Dia Del Niño (Day of the Child), Birthday Party and Books

Dia de Niño was celebrated at escuelas Pato de Gollo on September 9. The celebration was marked by a day of fun and games at the school. Adopting Escuelas asked what we could do and were told that what the children *really* wanted were personal care items. We made sure that each child got the wanted children’s deodorant and a large bottle of shampoo as game prizes. It didn’t seem like much of a “prize” to me but I was assured that they really wanted and appreciated the personal care items.

Although yesterday was *official* Dia de Niño, escuela Rincon de Mora celebrated the day today so that Xinia would be there to help out.
It was great fun. I was there for the “eat the marshmallow off the string” contest, sack races and pin the tail on the donkey.
The children also received small toys donated by Adopting Escuelas as prizes for competing in the various games. Prizes included mini make-up kits and jump ropes for the girls and spinning “air” tops for the boys.
The children and staff also gave me a surprise birthday party, complete with a huge tres leches cake decorated with fruit, a gift bag of chips and candy, and the performance of a wonderful friendship dance performed by the second cycle girls. All very touching and a huge surprise to me!
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Textbooks for Pata de Gallo.

Thanks to our generous donors I was able to give Aida, the principal at Pata de Gallo, 20,000 colones (about $40.00) to buy one set of books for each grade for the next school year (to replace the current very old books). The books will be purchased by Aida and copied by the school and handed out to the students. Although text books are generally taken for granted in the U.S., decent textbooks can be a rare commodity in rural Costa Rica, where most schools purchase 1 set for each grade and then copy what is needed for each student! Read more Entry>>

Cruz Roja (the Costa Rican Red Cross) teaches at Pata de Gallo School.

Last week Adopting Escuelas volunteer Andres Chaves and partners from the Cruz Roja (Red Cross) in Palmares, started a program to teach First Aid to the Pata de Gallo Community.
Over several weeks they will be teaching the townspeople basic First Aid treatments that can help to save a life. For example:
• Bleeding control.
• Snake bite treatment.
• Heimlich maneuver.
• Primary care.
• Burn treatment.
This program is teaching both adults and kids specific treatment methods for each situation.

Palmares is the closet Cruz Roja location for Pata de Gallo. For that reason the Palmares Red Cross is concerned about their situation and has volunteered their time to help the community. Pata de Gallo is a community of about 150 people that is isolated from neighboring communities. The only government facility is their school of 14 students. It is, however, a community rather isolated and stuck it in time, but with a lot of people who are willing to make big changes and take in their own hands the future and the future of their children.

Palmares Cruz Roja volunteers helping in Pata de Gallo:
Andres Chaves (First Aid Assistant)
Rolando Ramirez (Emergency Medical Assistant)
Gerald Céspedes (First Aid Assistant) Read more Entry>>