Daniela Steier's report
2008 - the experience of new things related to children, an approved study leave, and, above all, the visit to my former co-worker Patricia, led me to San Pedro Sula for three months. A month-long stay in 2010 and the conjoint 2 1/2 weeks in July 2012 with my partner Felix followed.
In April 2008, the children's home was about half a year old. At daytime, Patricia worked at the children's home El Refugio in Ticamaya. At night, she repeatedly got up to administer medicine to the sick children and to fill the washing machine. In the kitchen, the cooks were exchanged several times - it is hard to find good staff in Honduras. Gusto, the calm pole of the house, accompanied the children with Edwing and Patricia from the beginning (with a short break in between).
They were never!!! short of work, not even today - but back then, there were not as many helping hands in the house as today. The children had to get used to the new daily routine. Arising work was, if possible, more and more taken over by the children. Today, every child knows which task is due on which day - rooms and bathrooms are cleaned as if by magic - corridors are cleaned various times on a daily basis, and the leaves that fall daily are wiped by the children and the educators several times a day.
While the rubbish heap was a gusano paradise in the first year - total chaos, full of worms if the dustcart didn't pass for two weeks - today, waste is sorted thanks to Don Yeyo's hands.
The group collocation of the children was prone to change in 2008, which made it difficult to bring calm to the swarm of children. This has changed a lot. The children and the adults have become a happy, big family.
In 2008, the 13 fourth graders (of today) went to public school. I remember the afternoon well - me trying to explain the 10 transition to the children - and noticed that most of the children didn't even know their hands had five fingers! It was high time to find a teacher to help and support the children in terms of schooling. One of those teachers lives in a neighbour valley of the Grisons today. With the private school, which is directed by nuns, Patricia has found a much better school for the kids.
During their conjoint start in the morning, the children are provided with good thoughts concerning life. In different classes, the children are supported as much as Honduran possibilities allow and are mainly educated with abandon. We imagine school to be different.. but compared to the public schools, the lessons at Laura Vicuña school are much better.
The huge amount of work done by many volunteers - especially by Pauli and Walter - has led to important improvements in the children's home. The wall, the rain water line, the soccer field, the benches for the audience, the fireplace and the roofs that are now tight, the cupboards and the paintwork have been created by volunteers. It was great to see that the furniture we had timbered 4 years ago were still in use today. However, the greatest pleasure cosisted in seeing that the same children that had no idea on how to play table-top games 4 years ago enjoy doing it today and learn new things by doing so. Connect Four - the highlight 4 years ago - is still played by everyone today with great zeal.
To learn to be careful was and still is a tough cookie. However, thinking about the children throwing all the waste on the floor 4 years ago, as seems to be common in Honduras - wow... With regards to this, everyone has become more careful. Bravo!
From the beginning, and with Edwing's support, Patricia has been PATI with heart and soul for everyone. Her relentless commitment and her devotion are, indeed, admirable. The happy, fortunate children thank her with their smiles.
One day, I/we will visit you again... we can't wait!
Daniela Steier in July 2012
Felix Dosch's report
We've been a couple for four years thanks to Honduras, and two years ago we almost managed to travel to Honduras - had it not been for an operation that interfered with our plans, but this July we were ready. The two of us travelled to San Pedro, to the children's home Yo quiero ser.
The main reasons for this journey were my desire to engage in humanitarian aid, to get to know my godchild Jennifer, as well as being introduced to a world that was known to me only through narration. It was a special experience to witness the outgoingness of the children, to feel their closeness and to pass on love and closeness.
At Yo quiero ser..., I came upon clear structures, resulting from the daily routine and the work to be completed. During school days, the school children's free time is scarce. Thus, close relationships were formed with those four children who are still at home. Especially with Josué, who is disabled and hadn't been able to walk two years ago, a very close relationship was formed. It was a great pleasure to play soccer with him on a daily basis, a pleasure that was clearly visible on his face. For me it was very impressive to witness his various attempts at acquiring skills that are very easy to us. His success was all the more delightful.
Even though it wasn't always easy for me to understand the Honduran mentality, I still felt very comfortable in the huge family of the children's home. A big thank you, especially to the cook Dilma as well and to Patricia, who has made a great effort to show us both INFAHS, the Bordo - the street of the poorest and the richest of San Pedro. The family in Ticamaya, who has just finished roofing their new house, will remain unforgettable to me. Nor the construction method or the circumstances of construction in Honduras.
Nice, very nice that it worked out this time...... Felix Dosch