REMAR ORPHANAGE -Project 1

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Finally a spare moment to update out travel web log.

A bit about the project that we did. The first two weeks we were at a private orphanage called REMAR. It is an orphanage for children and battered women. Because this is a private orphanage, there is no government funding, and it relies almost entirely on donations. I beleive it was started by a church somewhere in Europe, and as I understand it, remar is a chain of orphanages.

Unlike the system in Canada, parents still have rights to their children, even when they surrender them to an orphanage. In some cases, parents or relatives may come and visit, take them for a week, and then return their child. I think a lot of it has to do with being able to afford to care for them. But it is also frusterating, as when someone is willing to adopt a child (especially an older child), if the parents are around, they must consent, and quite often they will not allow it to go forward. The parents apparently also need to consent to their children attending school, which I understand is sometimes vitoed.

I have learned one important lesson about donating to charities. Money is not necessarily the best thing. Depending on the location of the charity (i.e. South America) the checks and balances are not necessarily inplace to make sure that $$ is spent where intended. Nor should you just send stuff, as the kids have plenty of toys and clothes. I think the best thing to do is either go and give your time, and then if you want to direct any $$, you can have personal oversight, or know (and trust someone on the ground). I believe we have witnessed some ´misuse´of well intended $$ that was directed to this particular charity.

While we were here, we had parties for the kids (3 in total -2 were birthdays), fed the kids breakfast (see the food that they were being fed before and after in the pics), painted some concrete in there rooftop living area, painted and cleaned their dining room, painted and cleaned their laundry room, repaired a leaky roof, and played with the kids. Due to $$, there is no ongoing maintenance done in this orphanage. It was really a project of freshening things up, and in doing so, helping to increase morale.

Hope you enjoy some of the pics we took.

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Photos

Food Before
kinda looks like pablum

Breakfast we brought
bananas, cereal, yogurt

The Whole Gang
They received a donation of food, and were posing for a photo-op

Kevin and Veronica
Having fun!

Comments

[Mom]

working and playtime
Really enjoyed your the photos of the kids in the Remar Orphanage ...It was good to see you both working and playing!! Looks like a great party!!!