When Eating, Eat: Sharing Joy

Here is an email I received from Saul this morning. It made me cry, yet again. I loved this story so much, I wanted to share it with as many people as possible. The following are his words. Nothing has been changed or edited. I thought it was perfect. (Also featured are Saul's photos from the conference. He is also an amazing photographer.)

I hope everything is going well for you, and you might be wondering about my conference and my project, everything went successful.

This dream comes true! I won the seed funding for the commitment but before that I would like to share with you my experience. Days before the conference I got a great email telling me that my project was selected to the semifinals. I was very excited but also it was overwhelming, I had to prepare a presentation and material display. All my spring break I was working on it. The day that I arrived in St. Louis Missouri I had the presentation right away for the semifinal, it was like school fair where people go to your table and talk about your project. It was very informal presentation but in the same time the judges were judging us. When I get there and I had my table ready I had: 2 posters, one digital display, I had a book of my project, pens, pencils and wristband and all was personalized as Sharing Joy.

In the first 30 minutes I had three judges and I thought that was difficult because they were asking very tough questions. In the end of my presentation I had 5 judges and two secrets judges that didn't say that were judges until the last minute. Also around 70 people went and see my table and talk about it, theirs feedback were very positive about my project. I got around 15 business cards and around 35 people signed up because they want to learn more about this project. People that want to support me in many ways and also people that want me to give ideas about how to start a very interesting project.

After that I went to the opening ceremony by Bill Clinton I was so excited to see him and listen his speech. He come out with his daughter Chelsea Clinton, everybody was crazy about theirs presence. I couldn't wait and I got the opportunity to go right in front of the stench were the social media was and I was shooting pictures of every movement that he did.

I was so excited I couldn't believe that. After the ceremony I went to the hotel and wait for the results of the judges. I stay up until 12 pm waiting for the email and I fall sleep. I woke up around 6 am and I check my email and I just saw an email that said congratulations you are in the final. I just run and got my phone and talk with host mother and get everything ready because I had to be at 8.30 in the final audience. I got there 30 minutes before. They asked to go inside and explain my project. They were three judges and two video cameras recording my speech.

I felt like I was in the court those judges were looking very strict. I did not feel the 5 minutes presentation, I tried to cover everything in two extras minutes. They started to ask questions and I respond them from my heart. After that my stressed went a little bit down but I knew that I had to present in that evening again my project for exchange and networking and in that moment Chelsea Clinton was going to announce the winners. I saw her when she was going to the steach but I didn’t pay attention. I saw many people excited and everything but I was very busy with people discussing my project. I saw my friend Gabhy running to me and saying congratulations and I said what? She said you won.

I couldn’t believe, so I went to meet with them because we had to have pictures taken and also video. They gave a bag which included: plaque, certificate, camera, and a congratulation letter and some paper work. I was so excited. So after that I went to watch to see the famous arch in downtown. And Sunday getting ready to come back.

This was a complete busy weekend and unique because I will never forget it. Something that comes out as an idea is going to be reality. I feel very thankful with God for this opportunity and also to put people in mi side that are supporting me in all the way. Especially my host mother, a woman that every second wanted to know how my project was going, staying up very late with me helping with all the stuff.

Also Brock Garret, Peace Corp volunteer that helped me to come to the USA and support me a lot with this project. Also another great person Jaime Posa, another Peace Corp volunteer that was in my community, she is just amazing she provide me wonderful photos that she took of people in my town and supporting me in many more ways. Also I would like to thank you Dan Mcroberts for helping with the project, there was a time when I was feeling like " I cannot go, I do not know what and how to do this" I email him and he said “Tell me how can I help you” that made me go forward. Also my Coordinators: Christopher Knight, Georgina Tegart and the International Office for all the support.

This conference brought me more inspiration that we can do it; we can change the world even with small actions! I am looking forward to do my best in this project now that I have it and also I got a really good networking with people around the world. I feel very happy that I had the chance to go there.