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Folio Staff
Frank Bessai jamming with Freddy Martinez in Las Torres |
When hurricane Mitch slammed into Nicaragua, Frank Bessai, 29, quickly turned from teaching music and drama to the relief effort. Like many Canadians working with NGOs (non-governmental agencies) there, he set out to help those hardest hit. As monsoon rains pounded the capital city, Managua, and electricity flickered on and off, Bessai loaded trucks with beans and rice, powered milk and oil.
"The front of my house looked like a river, with backed-up open sewers," says Bessai, now living in Edmonton. "There were huge lakes by the road." When word spread about the impact on nearby communities, Bessai and his friends helped with the resettling on higher ground, and with building outhouses. Firefighters began collecting clothing and blankets for those hardest hit and radio stations stopped broadcasts to transmit messages. "'Greetings from Giovanni Castillo-tell my family everything is fine,'" recalls Bessai.
It was a monumental end to a seven-month experience in Nicaragua for the University of Alberta Faculty of Arts alumnus ('91). Working as a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) intern, the golden-locked and goateed violinist, songwriter, actor and playwright taught music and theatre for "Change for Children," a non-profit organization based in Edmonton.
"The objective of the organization is to raise the self-esteem of children and youth so they feel better about themselves and have life skills to cope better," says Bessai. As children discover talents in music and drama, "they're seen in the community as artists, and therefore gain respect."
He established a music program, trained an instructor to take over, and ensured the donated, used violins were tuned and repaired for the children to use. He taught other musical groups "how to jam together and integrate music styles." He even started an all-girl band.
For those who were not musically inclined, Bessai helped them explain their world through words, to those who would listen. One play was a musical based on the cries of street children selling their wares. On every street corner, in every market, and all around the barrios of Managua, he heard the plaintive voices of young, poor Nicaraguans: "Agua `elada a cinco reales!" (Cold water-five cents) Over and over, the sing-song trademark of another hot and steamy morning could be heard, says Bessai, as he tried to round up his music class for another day of violin lessons.
Frank Bessai with Nicaraguan children and other Canadians |
The children, many of whom didn't even know what a play was, nor had the literacy skills to write one, took ownership of the cry, performed monologues mixed with songs to talk about their lives, and more important, talked about their rights as children. They even took their play "on the road," says Bessai, and performed it at the Nueva Vita refugee camp of about 600 families affected by the hurricane.
Despite the daily grind of poverty, "they were very happy children.very colorful people of great warmth and strength," says Bessai.
"I left some very strong things behind. I established very close relationships with the kids I was working with. They assured me they appreciated my work and would work hard to put on a concert for me when I went back," says Bessai. It's clear the multilingual Bessai has not finished his work in Nicaragua, in fact, he wants to spread his philosophy of artistic empowerment. "I believe all artists in the world have a very important role to play and have a social responsibility."
Frank Bessai encourages Edmontonians to continue their support of the Nicaraguan relief effort, particularly with the winter season ahead. To find how you can help, call Change for Children at 448-1505.
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