Nuestros Ahijados & Casa Jackson- Day 1

Well, I am proud to say, I loved today's experiences.

With a bit of anxious excitement, I gathered my bags from the hostel, one hour before I was scheduled to be at The Dreamer Center this morning for my orientation and tour. For those of you that really know me, early is not one of my strong suits, but today I had to navigate the inner-city transportation system in Antigua without looking too gringo and without showing up late. So, I parked myself in front of El Hostal to wait for the next tuk-tuk (a tiny, enclosed, three wheeled tin can with a driver) and waved like crazy when the first one came barreling around the corner as one of its back wheels raised off the cobblestone road. As soon as I saw that maneuver, I was relieved to see he already had a fare in the back seat and I wasn't gonna be subjected to his style of driving. I flagged down the next tuk-tuk and climbed in for the kind of ride that makes you feel like you're riding a jackhammer 12 blocks! Apparently, the style of driving I witnessed earlier is common to all of the drivers.

While touring the Dreamer Center (the main campus of the entire God's Child project) with my four new housemates and co-volunteers, the Volunteer Coordinator, Megan advised of some of the horrendous statistics of sexual abuse and domestic violence in Guatemala that makes the US's statistics look acceptable (which of course they are not). She advised there are only an average of 30,000 total reports to the justice system of domestic abuse in the entire country (which is grossly under-reported), and of those reports, under 100, were actually even prosecuted! Furthermore, the statistics show that 9 in 10 girls are sexually assaulted, and 7 out of 10 boys!  This is a huge reason why the God's Child Project is here-- to help these families have a safe place to come, as well as, go home to, with the myriad of wrap-around services they provide. They are working on the development of a domestic violence center, on site, for mothers of the children in the programs, as well as they continue with their human trafficking program to stop the forced prostitution of children.

After getting settled in at Dona Carolina's, my host family's house, I made my way back to the Dreamer Center for our group walk down to Casa Jackson to work our first shift this afternoon. Because of the location of the hospital, we must meet and walk together in a group with a male escort. Along the way, cat-calls were abundant, which may echo the lesser regard for women in this area.

Casa Jackson is a renovated three story house fronted by a steel garage-sized door. I donned my required XXL scrub top, a cloth face mask, washed my hands, and proceeded to the second level where 13 babies between the ages of 3 months and somewhere around 3 years, of different malnutrition stages, and varying levels of development due to the negative effects of their condition were awaiting. I changed countless diapers, fed many bottles, burped with efficiency  (thanks to Janelle's trick she showed me with Mia), hugged & loved, and then got them into their PJs- ready for the night shift volunteers and nurses. I was one of four volunteers there today and let me say-- we were all pooped afterward!  Going back tomorrow afternoon.

I am signed up to do other relief work this week, too. I will be working at the homeless shelter serving food and also going on social work visits to the homes of the children and families of The Project. I do have some fun marked into the schedule, though. I'm going zip-lining on Sunday afternoon, salsa dancing Tuesday night, and am hiking a volcano next Friday.

Photos are of a tuk-tuk, me holding Axel (1 year old tiny guy), and inside the Dreamer Center.