Christmas break is approaching, which means it's time for an adventure. Eileen Rush, Amlan Pentiah and myself will be traveling to Guatemala over break to backpack and volunteer. We started checking out some volunteer opportunities and found this orphanage called Casa Guatemala that is in desperate need of help. The orphanage is in Rio Dulce, a swampy area with serious malaria and vampire bat problems.
In the past, many volunteers have begun projects at the orphanage, only to leave before finishing them. Eighteen children sleeping in an incomplete dormitory were actually bitten by vampire bats. The orphanage is currently experiencing a decrease in funding because the area is a little dangerous, which means tourists and volunteers haven't been traveling there. The home has a shortage of nutritious food right now because the funding it low. This means the 250 children at Casa Guatemala are surviving on merely beans and rice. I saw similar conditions at the Peace and Love Orphanage in Ghana. The orphanage has also seen a few cases of H1N1, which means they need hand sanitizer.
The following list was compiled by Eileen:
1. Food. Get them funding so that they can purchase meat and vegetables.
2. Vitamins. Chewable vitamins for 250 children can add up, but we'd like to get them enough of a supply to last them for at least a year. Malnutrition can have devestating affects on a child's health, and vitamins could really make a difference in these kids' lives.
3. Hand sanitizer and sanitizing spray. In a group home this large, disease can spread quickly. Already the orphanage has experienced problems with H1N1, which can be deadly to children.
4. School supplies. The children need everything -- paper, pencils, pens.
5. Art supplies. When basic needs aren't being met, the healing power of creative energy is also lost. The kids completed a production of The Lion King over this summer. A group started to build them a theater, but the project was put on hold. They ended up performing it at an abandoned prison nearby, called just "The Castle." We would love the funding to buy these kids paint, clay, crayons, markers and paper, other things that can sharpen their minds and express themselves.
Let me know if you're interested in helping!
