Lending a Hand

The Granada Rotary Club donates to a foundation called La Fundacion Escuela de Solidarid located about 20 minutes from the city. As a Rotary scholar, it is my responsibility to volunteer here, but it doesn't feel like a requirement. It feels like a great opportunity to spend some time with those who could use it. The foundation is a center for people in need to come and stay until they can find work or get back on their feet. It was started by a local lawyer named Ignacio about 15 years ago. Currently, there are about 40 people who live there ranging in age from a few months old to 60 years old. Each person or family has their own apartment, so to speak, but they all work together to maintain the foundation. The mission of the foundation is to create a "universal family." Many of the people who live there don't have families or are away from them so they become each other's family and you can really see that when you're there. They all work together to cook, clean, and look out for one another. In order to make sure everyone does their part, there is a schedule of events. Everyday from 4:30 to 6 pm is homework time for the kids and they know that they can't leave until all of their work is done. As Rotary scholars studying to improve our Spanish, we help tutor the kids with their homework. Also, we are going to try to incorporate in some English lessons and other activities on the days that the kids don't have a lot of homework. Monday, we are giving a presentation to the entire foundation about ourselves and where we are from. So far, we have been to the foundation twice to tutor the kids. I really enjoy it! There is a group of younger kids (3 to 10) and older kids (15 to 19). I have only really worked with the younger kids. They don't have too much homework because some of them are not in school, but we read books and color. It's a lot of fun. I think they really enjoy us being there, too. The other day when I stopped reading a book to Yanira, a 3-year old girl, she wouldn't let go of my hand until I came back into the room and continued. It was so cute. Today, I had a piece of gum in my mouth when I came and they all wanted a piece so I have to make sure to bring some with me on Monday. I think they would really like that. From here on out, we will be going to the foundation every Monday and Wednesday for a few hours and whenever else we can to do any other work they need.