Boomers Abroad

Description

Some children are born with the odds stacked against them, and many of them have endured unimaginable experiences that have left an indelible marks on them physically and psychologically. Thanks to the help and compassion of others, these children now have an opportunity to experience and enjoy their childhood and grow to be productive citizens.

Participants may choose from one of the following orphanage/daycare options:

* Orphanage - Once abused, neglected, and abandoned, now the children at the children's orphanage wear the label survivors thanks to the compassion of one married couple that recognized the pain and despair born by many children in Atenas. Because of their traumatic pasts many of them are struggling with trust issues and working to overcome physical and mental limitations due to abuse and neglect that occurred during their formative years. In a private home rooted within the foundation of a Christian ministry, the children, ranging from birth to ten years, have a safe haven where they receive love, care, nutrition, and education within a warm nurturing environment until their home life improves, they can be adopted by families, or are old enough to transfer to orphanages for older children. For some of the children, the orphanage may be the only home they know. While the numbers may vary from day to day, on average the fifteen year old orphanage, located just outside Atenas provides shelter to between 25 and 30 children, which can be a handful for the small staff. That makes the support and help of volunteers all the more important.

* Daycare - The governments of many developing nations, including Costa Rica sponsor daycare programs to help children from low income families. Through such assistance, the government helps to ensure that the family stays intact as the support offered by the daycares allows parents to work to meet the needs of their families while ensuring that their children are in a safe, loving environment.

* Teenage Boy's Orphanage - The adolescent boy's orphanage in La Garita, Costa Rica is government-run and offers a program for teen boys who have been taken from the street or from family situations which are not ideal. The boys remain at the orphanage until the situation at home is corrected or until they come of age. These children are dealing with issues of poverty, abuse, and street issues--drugs, prostitution, and more.

As an orphanage/daycare volunteer or intern, you may be assigned the following responsibilities:

* Organizing constructive educational activities and games;
* Helping the children with their homework and teaching them English;
* Reading stories, playing sports, and teaching them songs and dance;
* Spending quality time with the children; and
* Assisting the staff with maintenance and up-keep of the facilities.