Friday evening update
Friday, May 5
We had a neat experience this morning when we visited a day care center here that is run by the Rotary Clubs. The center has around 80 kids ranging from six months of age up to six years old. Most are children of domestic help. Local donations cover around 70% of the costs with Rotary the largest benefactor.
When we arrived, they had the team enter first and we were greeted by about eight children holding signs saying “Welcome, Friends” and “We Like You” and then a group of about twenty kids sang us a welcome song. Brought tears to Roz’s eyes and mine as well.
The program has a tremendous influence and the staff says that they see an improvement within months of the children arriving through better nutrition and socialization. The kids were happy, active, and engaged. These kids will do well.
The center grows much of their own food in a garden at the rear. The kids get a good lunch and have a good supply of donated toys to play with, including clothes for paying “dress up”. We each dug into our pockets for a contribution of 20 reais each with Lisa contributing 50 as she had previously worked in a child care center. Our $100 may help make a difference.
We then returned to Doug’s place for about an hour to discuss changes to our program for tomorrow, to download some photos, and for Roz to call back to work using Skype.
After lunch at another buffet, this one with food from Minas Gerais, Doug and Justin visited the city water treatment plant and the sewage treatment plant, Justin thoroughly enjoyed it and I (Doug) was okay with it but did not appreciate the stench of the sewage plant! After that, spent several hours at home reading and going on the internet, cleaning out e-mails. Heard from Sharon in France and she is having a good time, as I knew she would. Her ship is only half full.
Roz went to the hospital where her host, a cardiologist, works. Lisa and Kirsten "went shopping".
Tonight is our last night in Arapongas and we all hate to leave. We have been treated so kindly and it has been great to have the resource of Luis Octavio, his wife Ana Marie, and his son and daughter who have shepherded us during our week.
Our last dinner in Arapongas is at the home of Manoel Martins and his wife. Manoel has been present at everything we have done, including chauffeuring Justin and me around this afternoon. I don’t think he has a regular job but lives from business income and real estate holdings.
We had a neat experience this morning when we visited a day care center here that is run by the Rotary Clubs. The center has around 80 kids ranging from six months of age up to six years old. Most are children of domestic help. Local donations cover around 70% of the costs with Rotary the largest benefactor.
When we arrived, they had the team enter first and we were greeted by about eight children holding signs saying “Welcome, Friends” and “We Like You” and then a group of about twenty kids sang us a welcome song. Brought tears to Roz’s eyes and mine as well.
The program has a tremendous influence and the staff says that they see an improvement within months of the children arriving through better nutrition and socialization. The kids were happy, active, and engaged. These kids will do well.
The center grows much of their own food in a garden at the rear. The kids get a good lunch and have a good supply of donated toys to play with, including clothes for paying “dress up”. We each dug into our pockets for a contribution of 20 reais each with Lisa contributing 50 as she had previously worked in a child care center. Our $100 may help make a difference.
We then returned to Doug’s place for about an hour to discuss changes to our program for tomorrow, to download some photos, and for Roz to call back to work using Skype.
After lunch at another buffet, this one with food from Minas Gerais, Doug and Justin visited the city water treatment plant and the sewage treatment plant, Justin thoroughly enjoyed it and I (Doug) was okay with it but did not appreciate the stench of the sewage plant! After that, spent several hours at home reading and going on the internet, cleaning out e-mails. Heard from Sharon in France and she is having a good time, as I knew she would. Her ship is only half full.
Roz went to the hospital where her host, a cardiologist, works. Lisa and Kirsten "went shopping".
Tonight is our last night in Arapongas and we all hate to leave. We have been treated so kindly and it has been great to have the resource of Luis Octavio, his wife Ana Marie, and his son and daughter who have shepherded us during our week.
Our last dinner in Arapongas is at the home of Manoel Martins and his wife. Manoel has been present at everything we have done, including chauffeuring Justin and me around this afternoon. I don’t think he has a regular job but lives from business income and real estate holdings.
posted by Doug Risser at 4:06 PM
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