When I first lived in Bolivia I was the admistrator of a childcare center, and I was also it's director for 6 months. The Center was created by Lorraine and Diego, returned FMS missioners. Their hard work and vision of creating a center that served two purposes. The first was to provide a Day Care Center for poor and / or single moms, so that they would be able to work. The second was a center for handicapped children. The nearest center was a 30-50 minute bus ride away, making it impractical for people of Sacaba.
The above photo is of the Center in it's third year. Dona Hilda (in tan) became the director and retired just last year. Dona Leo worked as an educator for many years.
The history of this endeavor would take a book to tell the whole story. This coming year the center will celebrate 10 years! Lorraine and Diego started with a vision, a space behind the church, which included over 3 walls, and a dirt yard. With bags of cement, strong backs, volunteers, collaboration of the pastor, mayor's office, and a few other projects (again I need a book), Lorraine and Diego began a breakfast program and a Day Care Center. The playground equipment above came from a grant written by Diego to the Mayors office, installation was followed through during my tenure.
During my time at the Day Care Center, Fr Honny decided to reallocate a donation of land that was to be used to build nursing / retirement home. Though The Church of San Pedro had ministries for old people, Fr. Honny believed that creating a better space for a daycare center as well as a special center for handicapped children and young adults was more important.
Culturally families take care of their parents and grandparents in their own homes. Major fund raising and then building were done during 2005-2008. In 2010 the two centers were finally opened, more construction will continue, for example the daycare center hopes to build a second floor to double it's current enrollment.
The above photo is just the Day Care Center, the handicapped center is far larger, and includes meeting hall, cafeteria, physical therapy, speech therapy, doctors offices and more. The first three photos in the post are the old center. The last four are the new center. Notice in picures three and four, the same plastic playhouse has survives many years and it's move to a new location. So many things that were obtained in the first years are still functioning.
As a missioner I know that the seeds that I sow in my time in Bolivia, I may not see bloom into flowers. It has been good to see the seeds that Lorraine and Diego sowed and that I watered and fertilized (as well as many others) have blossomed and even been transplanted. I was a special invited guest at the end of 2010, for the first graduation (of kindergarten) to take place at the new center. Some of the younger siblings of the children who attended the Day Care Center in my time were graduating!
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