Semester Abroad, Global Correspondents Lesson in Resilience: Stories from Buenos Aires, Barcelona, and Cape Town

SA: SIT International Honors Program, Buenos Aires, Argentina and Barcelona, Spain

Guadalupe, one of the Semester Abroad Global Correspondents, shares her experience abroad during the Fall 2024 semester. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out for their images on the @pennabroad Instagram feed.

As I begin to wrap up my semester abroad, one thing I learned from my multi-country study
abroad experience is the power of collective community resilience.

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, my program took us to Punta Querandi, a shared sacred indigenous
territory in the province of Buenos Aires.

When we visited this space between Tigre and Escobar in Buenos Aires Province, I witnessed firsthand how a community's determination can preserve their heritage against odds that are against them.

The battle for Punta Querandi emerged when a private developer tried to claim the land for development, dismissing its deep indigenous significance. The community's response was strong-willed– as one member said, "It was all or nothing!" What followed was a remarkable display of collective resilience that moved me deeply.

I learned that in 2016, when developers destroyed their temple, the community simply rebuilt it. When it was destroyed again, they rebuilt it for a third time. Each reconstruction wasn't just about the physical structure – it was a powerful statement about their right to exist in this space. The community maintained their presence through an encampment, continued their cultural practices, and regularly held demonstrations at the municipality to make their voices heard.

Even when faced with legal threats and a 2017 lawsuit attempting to evict them, they remained resilient. Their approach wasn't about confrontation – it was about showing up every day, maintaining their presence, and refusing to let their sacred space become another development project. After years of this persistent determination, the justice system finally recognized the land's sacred status, protecting it from development.

Punta Querandi taught me that community power often manifests not in loud, dramatic moments, but in the quiet, persistent actions of people committed to protecting what matters most. It's a lesson in resilience that I'll carry with me long after my semester abroad ends.

In Barcelona, Spain, I visited Fondo, a neighborhood in Santa Coloma de Gramenet located 30
minutes from my homestay by subway. The history of this area tells a powerful story of
transformation. In the 1950s, Fondo evolved from a small farming community into a working-class town, becoming home to those who couldn't afford Barcelona's high costs during a period of significant internal migration.

The neighborhood's challenges were documented in 1972 when Xavier Valls conducted a comprehensive study examining public deficits in Fondo. His findings revealed that the neighborhood lacked so many basic resources that it would take a century to revitalize the area. Despite this severe lack of public resources, Fondo has seen significant improvements and development – progress that can be directly attributed to the community's organizing efforts and collective resilience.

One of the community's most significant victories came through their fight for public transportation. Many Fondo residents worked in Barcelona's factories, facing daily commutes with long queues for limited bus service. When officials claimed buses couldn't operate on Fondo's steep hills, the community took bold action. They commandeered buses to demonstrate that public transportation was indeed possible in their neighborhood. Their persistent organizing eventually led to expanded bus services and, in 1992, the connection of the subway line to Fondo.

The community's resilience extended beyond transportation. Faced with a lack of public resources, residents began reclaiming abandoned plots of land, transforming them into vital community spaces. Under the saying "Save the neighborhood with the only plots that are free," they cleaned up these spaces and built schools, clinics, and green areas. Through these collective actions, the people of Fondo demonstrated how a community could create positive change through persistent organizing and determination.

In Cape Town, South Africa, my program took us to Cissie Gool House, located in the neighborhood of Woodstock. The story of Cissie Gool House powerfully demonstrates how communities can transform spaces in the face of urban challenges.

As gentrification intensified, the community developed an innovative response: they occupied a former hospital building, gradually transforming it into homes for families who had been pushed
out of their neighborhoods. During our visit, an activist shared this that stuck with me: "Social issues should not be the reason why nobody deserves a roof over their head."

They showed us the back gates—now permanently closed—that once served as the entry point where residents slowly moved in with their furniture, piece by piece. This gradual claiming of space wasn't just about finding shelter; it was about asserting their right to remain in their community.

What struck me most was how residents have created a self-sustaining community within these walls. Families don't just live here—they've adapted their spaces to support their livelihoods, operating small businesses selling food, water, coffee, and other necessities directly from their living areas. Each small enterprise represents another way the community has transformed this institutional space into a vibrant home.

Today, Cissie Gool House faces new challenges as the City of Cape Town threatens mass eviction. This situation underscores a critical truth: the right to housing, community, and belonging extends beyond merely having a roof overhead. It is about people uniting to create and defend spaces where they can build their lives, day by day. Cissie Gool House stands as a testament to the power of collective action and resilience, reminding us that true community is forged through shared struggles and triumphs.