Savage in the DR!: The Orphanage

Monday, April 25, 2011

The Orphanage

This past week, I did a very cliché thing—I painted bedrooms at an orphanage.

A couple weeks ago, one of my friends, Brittany, worked with the local authorities to remove a child from his home because he was being abused and not properly fed. So she did what she had to do—she rescued him and placed him in an all-boys orphanage that is supported by donations from a church in the States. The orphanage is hardly luxurious, but at least this child, a short nine-year-old with a brilliant smile, is safe. He can now grow up to learn different values, that people deserve love and abuse is not normal. And he is being fed and educated and looked after.

While Brittany was there, the administrator talked to her about painting the bedrooms. They were painted a bleak yellow that is the standard color of all the public schools and a slime green. So we decided to brighten the rooms with calming colors and murals about values and protecting the environment.

I had never been at an orphanage before, but I think my visit there will be one of the most memorable. I couldn’t help but think that these boys have lost their parents to death or abandonment. For most of us, this is not something we could ever imagine. Most of us have families who care for us, but these boys are alone in the world. At least they have each other. We were amazed by their intelligence, their eagerness to participate, their quickness to answer our questions; in our normal Peace Corps lives, we have a hard time eliciting answers or motivating the youth, but these boys were sharp. The loved the attention, and they were so sweet.

We weren’t sure if we would finish painting the rooms, but each one of us took charge and went to work, and I am so proud of what we produced. As another volunteer Amanda mused, we each have our own unique talents to contribute so we should have our own consulting firm, helping developing nations. I agree. I feel so privileged to have met so many amazing Peace Corps volunteers, so many amazing PEOPLE.

Perhaps this is a shameless plug for Peace Corps, but honestly, I’m glad I did this whole thing. Just weeks left now, and everyday I’m nostalgic. I’m afraid to let go of it all, to let go of this life-changing experience.

But at least I can smile and remember those great volunteers I know, those eager boys at the orphanage, those grateful patients at the medical mission, and those empowered young women at the girls summer camp. They will be my inspiration, my motivation to continue serving others.

*I realize that these pictures aren't representative of the entire team and the effort it took to complete this project... but my internet is slooooow right now, and I'm way overdue for lunch, so I'll have to add more pics another time.