The Special Ones

The town Bethany lives in is home to probably the best orphanage ever!  It is owned and operated by the nuns of the Catholic Church. 

On one side of the street the little ones age 7 and under live, as well as all of the female population.  Each room has a Tia (Auntie), who is in charge of the little souls.

Karen and I received a personal tour from the head nun who runs the whole home.  The little ones are so eager and curious.

The dressers are huge and shared, I suspect by all. As well as pretty tattered!

On the other side of the street the older boys, ages 8-18 live. Inovative things happen over there!  Soccer is played in the courtyard, rain or shine.  Solar panels have been made and set up, I think for heating water.  It also hosts a dental clinic, where dental students ready to graduate do an 8 month dental practicum.  Those dentists live in a room at the home compound that Bethany lives in.  That home used to be the convent for the nuns, and they still own it. 

 Here is the greatest thing this orphanage does.  At age 10, each child does a stint in one of 3 vocation areas provided within the home.  One option is shoe making.  They make the shoes for all of the children at the home, and the workmanship is superb!  

Another option is sewing, where they will sew clothes for all the kids.  I looked closely, and no way could I tell these were anything but professionally made shirts!

The final option is woodworking.

Chairs and tables.......

Decorative shelving and cutting boards..... 

..... and a host of other products. 

The wood items are sold for profit that goes towards running the place, as well as I believe any extra shoes and clothes.  Once they have tried all 3 options, they get to choose which one they will continue with until they leave the home.  When they leave at age 18, they now have a marketable skill to survive on!  Some go into teaching, as well.  Of course, all of these workshops are conducted after school lets out.

There is a resource room, with computers to learn on, as will as an expert comes in to show them how to fix them when they go amiss.  Chapel is held daily, and each room takes turn putting it on.

Look at all of these pilas!  Everyone does their own laundry, as well, though there are washers and dryers for bedding, towels, etc.  The older kids help in the kitchen, cooking and doing dishes, too.

We were invited to eat lunch with the kids one day........ chili rellenos, rice, salad and the ever present at meals, tortillas.  Apples for dessert.

Truly, the children who end up at the orphanage are often far more prepared to live a productive life than others!