It is Friday night here in Quito and I am looking forward to getting some sleep. We have had no internet for the last couple of days but otherwise it has been fairly non-stop.
We visited the Sol Y Vida Foundation again yesterday morning to speak to some of the patients and play with the children. Luck was on our side again because we happened to be there at the same time as two people from an organisation called "Future Sense", Pilar and Tim. Tim is visiting Ecuador from the UK for three months and is involved in researching and setting up volunteer projects here.
They were planning to visit a project this morning (Friday) in the north of Quito and they kindly invited me along. (Actually I invited myself but they were very welcoming.)
So it was that at eight this morning I found myself in the bus station in Rio Coca in the north of town. We went from there to visit a daycare centre called La Macarena in Monteserrín. There are currently 94 children who attend the centre, all from poor backgrounds and some whose parents are currently in prison.
The director was an inspirational lady called Veronica who explained how the project works. The centre is open from 8am -4.30pm each day and the fees are just $5 per month, for which the children receive two meals a day, two fruit snacks and full healthcare. The centre also provide the children with medication, clothes and toys.
The majority of the centre's funds are raised through one of Quito's private schools called Lyceo Internacional, and the food served is donated by local restaurants but Veronica explained how there is always a need for more provisions, especially medication and clothes.
The children were all waving and smiling and asking for their photos to be taken and it was very moving to see their enthusiasm considering the very humble nature of their home conditions.
Incidentally...the centre is always looking for volunteers. It would be a wonderful place to spend a few weeks... so if you are wondering what to do with your next holiday then please give it a thought... I'd be happy to put you in touch, and I guarantee it would be more rewarding than a week on the beach!
In other news I have arranged a research trip to Cuenca for Tuesday, visited the Lead Adventures volunteer programme, attended a fundraising fashion show for another Foundation, stolen some excellent research contacts in Puerto Lopez from Tim, visited a family staying at the Eugenio Espejo Hospital, watched Ghana miss out on the semi-finals and been salsa dancing twice. (I couldn't come all the way to South America and not take the opportunity of dancing with the experts!)
Now I am more than ready to go to bed. Wishing Tim a safe trip down to Puerto Lopez this evening (9 hours in the bus) and a very happy weekend to you all.
We visited the Sol Y Vida Foundation again yesterday morning to speak to some of the patients and play with the children. Luck was on our side again because we happened to be there at the same time as two people from an organisation called "Future Sense", Pilar and Tim. Tim is visiting Ecuador from the UK for three months and is involved in researching and setting up volunteer projects here.
They were planning to visit a project this morning (Friday) in the north of Quito and they kindly invited me along. (Actually I invited myself but they were very welcoming.)
So it was that at eight this morning I found myself in the bus station in Rio Coca in the north of town. We went from there to visit a daycare centre called La Macarena in Monteserrín. There are currently 94 children who attend the centre, all from poor backgrounds and some whose parents are currently in prison.
The director was an inspirational lady called Veronica who explained how the project works. The centre is open from 8am -4.30pm each day and the fees are just $5 per month, for which the children receive two meals a day, two fruit snacks and full healthcare. The centre also provide the children with medication, clothes and toys.
The majority of the centre's funds are raised through one of Quito's private schools called Lyceo Internacional, and the food served is donated by local restaurants but Veronica explained how there is always a need for more provisions, especially medication and clothes.
The children were all waving and smiling and asking for their photos to be taken and it was very moving to see their enthusiasm considering the very humble nature of their home conditions.
Incidentally...the centre is always looking for volunteers. It would be a wonderful place to spend a few weeks... so if you are wondering what to do with your next holiday then please give it a thought... I'd be happy to put you in touch, and I guarantee it would be more rewarding than a week on the beach!
In other news I have arranged a research trip to Cuenca for Tuesday, visited the Lead Adventures volunteer programme, attended a fundraising fashion show for another Foundation, stolen some excellent research contacts in Puerto Lopez from Tim, visited a family staying at the Eugenio Espejo Hospital, watched Ghana miss out on the semi-finals and been salsa dancing twice. (I couldn't come all the way to South America and not take the opportunity of dancing with the experts!)
Now I am more than ready to go to bed. Wishing Tim a safe trip down to Puerto Lopez this evening (9 hours in the bus) and a very happy weekend to you all.
Salsa dancing! Wau! Way to go.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a sensible way of sending my sons old clothes eg to La Macarena.