Hogar de Cristo in Quilpué

Building on the previous blog post, below is a quick video introduction to the Hogar de Cristo site in Quilpué where Holy Trinity's donation will likely be put to use:




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Covering the patio will provide an outdoor recreational area for the site, especially in winter when all the children are stuck inside due to cold weather and rain. The project aims to accomplish larger goals than just providing space for recreation. Due to the funding structure of the organization, this site's kindergarten and daycare center receive financial government assistance depending on attendance. This means that if children get sick and attendance drops, so does government funding. With all the kids cooped up in a confined indoor space all day during cold and flu season, it is easy for transmission of diseases to occur. Though the area to be covered is relatively small, the hope is that it will provide an outdoor space that will alleviate cramped space within the building.

A view from inside the patio



Looking into the area to be covered

Quilpué, the town where this particular site is located, sits outside of Viña del Mar and Valparaíso, Chile. These two adjacent cities attract large crowds of tourists and host a large number of students. Unfortunately, Quilpué is too far away to realize much financial or human capital benefits. Attracting volunteer help is difficult when there are plenty of opportunities for volunteers to work in Viña and Valpo without commuting 45 minutes by bus outside of town.

Money donated by Holy Trinity Catholic School will help start the process but may not be enough to complete the entire construction project. To donate to Hogar de Cristo, click here, or e-mail me at TwentyTwelves@gmail.com for specific information about this project.

A Little Help From Afar

For the last 3 weeks here in Viña del Mar, I have had some success finding random volunteer work (lots of painting, delivering food to the homeless, etc...), but I haven't been quite as active with Hogar de Cristo as I had hoped. The idea was to devote a significant amount of time to one organization so as to give myself enough time to begin understanding the organization, drawing on some of the lessons I've learned in the past (discussed in the previous blog post). While I have not been able to arrange a constant schedule with Hogar de Cristo, I have been very fortunate to have support from Holy Trinity Catholic School in Charlotte, NC in order to provide something of value to Hogar de Cristo. Through the efforts of the students and staff of Holy Trinity, Hogar de Cristo will receive a donation that is sorely needed. For more information on donating to Hogar de Cristo, click here.

Below is a statement from Holy Trinity:

Once we heard about The Twenty Twelves Project, we were ecstatic for the opportunity to participate in James' adventures, as well as foster a humanitarian vision in our students. As a result, teachers created lesson plans and projects around James' travels. We encouraged students to read the blog and research the towns and cities visited in James' adventures. We held open discussions on the importance of leadership and fellowship, which inspired the students to join various charities here in Charlotte.

On May 1st, we held a Dress Down Day in order to raise money for Hogar de Cristo, an organization James is working with in Viña del Mar, Chile. Dress Down Days are days where the students pay $1.00, or more depending on how much they want to donate, to wear something other than the school uniform. The students were delighted to participate and contribute to the cause. We were able to raise close to $500.00 dollars for Hogar de Cristo in Chile. The students of Holy Trinity Catholic Middle (Charlotte, NC) learned a great deal not only about culture, but also about lending a hand in foreign communities. We are thrilled to help, and will continue with the project once school is in session in the Fall of 2009.

On behalf of Hogar de Cristo and myself, I would like to thank the students and staff of Holy Trinity for their enthusiam, motivation and generosity! Your efforts make a difference even on the other side of the world.