Though it was difficult to communicate with them and had only a limited amount of time, we still developed a strong relationship with each of the children. Even with the language barrier, they helped us with our spanish and we helped them with their english. Both girls
are 17 years old - the same as us - and that allowed us to have a stronger connection with
them. Both Roda and Joanna, in the short time
we were with them, found a place into our
hearts and left a lasting impression on us.
Roda and Joanna had beautiful souls and
made us feel welcomed and loved. Though
we only interacted with them for a short
time, we learned much about each other and
our lives. When talking to them it felt like
talking to an old friend rather than people
we just met.
Both Roda and Joanna left us with a gift, a
pair of pineapple sunglasses and a hair tie,
while we left them with bracelets that we
had collected over our experience. The gifts
we exchanged became a symbol of our time
together and the bond we made. Santa
Monica was our last stop during our
experience and was also the hardest to leave.
During the plane ride home we thought of
Roda and Joanna, and we continue to think
about them daily. Even though we were
girls who have lived completely different lives, we were able to come together for a short time and allow our differences to fade in the background. The world can be hypocritical, but in this experience we were reminded that there are beautiful souls out there, you just have to look for them.
Santa Monica Orphanage
KAYLA NAFSO
The Aldea Infantil Santa Monica is a non-profit
government-run organization that provides a
welcoming home for children in Iquitos, Peru. On the last day of our experience, we were given the opportunity to meet the staff and children. Each of the staff members at Santa Monica is passionate about their work and are committed to meeting the physical, emotional, and educational needs of the children in their care.
They provide shelter, food, medical care, and
education to the children, as well as recreational activities and support services. They strive to create a family-like environment in which the children feel valued and loved. The orphanage welcomes volunteers worldwide who want to make a difference in the lives of these children.
At the beginning of this experience, we exchanged singing songs in our native languages and our Sacred Heart group taught dances such as the Macarena, the Hokey Pokey, and Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes. While teaching, singing, and dancing to the songs with
them the initial awkwardness faded and
allowed for a more comfortable environment.
We then spent time with the children partaking
in some coloring sheets and conversations.
While participating in some coloring we were
fortunate to meet two amazing girls, Roda and Joana, two of the oldest at the orphanage.