Felicidad

Here is a picture of three of the girls working on some art projects that are part of the peace program. We just finished with last months theme which was tolerance, and now this month is la FELICIDAD, or happiness. As you can tell by the pictures below they look like fans of the theme:-)

Actually, at first I was not so into having "Happiness" as a peace program theme. I kind of shrugged off its importance. But after just the first 3 days of activities, I recognize for any one it is so important for the kids to not push away but value their feelings. To reflect on the things that truly bring joy to your life, and what is happiness. While the younger girls in teh afternoon love the activities, the older kids suprised me as I notice they really benefit from them too.
The director of the peace program gave me some homework. The book that they have is currently in English so I am working on translations of it. Its is fun, but it is hard because I don't have access to a computer so it is really challenging my spanish spelling and accent skills:-) Thats a good thing. I think it is especially good for me because I was hoping to use a lot of spanish down here, and while i use it in class and to get around and with my family (okay i guess that is a lot) all the volunteers prefer to communicate in English, so I spend a good deal of my down time speaking in English. This is a good way to challenge my spanish.


Below is a picture of the girls having lunch. This was on one of the really rainy days, so it was quite chilly, and a couple of the girls wore trashbag ponchoes in to the project. This is the afternoon class, so they have lunch first before brushing their teeth and going to class.

There are a lot of kids, so the lunch room is always a loud place. The kids are all allowed seconds, but they have to clean their plate first, as the meals are designed to be balenced. They also get a snack during the day.


So this past week we have been taking the kids to the dentist one after another one for a tooth cleaning right down the hall from our class next to the medical clinic. The dentist had a hard time a little bit because they were laughing from the equipment tickling their gums. The girls are doing well, while still having some problems following rules (they LOVE to hide whenever we go out in the hall) they have been doing well this past week at staying in line. It can be a challenge to keep 27 energetic girls calm.
Today it was a bit of a struggle getting one of the girls to the clinic because she had a bad cut on her foot. She was scared to go to get it cleaned out becuase she knew it was going to hurt. I went with her and she squeezed my hand as she was bandaged up when she got up the courage to go.
There were also quite a few video cameras in the project yesterday and today- and I think the executive director was being interviewed for some sort of broadcast for the Netherlands or other stations.
Today the kids got to go to the library to watch a 5 minute clip of a report that aired on Guatemala national television. The clip was talking about the lacross team that has been a part of the Camino Seguro sports program. The kids LOVED watching it. After it was done they chanted "otra" asking to play it again and again. However, at one part of the clip the video showed images of the dump, guajeros (Or the people who work in the dump looking for recyclables or goods to sell) and switched from upbeat music to a sad music. I wonder how it makes the children feel to have the project featured on tv, to kind of be pitied by some people, and be labled in a way. They are all normal kids (SO cute, cause frustration, make good and bad choices, are talented, struggle in different areas, are each unique and have strong personalities). It is a joy and struggle to work with them, but I can't help but wonder how they feel about their situation. Their reality. Hopefully through the project they come to realize and take advantage of oppoutunities opened up to them.
It really is so much like working with other kids that I have worked with in the past, but then the family and living situations the kids are coming from is so different. I forget during the day (I'm so concentrated on getting the kids in straight lines and to stay on task in class, and not pull eachothers hair or steal eachothers markers) until we get on the bus and see the kids walking back to their homes or with their parents.
Sometimes working for the project reminds me of when I volunteered at campsunshine in maine last year. It has the same kind of atmosphere, to bring joy to kids who face special challenges, and face an uncertain future. A friend lent me a book "The memory keepers daughter" and it really got me because when working at camp sunshine I cared for two girls most of the time, twins. They were four and one had leukemia and downsyndrome, whereas the other was perfectly healthy. The book is about a couple who has twins, one normal and one with downsyndrome. Its really good so far. I guess its is disconnected from the project, but it seems connected to it to me ... if that makes sense.
Here is a picture (from left to right) of Yaelle the volunteer coordinator, Barbara the executive director, and Kharmika another volunteer at the volunteer get together we had on wednesday night.
Right now the project is working on a fundraiser "arte guajero". The art project involves the students painting chairs to be given as a thank you gift to donors. The the buyers can display the chair (its mostly hotels) with a picture of the child who painted it along with information about camino seguro. I'm sad i wont be here for the big event with that which will be July 4, 2008. I can't believe I only have two weeks left!!!