COMPUTERS FOR ORPHANS

One group has barely left and another group arrives. Two back to back workweeks give us little time to rest, but we can do it.

The housekeepers work hard all morning changing the beds and preparing the rooms. Meanwhile we deliver the welcome packages, shirts and keys and put the final touches on the  schedule for this new work week.

22 new arrivals, 22 new names to remember. We have almost forgotten what a busy week it was, and now we will meet more new friends. 

After an afternoon of sorting donations, a tour walking tour through the village and the standard Project Amigo site visits everyone is anxious to get to work on the project.

When Ted and Susan visited their club who indicated they were looking for an international  project the wheels started to turn. There is never a shortage of projects and one of the members of the Colima club, who is a member of the board of a boarding school, was looking for a way to have a computer installed.


Both clubs formed a partnership and after a lot of paperwork a grant form the Rotary Foundation was approved and everything fell into place.

The computers, desks and chairs were purchased locally and delivered during the last week. Meanwhile, Joe and Ramiro did a site inspection together with Beto, to determine what needed to be done to prepare the rooms for the computer labs. 

During the course of the week, communication went back and forth as to how the wiring would be done and what sort of tools needed to be brought here by the Reno group.

On day one of the actual project, we load the entire group on the bus and many get to see the orphanage for the first time. They came here to work and that's what they will do. Perhaps some more than they anticipated.

Once everyone is on site, we can start discussion of the plans. Joel, President of the Reno South Club is an excellent leader. He briefs everyone on the job and assigns various tasks.

The facility is more or less a private boarding school for disfunctional families run by nuns. It consist of two buildings, one for girls and one for boys. They are side by side, but separated by a large garden and huge fence in between them. One must walk outside of the gate along the main road to access the other compound. 

The boys compounds is named Niño Colimense and houses about 19 boys and the one for the girls is Maria Angela and house 14 girls.

We split our group in two and once everyone has been assigned a job they all get to work. Holes need to be drilled for the wiring. The roof of the boys computer lab needs to be sweeped and scrubbed and sealed to keep the rain from coming in.


On a hot late winter day in Colima the temperature can go up to 36 degrees C. I do not envy these people, but hear no complains. My job is to bring cold drinks and snack up the ladder and make sure they have everything they need. Not nearly as labor intensive as what some of their tasks are, but boy, the heat is killing me.


 
Project Amigo employee Alejandro, has done a lot of the preprep work, such as laying tiles in the boys lab, and today he gives us a hand, cutting the long branches from the mango tree which touched the roof.



Shane, who has Down Syndrome keeps his Mom and her husband Michael busy to ensure he is able to take part in all activities. We really enjoy having them here and learn a lot from all of them. We admire their patience.







Although a lot of the supplies, such as scrapers and paint had already been bought, we need more. Ramiro and I are the "runners" and make a walking trip to the hardware store. 

With no large box stores in sight we settle for the Mexican version of Home Depot where we buy painting gloves and other requested items. It reminds me of how things used to be back home in Holland, when I was little.

When we return, the wiring in the boys lab has been done and the ladies have started painting the walls.

The Amigo bus takes us to Casa Amiga for a taco lunch and when we return, the children have come out of school. Now, opthomologist, Bud can make good use of his expertese and checks the children's eyes.


While we went for lunch, Ajejandro has given the scraped and sweeped roof a base coat and our workers are now ready to apply the first coat of sealer acrylic.


With all the debris that has come from the roof, the floor below has become very dirty and that is a job the little kids have been assigned to look after.






Up untill know I have not had a chance to check out the girls compounds. There are see some of the volunteers hard at work painting the outside walls under the hot burning sun.  



The young girls, who have just returned from school are told to stay out of the way and decided to start a pillow fight to keep themselves entertained.


 
After a lot of hard work, we determine that we are on schedule and are ready to clean up the tools and the paint brushes, before we head back to the Hacienda for the evening; Ready to take a shower and put our feet up.



 
We have planned some different activities for the next day, delivering books to some of the schools in the area and having lots of fun with the kids.

The nice thing about having a large group, is that we can all be involved in different activities. Some read, others play word games and Joe shows the boys how to Kick a good ball.

The bonus is a seafood lunch at the beach and some time to get our feet wet in the ocean.







But there is still lots of work to be done at the orphanage. The guys still need to wire the girls lab, pound some pipe in the ground and paint the -hard to get to - spots.
Everyone has a job, including Max, the youngest one in the group, who came with his Mom Jonnie.




It's all starting to look really good and everyone works hard to meet the deadline. 
They do need a refreshment break every now which is the perfect time to get to know everyone.


Today is St. Patrick's day and everyone has tried to find something green to wear. 
We set up a computer for the team members who have arranged to take part in their Rotary meeting back home via Skype and give the club a report on the project. 
What a great way, to get their club and the members who were not able to join us, involved.




When we are ready to quit for the day, Diego is ready to take us back to the Hacienda. Ramiro is pooped and is glad to be able to shut his eyes for a moment.




Happy Hour is a the Johnson's house tonight. A different scenery and different hosts; Very relaxing.
Those who wish to go the Rotary meeting, leave right after supper and the rest stays home to rest.


Friday morning we put the final touches on the two rooms. We need to get rid of all the tools and the paint, sweep the floors, set up the tables and get the computers out of their boxes. 
At 12:00 pm dignitaries arrive for an official opening of the computer labs, which will take place at the boys dorm.


Several of the stakeholders get a chance to say a few words; The president of the organization, the local Rotary club President; Joel, as President of Reno South, Ted Rose as founder of Project Amigo and a Government official.


After all the speeches, the kids are full of anticipation when they get to sit down at the computers and have uncle Ted show them how to find their favorite websites. The screen saver is the Rotary wheel, reminding them how this project became possible.

Every group that has come here to Project Amigo, has had an opportunity to meet and interact with our scholars. It is one of the highlight of the workweek. They see how these young teens, who come from very poor families grow under this program of life skills, peer support and of course support from an excellent team of Project Amigo employees. But the support that is most important, is that of the sponsors, whether individuals, families or Rotary clubs. It's what makes it all possible.





Our week ends with the usual farewell dinner, during which we get a chance to thank the team for their hard work and their support. We also thank Ted and Susan, without them, we, Ramiro, Joe and I would not have been able to do this wonderful work.