ABOUT
THE CHILDREN
The
children at the Marsh Children's Home
want to be like other kids. They want to study and to
better themselves. They have the right to a dignified
life - a right to receive love, protection, nourishment,
medicines, clothing, and an education. With your help,
we can make all this possible.
At the Marsh Children's Home, these
kids follow a simple schedule. They get up at 6 am,
make their beds, clean their rooms and patios, then
have breakfast at 7 am. At each table in the dining
room one of the children is designated captain. He or
she is responsible for bringing the food from the kitchen
and ensuring they have what they need. This job is rotated
on a weekly basis so that all grow up accepting responsibility.
After breakfast all are off to school, returning between
1 and 2 pm. They have time to shower and change and
then lunch is served at 2 pm. From 3 to 6 pm, a paid
teacher assists the children with homework and helps
them if they are behind in their studies. Another paid
teacher gives the children computer lessons in our new
state-of-the-art computer center / theater.
At 6 pm they put in 30 minutes helping with chores that
vary from kitchen work to cleanup of the grounds, laundry,
setting the dinner table or various other activities.
They are then free to play, and get cleaned up for a
9 pm bedtime. Saturdays include 3 hours of study, playtime,
chores and outings. On Sunday, the children attend church
in the morning and then have the afternoon free to play,
swim, football on the beach or other activities. Often,
outside volunteers visit to help with computer lessons,
music, and singing, games and Bible study.
The children vary in age from 6 to 20. The current,
single 20-year old is now the mini-bus driver who takes
the kids to grade school, secondary and prep schools
in the village of Plan de Amate, two miles
from the Marsh Children's Home.
The Marsh Children's Home. is arranged
so that every child has individual duties and responsibilities.
Thanks to a lot of help from generous friends and supports,
we now have just four beds and four children to a single
room, instead of the crowded four-to-a-bed, as it was
10 years ago! In each room, we ensure that one child
is slightly older than the others, and it is his or
her responsibility to help the three younger brothers
and sisters. His or her duties include helping with
personal hygiene, dressing, waking on time in the mornings,
and at night, ensuring they have finished their own
chores before going to bed at a reasonable hour.
Every child has specific duties and responsibilities,
which are periodically rotated to give each child a
chance to oversee a different area periodically. These
chores vary from washing and folding clothes, ensuring
clean sheets are available, delivering clean laundry
to the various rooms; to serving meals, and cleaning
and sweeping play areas and living quarters. |
