Asociacion Nuestros Ahijados

During our time here, we have the pleasure of volunteering for Asociacion Nuestros Ahijados which translates to The Gods Child.  The ANA is an organization that cares for and educates poverty stricken children, gives community-based services to mothers, any many other services to those in need. The ANA is an absolutely breathtaking place.  The idea behind the beautiful scenery is that it builds an oasis for people to spend the day whom other wise live in unimaginable conditions. These kids come from the poorest conditions, and this gives them a place to learn, play, and flourish without worrying about anything else. The ANA also provides services to mothers, offering classes twice a week that they can attend and then receive a coupon for free vegetables on friday. The mothers learn about everything from nutrition and health and wellness to self-esteem, spirituality, and human rights. The classes provide encouragement each week to empower the women and get them away (if only for a few hours) from the male dominance that seems to loom over the Guatemalan culture. The ANA has an elementary school, a school for adolescence, a place for malnourished babies, and an institute for trafficked, exploited, and missing persons. 

 This week I worked in the elementary school with the first grade class. Each morning the kids start out with breakfast consisting of some sort of bread and a drink. The school provides free breakfast and lunch for the kids, all by donations.  This is an important service for these kiddos whom otherwise may not have enough food to eat at home. We then go into the classroom for a few lessons. Because my Spanish isnt so great, the teachers usually have me tracing coloring book pages for the kids.  Towards the end of the week, the teacher was encouraging me to write things for the kids in english and then in spanish so they could improve their english skills. After about two hours in class the kids go out to recess.  It didn't take long for many of the girls to attach on to me and never let go.  They all give me so much love and affection that I never want to leave.  Even if I don't speak their language, it doesn't matter to them. I think that it is really important to give these kids love because I dont really know what there home life is like.  These children are so beautiful and they deserve all the love and support that they can get.

 A typical day at recess consists of two or three girls doing my hair, one girl playing hand games with me, and another looking at my clothes, nails, etc. We also frequently snuggle and hug when the kids start to get tired. It is so rewarding to me to see these beautiful kids thriving, knowing that without the ANA, these kids would otherwise not be able to afford even the minimum cost of a public school and would be doomed to live a life as a begger, farmer, domestic workers, prostitues, etc. Knowing that they have some sort of future and seeing the joy that they have even when they come from such hard background gives me some sort of hope in life.