Ash Shand
Community Work with Orphans in the Caribbean by Ash Shand
Arrival Date: 15 August 2005
Departure Date: 12 September 2005
I have just returned from the most amazing, eye opening five weeks of my life! The Dominican Republic is a beautiful country with some of the most friendly people I have ever met.
Staying with a local family who were very hospitable I settled in very quickly although the cold showers, constant power cuts and no water during the day and after 10 at night did help to remind me this wasn't home!
My volunteer internship was at an orphange, of which my first impression were very mixed - it was very run down and pretty dirty and I don't think I saw any toys for at least the first few hours but the children were amazing! From the moment I walked in the gate I had a child clinging from either hand with a third soon hanging round my neck - within minutes my hat and my watch were being passed around and tried on by them all! The children in Villa Bendicion have nothing but are always smiling, this really made me think what is important in life! After a few days at the orphanage I was really starting to feel at home, my Spanish was also coming on! I soon learnt 'Mira, Mira' was 'Look, Look' used frequently to get my attention oh and 'Americano' used to describe any white male whose name they don't know. I had to be quite firm to point out that actually I was English!
I was told before I came that there were very few resources at the orphanage and to take some activities for the children but nothing had prepared me for how little they actually had! Skipping with old wires taken from the building site next-door and playing baseball with any plank of wood they could find - these kids were really making the most of what they had. I had taken a few toys with me including the game Twister, which they loved and played with for days. I also took 6 kites and a football all of which were greatly appreciated! After a few emails home expressing my shock of the lack of toys in the orphanage my parents and other family members decided to buy a massive amount of toys and post them over. This was great, I felt like Santa I took a few toys everyday and it soon became a little ritual. I walk in, the children swarm for toys but I was not to give them to them until they had eaten there dinner!
The orphanage school was having problems while I was over there and apparently the teachers had not been paid for weeks so I spent my time in the orphanage, playing with the children, cleaning, serving food and generally helping the children develop there English and helping with other pieces of homework. My day generally started at 11 with the older children returning from school at 1. I would start by saying hello to the children maybe playing a little game. Then into the kitchen to clean a few pots or whatever needed doing. At 12.15 it was time for the little ones to be fed, they were very strict on how much food each child received, it normally consisted of rice and some sort of meat in a sauce. The meat was pretty bad, in fact most of it was bone with no more than one piece a person! That's the RULES!! I didn't really eat the food, my first day I ate some rice, but as the little boy next to me pulled out a large dead cremated fly out of my rice I soon decided I was full up! After dinner and when all the washing up was done the afternoon was spent entertaining the children. Some days we did art, I bought some giant sheets of paper, crayons, pens which were very popular. Other days we would play with the toys I had and sometimes I would help with homework. One thing I was always busy and loved every minute.
The children in some ways are very grown up, they do all there own washing by hand, clean and help prepare the dinner. In other ways they are like very young children, always looking for a hug, to be carried around on your back or be chased round the area. One thing, they always smile!
One weekend, myself and a few other volunteers took some of the older girls to the cinema, this was great they really enjoyed it. We also manage to take a few of the younger ones for a walk down the seafront, listen to the music being played and generally have some fun! On my final weekend I took a few of the older ones I got on well with for a walk, we took some photos and I bought them some ice creams which was a really nice way to end my orphanage experience.
Unfortunately the time here went very quickly and when my time on this project was over I still didn't really want to come home! Some of the children gave me a little teddy bear all wrapped up with a little note written in Spanish. This was amazing, the children have nothing but managed to get me a present I was very touched. After translation the note read 'Hello Ash, we are very sad that you are going. We hope you return very soon because you were the best volunteer of all. We love you lots at Villa Bendicion.' This was great and even better as they don't normally give anything to the volunteers!
Without the help of all my friends, family and local businesses this adventure would just not have been possible. A superb summer ball supported by Biscal Homes and the generous donations received have helped to really enrich my life with some wonderful memories and I feel has really benefited the amazing children of Villa Bendicion, Santo Domingo!
THANK YOU!
Ash
