 |
|
Rita Miller, St. Michael's
Parishioner, with one of the children
who comes in for therapy. |
The Episcapal Church of the Transfiguration in Vail
have a mission group and decided to establish a long
term relationship with the Special Education School
in LaCeba, Honduras. One of the mission team members
is from there and her family is very involved with the
school. In Honduras the government does not provide
any school for special education student. The families
have to pay tuition to send there children there. Because
most are poor and can not afford it the board raises
money for them. I got involved because my daughter is
one of the mission team and she thought I might be able
to help since I work in special ed here. I am an occupational
therapist with Cherry Creek Schools. We spent many months
fund raising to pay for not only the trip but supplies.
We sent some ahead, brought suitcases full, and purchesed
things there. There were many school supplies that they
had on a wish list, a variety of balls, and workbooks
that we bought there. The big thing was replacing there
water pump and repairing the toliets. We had one young
man who's father was a plummer so he knew how to do
that.
Unfortunaly the children were still on there 3 month
break. Unlike here it is November, December, and January.
They were starting the next week, but the parents brought
them in to register. I so wished I could stay longer
but had to get back to work. The week made me realize
how much more they needed. They have 230 students who
only go a half day. They have about 20 students in a
class with one teacher. These teachers, who we got to
spend time with, are very dedicated but not trained
teachers. They are what we would call teacher assistance
here. They do not have any library type books or educational
games. These are so valuable to special needs children.
They do have a very good sign language class with a
trained sign person. There are several vocational programs
that the goverment provided and instructor for.
My plans are to return when I can spend real time with
the children. I am retiring this year so I hope to do
that. We have not set new goals yet but my personal
goal is to gather books and ed. games in Spanish for
them. It was personally very fulfilling. Our trip
was so close after the sumami and ther is such need
in so many places. I feet that we all need to find one
thing to try to make a difference. This area is the
poorest country in Central America and had thousands
kill by hurrican Mitch about 6 years age. I found the
people charming and meet several young adults (some
educated in the US) who were proud of their country
and wanted to work to make it better. They are trying
to increase the literacy rate that is up about 20% in
the last 10 years.
Please click through the small slideshow below of some
of the details of our trip.
If you have any more questions,
please
email them to me.
