| Casa de Sion Orphanage is located in Guatemala | | | | quickly to each other. I had the opportunity |
| City, Guatemala, and cares | | | | to see five new children arrive at the orphanage. |
| for some of the most needy children in the | | | | They readily accepted |
| world. The courts are overloaded | | | | their new surroundings, and the children already |
| with children for whom there is no room. These | | | | at the orphanage were quick |
| children who come to Casa de | | | | to accept the new ones. The children made sure |
| Sion get another chance at a more normal | | | | that the new ones understood |
| life.Seeing it from the outside, we have no idea of | | | | all that was happening and that they they were |
| the reality that most | | | | included in all the |
| neglected children face. This inside view gives us | | | | activities. They have their arguments and |
| the chance to understand | | | | quarrels, but the problems seem to |
| what a difference an orphanage can make.Much | | | | subside as quickly as they arise.In Guatemala |
| of the following information was provided by a | | | | lunch is the largest meal served, and in all the |
| volunteer intern who | | | | meals bread or |
| spent some time in the orphanage with the | | | | tortillas are served. For breakfast they have |
| children:The children wake up between 6 and 6:30 | | | | scrambled eggs, black beans, |
| am. The oldest ones bathe | | | | pancakes, or cereal. They are served milk to |
| themselves, while the younger ones wait for the | | | | drink. For lunch they always |
| nanny to come at 7 am to | | | | have rice with either combinations of vegetables |
| bathe and dress them. During this time they are | | | | (potatoes, squash, corn, |
| either playing or reading. | | | | tomatoes, carrots, peppers, etc.), chicken, beef, |
| They eat breakfast between 7:30 and 8 am. The | | | | or soups, green beans or |
| teacher arrives at 7:30 am to | | | | cauliflower fried in egg and flour, or doblados |
| prepare for school. The children have a room | | | | (corn flour mixture with |
| dedicated upstairs for their | | | | ground beef and vegetables or cheese inside, |
| classes. At 8:30 am class begins. Children ages 4 | | | | fried). They are served fresh |
| and up participate in | | | | fruit juices, such as pineapple, raspberry, or |
| school while the younger ones stay downstairs | | | | lemonade, or juices from |
| to play. They have their | | | | packaged powder. Dinner is more like a later |
| morning snack at 10 am. They are served lunch | | | | afternoon snack. They have |
| at 12:30 pm. By 2 pm they are | | | | black beans, jam sandwiches, vegetables, eggs. |
| back upstairs to resume class. On Mondays and | | | | They are also served a |
| Wednesdays they have English | | | | nutrious drink. For their snacks they eat apples, |
| class for an hour and then continue with their | | | | oranges, jello, crackers, |
| teacher until 4:30 pm. They | | | | rice crispy treats. Then there are always their |
| eat dinner at 5 pm. Sometimes between class | | | | special treats for different |
| and dinner they have time to | | | | activities when they have cakes, breads, cookies, |
| play outside and ride their bikes. After dinner | | | | or different types of |
| they brush their teeth and | | | | desserts.Our primary staff, including our |
| put on their pajamas. They have until 6:30 pm to | | | | wonderful head nanny, are native |
| enjoy themselves. At that | | | | Guatemalans. It is helpful to the children to be |
| time we all gather together in the living room to | | | | cared for by people of |
| read from the scriptures | | | | their own country and provides some stability in |
| and have family prayer. Then it is off to bed. I | | | | lives that up to now have |
| have noticed that following | | | | been so unstable.We also use interns who |
| a daily schedule allows the children to know what | | | | committ to a 6 months stay to |
| to expect and creates | | | | provide an American influence. They work with |
| consistency. Their days are flexible to court | | | | the native staff and teach the |
| appointments, visitors, trips, | | | | children English along with their other studies. We |
| etc. that might arise.When the children first arrive | | | | welcome volunteers for |
| at the orphanage they are completely engulfed | | | | shorter periods of time as they can be very |
| in the Routine of things. The very first effort | | | | helpful in several areas. One |
| made is to find out about | | | | they bring with them much needed supplies. |
| the children since we receive no information | | | | Two, they help relieve the |
| from the court about the | | | | permanent staff of some of their responsiblities. |
| children when they arrive. We try to ask them | | | | The children love having |
| questions about their families | | | | the extra attention. Some of our volunteers |
| and their home life to understand better why | | | | have painted beautiful murals on |
| they have been sent to the | | | | the walls. Some have taught, cooked, played or |
| orphanage. Having this knowledge also helps us to | | | | cleaned or repaired. There is |
| understand better their | | | | plenty to do and with our new location we will |
| behavior and how to relate to them. The | | | | need help with construction |
| employees take time to give | | | | and gardening. We love our female volunteers |
| explanations of the different things that happen | | | | for their compassion and |
| in the orphanage. More than | | | | sensitivity, but we also love our male volunteers |
| anything the children are shown love, discipline, | | | | and would like to see more |
| and acceptance.One of the first things that is | | | | of them. Many of the children have been abused |
| taught when children newly arrive at the | | | | by men and it helps them to |
| orphanage is the importance of hygiene. They | | | | learn to trust the male population when they see |
| are taught how to bathe | | | | how loving and tender some |
| themselves properly, brush their teeth, and the | | | | men can be.The words of those who are on site |
| importance of not having | | | | at the orphanage provided me with a new |
| lice. One of the things that I have noticed is that | | | | perspective on how blessed I am, and what the |
| many children who come | | | | real needs of children around |
| to the orphanage are not accustomed to | | | | the world are. Casa de Sion, like many other |
| wearing socks and shoes, so that is | | | | orphanages around the globe, is |
| something that has to be engrained in them. | | | | making a difference to the lives of children who |
| Also, because many of the | | | | need, more than anything, a |
| children come from backgrounds of sexual and | | | | safe place to learn and grow.Written by Laura |
| physical abuse, they are taught | | | | Wheeler, with contributions from the staff of |
| the sacredness of their bodies and how to | | | | Casa de Sion. |
| properly interact with those of | | | | Laura is the webmaster for Safe Homes for |
| the opposite sex. They come knowing too much | | | | Children, a 501c3 corporation |
| about sexuality. Many of them | | | | which administrates Casa de Sion. You can get a |
| are also way behind in their studies and come | | | | glimpse of some of the |
| not knowing how to read and | | | | children and staff at .This article may be |
| write. So they begin from the basics to catch up | | | | reprinted only if it remains intact, and if the author |
| to the level where they | | | | |
| should be.The children seem to adapt very | | | | credits are not removed. |