Stories
Together For Good has visited and made donations to a number of schools, orphanages and community service groups in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. Each visit that we have made has always been a little different. Some schools prefer that items be left with the principal so that classes are not disturbed, while the others welcome visitors into their classrooms and encourage interaction with the students. Many of the orphanages we’ve visited do not permit pictures to be taken inside the children’s home, while others do allow pictures. Although every visit varied in some way, all of them have been meaningful and rewarding.
On this page, we thought we’d share two stories about visits to a school and an orphanage. We hope these stories will give you an idea of what to expect and how special giving back can be.
Visit to a Primary School
As our van pulled off the road into the dirt driveway, I could see about 40 kids running around in the field in front of a little primary school. We got closer and their faces turned to us, smiling and laughing. I was not sure what to expect.
It was recess when we arrived at the little grade school. As we got out of our van, a few of the kids came running over to take our hands. We said hello and started talking to them. The language of warmth and human contact mattered more than the words.
A few minutes passed, and then almost all of the kids came swarming over to us. They hugged us and took our hands. We laughed, they gave us high-fives and smiled at all the attention they were getting. When one five-year old boy with a round smile looked up at me and put his arms up in the universal “pick-me-up” symbol, I did just that. I lifted him into the air and he giggled. Almost everyone followed his lead. It took us awhile to lift everyone into the air, but it was fun to see the kids’ bright smiles.
We met with the principal and the teachers, gave them the school supplies, and wrote down our names and items we brought in the school’s donations book. After that, we walked into one of the classrooms. The rooms looked full of love, but empty of all of the books, crayons, art supplies and items that we usually see in classrooms at home. The desks looked worn and strings with numbers and words hung from the ceiling. The kids and teachers were thrilled with the donations and thanked us for our gifts. It was a great feeling! We gave the kids some attention and the kids returned the love. It was fantastic to do something good for other people that need and appreciate the help.
We took pictures of the kids as we were leaving. The kids smiled for the camera and formed into a tight circle to look at the pictures. One of the teachers asked if we could send some of the pictures back to the school, as the kids love to see themselves in pictures and rarely get them. We promised to do that upon our return home. As we left, the kids waved and looked like they appreciated the time and attention. I felt connected and happy for what we did. It felt good to give back.
Orphanage Visit
The staff came over and asked us to wash our hands before we went in to see the babies. It made sense, but I started to feel this odd sense of foreboding. I really wanted to help and the thought of working with young babies for the day was very exciting, but emotionally, I wasn’t sure how I would feel. Would the babies be in horrible conditions? How would I feel when we left?
So with those thoughts and clean hands, we rounded the corridor to enter the first room with the babies. The door opened and the boys and girls in their cribs looked up and followed our faces. One boy was asleep and did not wake up. The other four babies immediately rose to their feet.
They all wanted to be held and put their arms in the air. I reached for the nearest one: a baby wearing a blue shirt, a white diaper, and a bright smile. Other volunteers entered the room and also picked up the babies. We all started smiling; babbling and the pitches of our voices went up about twenty octaves.
My baby loved to be held and he melted in my arms. Putting his head on my chest, he wrapped his arms around me. I smiled and kept talking. I am pretty sure he did not know what I was saying, but it probably did not matter. Human warmth, love and attention were most important in that setting.
We stayed and played with the babies and children for a while, alternating between holding them, bouncing them, and walking them around. Many of the other young children came over to be held as well. Their arms held us tight, sometimes so tight that I could still feel their little fingers when I put them down. I felt that I was to be connected and touched by them forever. They never wanted to get down, and I never wanted to let go.
We dropped off all of the clothing, toys and supplies that we brought with the administrator. I wish that we had brought more toys for the babies, like mobiles and crib toys. They needed so much! The next time that I come, toys and baby items will be at the top of my list.
I kept drifting back to that same baby, the one with the blue shirt and the bright smile. When it was time to leave, I talked him through it, but I guess I was really talking to myself. Babies do not usually talk, but my little boy looked at me attentively with his shining eyes. Another volunteer quickly came in and whisked him away from me. When I looked back as I walked out the door, my little blue-shirted baby was smiling and had a happy glow.
We all felt great about our experience at the orphanage and were so happy that we had the chance to spend time with the children. Our driver had been waiting for us and took us on to our next destination. We were glad we had arranged for a driver with the hotel, because we never would have found the orphanage on our own. I felt great about the trip and playing with the babies, and can still see their shining eyes and feel their fingers on my arms. I am looking forward to seeing them again.