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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Education Outside Of The Classroom (And The Country)
April 11, 2000 | Football
April 11, 2000
BOWLING GREEN, O.- - While other students took the typical spring break trips to Florida and Mexico, Andy Sahm, sophomore starting quarterback for the Bowling Green State University Falcon football team, took an adventure. Though the temperatures were warm and palm trees were plentiful, Andy's trip brought far more rewards than just a break from the tasks of the football team and the classroom. This Christmas, Andy received a surprise under the tree from his parents that would later provide memories and experiences that would last him a lifetime: An airline ticket to El Salvador, Central America.
In the past, Andy's local Indianapolis youth group has made yearly trips to El Salvador. Andy participated his senior year in high school and was moved enough to take a return visit. His parents made the expensive trip possible and Andy left for Central America on Thursday, March 2 for his nine-day vacation. Once his flight arrived in El Salvador, he and his other group members loaded into large trucks and drove on barely paved roads to Guarijila, a northern province, three hours outside the capital of El Salvador.
While there, Andy worked in the fields helping with crops, brought supplies via trucks and even built a mud house. He slept on a cot under the stars, drank and brushed his teeth with only bottled water he brought from home, and took showers by pouring cold well water on his head. Andy enjoyed these activities, but they only made up a small part of the overall experience. Though, he is still working on his Spanish, Andy was able to interact with kids his age and learned a new way of life and culture, absent of the luxuries we in the United States take for granted.
" They have totally different backgrounds." Andy said as he reflected on his experience, "It was quite a culture shock. The people really don't have anything."
A lasting impression came from a lady who works in a sweatshop for a well known clothing store. She had to fake an illness and get a documented medical excuse to even speak to Andy's group. These individuals work for extremely low wages in over 100 degree temperatures at dangerously hot equipment, which subjects them to painful burns. If an individual arrives just a minute late, they must work the entire shift and receive no pay for that day. She has seen women give birth in these shops because they could not afford to miss a day of work. There are no bathrooms and all workers must use a hole in the ground in an open field.
"It is not asking so much of companies to give people decent wages that they can take pride in." Andy said, "The investigations (by the companies) are a hoax. They set people up to say how wonderful they (the sweatshops) are."
Andy added that the investigations into sweatshops in 1996 have brought in better wages but it is still clearly not satisfactory. Andy's group gave the women a hundred dollars to come and speak which is more than a month of her regular pay.
While other members of his group stayed in the citizens' village homes, Andy stayed with his very good friend, John Juliano, the leader of the group. John is originally from New York and moved out to El Salvador 15 years ago to work with the impoverished citizens. His focus is on educating the youth of El Salvador by raising money to send them to school. This is difficult because many of the fathers and grandfathers of these kids want them to remain at home and work in the fields. Andy has a great amount of respect for John and someday might walk in his footsteps.
Andy's experience in Guarijila was one that will remain a part of his life.
"It makes a lot of things here seem not important." Andy says shaking his head, "It's not worth worrying about clothes, about material things. It puts your life in perspective."
As can be expected, Andy enjoys volunteer work and believes it is every athlete's responsibility to be a role model and participate in charity work. He participated in the Bowling Green Dance Marathon which benefits underprivileged children and wishes he had the time to partake in more volunteer work.
"I'm disappointed I could not be in it (Dance Marathon) the whole way. I did it in high school (in Indianapolis) for 32 hours. I don't get to do as much volunteer work as I used to."
Andy Sahm takes great pride and is very enthusiastic in his volunteer work. This is captivated in his smile when he talks about the children of El Salvador and the anguished expression that wipes across his face when discussing the suffering of the sweatshops. Andy's volunteer work is seemingly his way of life and he values every moment of the time. For anyone who is fed up with large egos and poor attitudes from athletes in the spotlight, spend five minutes talking to Andy Sahm.
