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Day 3 – Dec 5, 2009 – Casa Guatemala Orphanage
We had an inspiring day at the Casa Guatemala Orphanage. Following a rushed breakfast we boarded the boat that would take us to the orphanage at 7:30am. It was a leisurly 20 minute boat ride that hugged the shoreline eastwards along the inlet. Our boat driver was taking his time and did not pick up the pace until 10 minutes into the trip when one of his friends tried zipping past us. This gave him the incentive to show his friend what his motor could do and shortened our trip to Casa Guatemala by at least ten minutes.
The orphanage wraps around the shoreline and has a number of overwater docks and buildings that allow supplies to be brought by boat. The medical center, administrative office, library and boys dorms are located over the water and are connected to the rest of the orphanage by long narrow boardwalks. There are many other buildings that we toured around the orphange which included classrooms, the girls dorms, nursery for kids ages 3 to 5, volunteer houses, covered concrete play area with staircase style concrete seating to one side, a kitchen and eating area. The buildings were simple, plain and some are desperately in need of repair. With operating expenses around $11,000 per month it is obvious that some repair jobs are sacrificed for other more urgent needs.
What is unique about Casa Guatemala is that it is located in a rural area with acres of forest around them. Because of the amount of land that the orphanage has, they have built a farm on the edge of the orphanage. While the original intent was to help build a self sustaining environment for the children, this lofty goal has deteriorated somewhat due to the time and work required. While we saw 200 chicks being raised to become meat chickens in the loft of the animal barn, most of this gigantic building is now falling apart and empty. At one point in time laying hens were located here but perhaps due to the cost of chicken feed and work involved it has become a bit run down and largely empty.
Scattered throughout the property are pigs and cows that are also butchered and used for food. At one point in time there was a bio-fuel composter that would turn the animal waste into fuel. This however is no longer operating. Also in the same vicinity there is a massive empty concrete fish farm tank. Many years ago the Rotary club built this facitily to help the children become self sufficient. Perhaps due to decreased funding in recent years this is not currently being used.
What is used however are the acres of farmland to grow some of the food that is consumed by the children. Papayas, bananas, corn, noni, leafy greens and other foods are grown in the gardens and greenhouses that border the land around the farm. The children are educated twice weekly for two hours on how to grow and cultivate food. Agriculture is an important part of their curriculum from an early age.
Volunteers are welcome to apply to work at Casa Guatemala and is one of the most affordable working opportunities I have seen. For under $250 per week a person can have a place to sleep, 3 meals a day and transportation to and from the orphanage by boat. If a volunteer is willing to work for 3 or more months, a one-time $300 contribution is requested. It is hard however to come to this orphanage and not feel that there must be more that a person can do. The children do genuinely seem happy as they interact with the volunteers that act and take responsibility for them as if they were their own parents. Although we arrived on a Saturday when little activity was happening, sports and handicraft activities were planned on a set schedule to occupy the kid’s time and give them some constructive things to do.
It was interesting to see how a number of boys were also constructing a fish trap to put into the shallow waters by their dorm room. They apparently enjoy fishing and had created a trap that would be placed into the water and help them gather fish to eat. While these boys were figuring out a solution to catching fish, other kids were busy making wreaths and decorating gift bags that Santa was going to use to give gifts to 600 other children in the community.
During the months of November and December most of the children have returned to their homes for their summer holidays. As a result only 45 of the children who don’t have a home to go to, stay at the orphanage. This creates a more intimate setting for the 35 volunteers that are currently running the orphanage.
By the time we finished our Saturday at the orphanage we had gained fond memories of the children and volunteers who put their heart into their work. It was obvious that this organization does need a great deal more help in order to complete important repairs and fill the needs of these children. My children were touched by the simplicity of life that these children enjoy. It was an experience that we will not forget.
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Rio Dulce is a shabby town that tightly grips the edge of a main highway. Open air shops with their awnings greet passers-by as they fight for walking space between the shops and the road. There are in fact no sidewalks and the shops are litteraly on the road. The only way to walk from shop to shop is to share the main road with cars. My kids enjoyed shopping for goods in this little town of outdoor markets. For them it was like one giant dollar store village that sold items such as baseball caps $3, wallets $2, switch blade knives $4 and other items. Many people with sailboats and yachts live in this area for extended periods of time due to the low cost of living. One can eat all of their meals in restaurants for under $15 per day. It is a lively little town and a great deal of fun to walk around during daylight hours.