difficult road ahead of him when he gets back home; but your kindness can only give him the strength he will need.
I still don't understand what in my post "didn't smell right" to you? Regardless of who you may have bumped into. Never did I ask anyone to do anything for this boy, nor did I say he and his accompagnateur ever asked for anything.Replied with a thanks and good to know. Even told that was interesting and very good to learn.
After walking three Caminos and running into a few fakes, I felt justified in asking if this was for real.
With the replies given, I came back with a "good...good to know..and thanks"
Wow..
Can I add my two cents here. To the mods, I will try not to post any political statements. But moderate if you feel the need.
As a social worker in mental health issues with adults I do come in contact with some of the children that were placed in youthcare so I think I have an idea about what goes on.
First of all I do think that most councellors in the French care system work very well and hard. But society/ political system does not appreciate fully , in terms of subsidies and general interest, what they try to do . And that is basically raising someone else's children. That someone else is not capable enough , does not want to ( yes there are parents like that ! ), are drugaddicts etc. An example : Let me tell you it is not a nice sight when a premature baby is lying there helpless and shivering because mum was using heroine during pregnancy. And that child will suffer the causes mentally and physically for the rest of it's life.
Anwyay , I think it is devastating that the child in the OP did not get any messages from it's peers or councellors.
Again most probably the carers will be doing double shifts, helping out another workmate who most probably is home with sickleave or a burnout . Social workers will do their best but I know that sometimes that the daily work is just about surviving : offering a bed, bath and bread like we say. And sometimes yes sometimes there is time and energy to do just something " for fun " with the children.
Again , I think we should measure a society by how it handles it most vulnerable citizens : young children, people in mental health and people in poverty.
And not only poverty in terms of money but also in terms of chances.
But there are stories of strength : I know some people who walked in that program. They are an example for us and for society. The program gave them a chance to start afresh ( with lots of bruises yes but they did it ). And no they were not young criminals but vulnerable young boys and girls who just got a bad ticket at start and birth.
Also a young person does not become a criminal but parents and environment do so.
Going on a Camino and a pilgrimage is for me in essence about the Parable of the Samaritan.
No if's and but's there but helping and being there. Just being there and show compassion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Good_Samaritan
Sorry for my ramblings but these issues are close to my heart.
Thank you, Anemone.The Association has a "Contact" form on line, where one can write them a message. An email message to MF via this online form may also work: http://assoseuil.org/contact.html
Thank you Stephen!Thank you, Anemone.
I have used that link, together with a Google English to French translation, to send "M.F." blessings and best wishes for his future life.
If we only knew his address, I think he would be inundated with post-cards from Forum members!
We met a 16 yr old french girl who was in 'care' and had a social worker accompanying her - luckily the one who hated the experience had just changed to another - hopefully more 'happy' pilgrim guide/guard...i just hope the kid got a feeling of freedom and self reliance thru the experience...can make or break i guess...
perhaps there should be a fund to send kids in care on camino - it certainly never happened to me...
Just got my weekly Forum ‘summary’ and saw this thread. I saw, walked, and stayed with Philippe and his young charge off and on over several days. We all started in Seville, but the first time I saw them was Ourense. While on the road I gave the boy my next to last (out of 200) Camino VdlP guitar pick. We were in Outeiro together before walking into Santiago the next day. While at that albergue, I was able to speak with Philippe about what the situation was. First, he is 14 years old (or at least days away from it). Second, this is a legitimate organization and nothing evil was happening. They do this program of walking 3 months for youth that are in trouble with school or the law. Normally they are slightly older. No school wanted him. However, one school said they would take him in the Fall if he completed this program of three months of walking. The program apparently started in Belgium, then later in France and other countries. To me he seemed like a good, normal kid (although there had been some earlier rough times). He carried his own pack, but he was not wearing a ball and chain. He was not under arrest. I tried to give the boy encouragement, as well as slipping just him a chocolate donut or two (which he appreciated). Everyone from Outeiro made it to Santiago on Sunday, May 21, 2017. I have a photo of most of us next to the Cathedral; Philippe, the boy, myself, and others. I’m sure he would appreciate after-the-fact congratulations through the association. I wish him the best.
I tried to give the boy encouragement, as well as slipping just him a chocolate donut or two (which he appreciated).
This is soo cruel. How can people do this to a 12 year old!When I left the albergue in Sevilla in March I met a 12 year old boy and the French man who was accompanying him on a walk feom Sevilla to Santiago, to Fisterra and then Irun. They will be in Bilbao tomorrow, both running out of steam.
The boy is walking this as a condition for him to be allowed back in school in the fall. Part of a court arrangement.
Just heard back back from his cowalker this evening.
Turns out that despite letting foster home and classmates know the addresses of where he would be able to receive mail I am the only one who ever sent him anything: an adventure novel and maple syrup candies, one per chapter!
I am heart broken, because I know how much he looked forward to whatever ot was he would be receiving at the poste restante. Not even a postcard from his foster home. 12 years old. Walking with a stranger, not on the Frances, full 20-25-30km stages, and even doing a double 50km stage. No music, emails, and apparently no poste restante either.
What is cruel? Not writing to him? I agree. Having him walk the Camino? He is having a great time. (And he is 14, not twelve as I wrote in the title).This is soo cruel. How can people do this to a 12 year old!
Imagine the horror, I am thinking of taking my godson for a walk next year. He's 9. I might show some flexibility and take him on the Frances (I know, the horror) so that he can interact with more people than just his slave driver (me) on another route.
If the Kiwi Family kids can do, so can he. Now, to convince his parents to let him out of school for two weeks so we don't have to walk in the summer heat.
Oh, he will unplug!Have a great time and good luck. Often missing school is the easy part, but it can sometimes be hard to get them to unplug. I've had 4 and 6 year olds visit the farm and be horrified that we don't have mobile coverage... They have to make do with climbing trees and playing with piglets!
Unplug? When I walked with my 14 years old son, the main criteria for choosing an albergue was: "Did they have free Wi-Fi?"...Oh, he will unplug!
This one is too young to care about social media and internet. He just wants his electronic games. And he doesn't get to decide.Unplug? When I walked with my 14 years old son, the main criteria for choosing an albergue was: "Did they have free Wi-Fi?"...
But I think the experience was not so bad, because he is looking to come back this year!
Buen Camino, Jacques-D.
Absolutely! He can prepare a whole presentation on these topics for his classmates when he comes back!So much natural education on a Camino anyway (far more than skool imho)
Map reading/ natural history/Spanish history and language/culture/ geography/geology/meteorology. A LOT of other languages... self reliance/problem-solving/nutrition and health
People skills - dealing with snoring/swearing, learning how to talk about blisters and foot problems for hours....
At least the kids get to opt out of oenology...
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