As we warmed up to being out of our comfort zones, our boat pulled up to Santa de Fatima Village. The children's welcome to us was surreal; there was music and a boy with a paper hat that said, "Ron Rossi." They snatched our hands before we knew it and led us towards the Biblioteca which Mr. Rossi then unveiled. Witnessing how our contribution helps improve people's lives and education was exceptionally special. We then played with the kids and lost terribly in soccer. The opportunity to experience sank in; we could feel a human connection even through language barriers and entirely different lives.
Puerto Alegria was the first school we visited after arriving in the Amazon. Not knowing what to expect, many of us were nervous, but as the boat pulled in, students and teachers greeted us with music and smiles. The people within the community were very welcoming and eager to share their school with us. They had grades ranging from Kindergarten to High school and took us on a tour of the classrooms. The teachers shared with us how they encourage their students in rural conditions and what a school day is like.
PUERTO ALEGRIA & SANTA MARIA DE FATIMA 9
by LILLY LESSARD
“Day 1 is what drew us into this experience. After that, we were all ready to dive in head first. The ability to feel the human connection in such little time was incredible.”
Puerto Alegria & Santa Maria de Fatima