Day 9

We continued games as usual, but today we did puzzles. For some, this was too tedious and frustrating, they much prefered pick up sticks, others took on the challenge with glee. We had a bunch of about 5 icecream selling boys with us today, the games definatley more of a draw card than school. How many of them are serious about studying and how many just like the games I am unsure but its good to be arousing interest.
In Alborada we were cut short because the lady from Thursday began serving us hot plates of rice and chicken. It turns out they live across the road from the park so they have seen us each day working with the kids.
We had a huge group today, we were rejoined by one boy who we havent seen since day 5 and Jon, one of the ex-students has also been showing up regularly.

Day 8

Today as we were finishing up with the kids in Alborada I noticed a well dressed woman watching us. She came to me and asked if she could buy the kids some juice and biscuits. We already had some but the kids had an extra treat. As we thanked her, Carlos asked her if she was going to buy them chicken and rice. We were a bit embarrassed because it was a little rude but we laughed as it was so absurd. However, surprisingly her response was, ‘if your well behaved on Monday, I’ll buy you chicken and rice.’ We still don’t know who she is, we assume she has simply seen us working with them and this is her way of helping out.
I think a lot of people want to help but sometimes don't know how and when they see us working they are grateful. A few days ago I was given a bottle of water by a water seller. It wasn't much but it was what she could give.

Day 7

Today was definitely my most challenging day yet. Uri left me to play with the kids on my own while she went to look to see if the Bonice boys had shown up. I only had four children but it was very intimidating because we sit in a very public place and people get curious and come and watch what’s going on, we had a group of about 10 people standing around watching over us as we sat in a small circle. This usually wouldn’t particularly bother me but when everything is in Spanish its a whole different story.
It turned out that the main Bonice boy we’ve made contact with was there but he had to keep working and so Uri stayed with him and played a game while he worked. He hadn't done the drawing for homework because he didn't have a pencil at home(something I find very easy to understand). As we were leaving a lot of other workers started to arrive and some were quite interested so we decided that tomorrow we will split into two, I will work with the current group, and Uri will start another group over where they work so they can still sell. There is one boy in particular who doesn’t have parents, lives with his grandmother and works because they can’t afford school, we think we can get him off the street so he is Uri's main focus.
Similarly in zone two I was left to run the activities on my own as Uri waited for a mother who was meant to meet us and then got details from the parents about the children. I managed ok, we played pick up sticks to begin with and then I separated them into two groups who then played snakes and ladders and dominoes. Then we had a lesson on washing our hands with soap before we ate cookies. I find it daunting to have to explain games and act authoritatively to children who can speak better than me but so far it’s been ok.

Day 6

Today we got the kids to do some drawings. We divided a piece of paper into four parts and asked them to draw their family, school (most of them have been to school in the past but stopped going, usually for financial reasons), house and themselves. This activity is designed so that we can find out more information about them and also to figure out their writing and drawing level. In our second group we had 7 kids from two different families, the first with 10 children and the second with 7 so their drawing took a considerable amount of time.
We found the bonice boys just as we were leaving so we asked them to do the drawing for us tonight and to meet us tomorrow. It will be interesting to see if they come or not.
I discovered today that one of the boys is a brother of a student already at the foundation. It made a lot of sense because they are both extremely demanding and perhaps even hyperactive (I say with zero education in the matter). When we left Uri informed me that their father, who doesn’t know any other way to deal with them, belts them :(
Today went well but sadly neither of the ex-students showed up today and it wouldn’t surprise me if we don’t see them again.

Day 5

We had planned to play pick-up sticks today but we weren’t able to get the materials, so instead we went with packets of biscuits and juices. As today was the first day we didn’t manage to do much at zone one except get the details of the potential kids, give them their goodies and explain that they need to be their everyday for the next two weeks to participate if they are interested in our program.
In zone two we were met by two students who would like to return after dropping out mid last year. One boy, who I had known from 6 months earlier, greeted me with the tightest most loving hug and made me feel really valuable. He had struggled in the classroom and I helped him out whenever I could but I think part of his frustration came from his poor vision and therefore his inability to copy from the board. Anyway, he stopped showing up but no he tells me he wants to come back.
We had a group of about 10 kids, 7 potential students, two who already attend school and another with learning difficulties who we will try to recommend to another agency. We played a simple name game to get to know each other, took down their details and then gave out the treats. Sadly, and perhaps predictably, they didn’t particularly like the biscuits because they were wholemeal savoury crackers without anything on top. (At the foundation everyone eats them and enjoys them but these kids haven’t acquired a taste for something so plain, as they are used to ice-creams and soft drinks). It was funny they way they all so enthusiastically opened them only to politely take a few more bites before admitting they didn’t like them.

I had been waiting to see the women from Tuesday who we had told to meet us here and was disappointed when she didn’t show up with the children whose mother had recently died. However, as we were leaving, we saw her with three children. She was relieved to see us but confused and about to get upset when she realised we had already finished for the day. We reassured her that everything would be ok and told her the time and place for tomorrow.

Day 4

When we arrived to Alborada today only Roberto was there. He didn’t know where his siblings were because he hadn’t gone home last night, he said he had slept on the street. Uri told me that sometimes the parents of these workers expect a target, $10 for example and if they don’t reach the target, they are welcomed home for the night. I guess that this ensures that they actually work rather than playing for the day and then returning and pretending like they were unlucky. We can speculate but this could be a reason. We will keep a close eye on this family because if they are being neglected and or mistreated we will have to report them so that something can be done.

Day 3 - Initial Contact

We arrived at Peca today to find one of the Mothers from the foundation selling food. We had been hoping to see her there she knows the area well and we hoped that she could tell us about any potential students. Uri and her talked but I didn’t understand much of what she said. As we chatted we she gave us some of what she was selling, puffed corn, beans, potato, tostada (popped corn kernels, a boiled egg, an onion salad topped with peanut sauce, all in a small bag.
We spoke to a few different kids but many of them already go to school and are currently working because it is school holidays. We told them about the foundation and the activities that will start on Monday so that they can either spread the word or come if they had lied to us and don't actually go to school.

Next we headed to Alborada but I was confused when we got off the bus at a different location. I was confused as to why but then Uri explained to me that she recently had been held up on a bus in the same area and she was sure that the bus we were on was about to be held up. Two men had got on and started distributing lollies, but a number of ques drew her attention and she decided rather than take a risk we should just change buses before anything went wrong.

Roberto, Carlos and Matilde were working as usual when we arrived and were still eager to be our friends. Sadly, Matilde told us that her Dad had said 'no' when she asked if they could come to our school. He said that they need to work so that the family has money, but she is still trying to convince him by suggesting that they could go to school and work afterwards.
We also met another boy who has finished primary school but his Mum can’t afford to pay for secondary so he works instead. We suggested that he come to the foundation; repeat the final year and then the foundation can support him through the rest of his studies. His eyes lit up when he found out that the students get breakfast and lunch free every day so he said he will go home and see what his mum thinks.