SOS…Un Paradise

This was my first week at SOS, the orphanage where I will be working for the next two months. The school van picked us up from our house and took us to El Pino, a nearby town, about 10 minutes from El Porvenir. Nestled in the mountains surrounded by trees is the beautiful SOS. When we approached the gate to enter SOS, an armed security guard greeted us, and let the driver enter the school grounds. Words cannot describe how awesome this place looks and feels. It’s unlike anyplace I have seen in Honduras, and maybe one of the only places where I feel completely safe.

SOS

SOS

SOS is a completely secure community, where orphans live and attend school. The orphanage uses a model where the children are assigned to a “mother” and in essence form a “family unit.” The children have “brothers” and “sisters” and share a home with their assigned “mother” through their time at the orphanage. Once the children reach adulthood the orphanage works to place them into college or the work force.

When we arrived to SOS the kids ran towards the van to greet us and give us hugs. We taught two classes in the morning and two classes in the afternoon. The classes range from subjects like Math, Art, Reading, English, and Movement. The students then have a break from 11:30am-1pm, where they go home and eat lunch and see their families.

On Tuesday, I spent all day with my little buddy Gerson. He is 8 years old and loves to read. Gerson has a sister named Yasmin. There are 4 Yasmins at SOS, including me (Jasmine=Yasmin in Honduras… no difference in this part of the world). So on Tuesday… Gerson and I sat by the trees and talked and then we jumped over the bushes, and then we danced Zumba with the older kids. He is super cool.

Gerson (David is behind the bush)

Me and Gerson (He made me take this one... clearly I was chilling in the shade)