by Alexa Boyce, AmeriSpan Director of Volunteer/Internship Programs
When I was in Guatemala a couple of years ago, I was lucky enough
to visit one of the community day care centers in Antigua where we send dozens
of volunteers each year. There were about 25 children and two teachers on a playground
with an indoor/outdoor classroom setting. The kids were small, generally aged about 5-7.
I walked in with the volunteer coordinator, and noticed that the
children were playing independently while the two teachers fixed a healthy
lunch. Several of the children immediately ran up to me and wanted to play, hug
me, touch my hair or generally get attention. I recognized that they probably
don’t get much individual attention at home or in the day care.
The teachers gathered the children around tables in the
classroom, and they sang several songs for me. I didn’t recognize the songs,
but they were similar to “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider” with hand motions and all! It
was clear that the kids were very proud of their song and that the teachers had
taken great care to teach them. However, the teachers were very overworked as
it was about 12 students to one of them.
There was not much time to spend with the children, and it was
hard to leave when the time came. It is obvious why this placement is so
popular, as many of our volunteers simply want to feel like they are helping
and most want to work with children! You can’t step foot in the day care center
without feeling like you are needed and that you can really make a difference
in these children’s lives. Click for more information on our Volunteer in Guatemala programs.
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