A group of local volunteers recently returned from another successful trip to an orphanage in Nicaragua.
“During my seven week stay, we had a total of 51 volunteers that dedicated two weeks of their time and life to help at the home,” said Mark Robinson of Palmerston, a director of Friends of the Orphans Canada (FOTOCAN).
“Everyone returned to Canada with feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction knowing they had made a difference in the lives of the children.”
He added, “In Nicaragua this year, we accomplished many things,” noting one of the teams left funds to purchase supplies to build a sidewalk and steps for the facility. A student team excavated and mixed concrete for about 130 feet of sidewalk.
“This will greatly improve conditions for the little ones during the rainy season,” said Robinson.
Mirrors were replaced and added, to make it easier for the children in their preparation for school and church. Robinson points out some of the houses had only one very small mirror to share among 15 people. Also, a number of shelves were refinished, repaired and replaced.
Many of the student team also helped at the school in a variety of classes and some worked with the children during their homework time.
One team member was a professional welder and took care of some of the welding needs around the home. Another member got a tractor and disc working and spent time leveling the roads to make access easier.
Funds were left to purchase lice treatment and combs, medical supplies, a fan for the computer room, large straw hats, and work and rubber boots for the farm workers. Money was also left for the university student fund and the group left 45 eight-gig memory sticks for local university students. Funds donated from the Palmerston United Church were used to help purchase 124 backpacks and 87 pairs of Sports pants for the children.
“It is always heartwarming to see the faces of the children as they receive such items,” Robinson states.
One of the teams was made up mostly of medical workers who were instrumental in obtaining an ECG machine and supplies to donate to one of the local hospitals. Time was also spent assessing some of the poorer outlying villages in preparation for a medical mission trip in 2015.
Organizers made sure the teams had time to explore Nicaragua: visiting a market in Masaya, enjoying a zip line adventure, touring a coffee plantation on Mount Mombacho and taking a sight-seeing and shopping trip to Grenada.
Robinson notes that laptop computers for university students are in short supply.
“Among the 45 students I think they have about nine laptops they have to share,” he explained. Donations of used laptops are appreciated. In order to be useful, they must be in good working order with new battery and working AC adapter.
Other donations are always accepted, including children’s and adult multi-vitamins; like-new clothing (mostly for warmer climates, but it does get “cool” for them at times) such as pants, jeans, shorts, shirts, blouses, dresses, socks, pajamas, new boy’s and girl’s underwear; personal care items such as toothpaste, tooth brushes, hand soap; caps and hats; new dress and running shoes; new flip-flops, new, or like-new back packs and school supplies. There is also a need for single-bed sheet sets, pillow cases, bed nets, towels and face cloths, lice treatment and combs, and shower curtains. New or good used hockey bags to transport the donations to the various orphanages are also needed. Anyone who can help is urged to contact Peter or Joy King at pbjking0755@hotmail.com or Robinson at 519-343-5149 or m.v.robinson@hotmail.com.
Donated funds are also needed and appreciated. These funds can be used to purchase site-specific supplies for the orphanages. Cheques payable to “Friends of the Orphans Canada” can be mailed to Friends of the Orphans Canada, 470 Industrial Ave., Woodstock, ON, N4S 7L1.
Robinson notes he is willing to give a slide show presentation to local groups interested in learning about FOTOCAN.
