Day Eleven - Gira to Buenos Aires

Nutre Hogar sends a team of  medical professionals into different indigenous areas as often as possible.  Today, Friends of Nutre Hogar sponsored a trip to Buenos Aires, the Panamanian equivalent of a Native American Indian reservation in the United States. Families come with their children to have them examined and the most malnourished are brought back to Nutre Hogar for treatment.  After seeing the doctors and picking up medications at the make-shift pharmacy, the families are given a couple of shirts, a pair of pants, and shoes for every family member, as well as some toys for the children.  Nutre Hogar also gives them a healthy, nutrient-rich lunch.

This experience is definitely difficult because it shows us a level of poverty and desperation that we've never encountered before but it's something I would never want to give up.  These people will do anything to get medicine, clothes, and shoes.  However, the look of joy on a kid's face when you hand them a new toy or a shirt (no matter it's condition) is something I, and I think many others, will never forget. 

Waiting in line for medical check-ups and clothing.

Clothing Crew!

Sorting Clothes

"I love the way you're giving these people old, dirty clothes no one would really want and these people are so happy to have it.  And, with the little girls, you're putting the clothes up to their bodies to see if it'll fit and they're laughing and giggling and they love it - they feel like they're getting presents.  It's so great how appreciative they are." - Maddy

Lots and lots of shoes!

Sorting through all the donated toys.

"Truly rewarding experience." - Jason

Theresa and Julia sort clothes.

 

Trying to find clothing that fits for everyone.

"I came last year and it was really shocking, and it was the same for me this year.  It's so hard for me to believe that people really live this way - it doesn't seem real - but when you're here you realize how real it actually is for them.  It's mind-blowing that people live in such a different way from me.  And, it makes me very thankful for everything I have." - Carly

"It gives you a new perspective on how much you have and how much you should be thankful for every day." - Greg

Ben helps children find shoes that fit.

Weighing in

 

Pharmacy that has been set up by Nutre Hogar.

 

Whitney and Elika

This little boy is so happy to have a few new toys!

One of our other missions on the gira is to give food to local families.  This year, we were able to donate 13 bags filled with essentials like rice, sugar, flour, tuna, salt, and oil.

Mud walls and a tin roof

"It's finally seeing the world I've always been told I should see." - Theresa B.

Delivering food to families

"I carried food to all the houses today and we brought probably 15 pounds of food to each family. In this season that they're in right now, they really need it. They were in mud houses and nobody had shoes - it was mind-blowing. Then, when I got back, I was able to work on giving people shoes, so that was a nice connection." - Duncan

Kasey delivers a bag of food to a Buenos Aires family.

These are some of the wonderful people our students got a chance to meet on the home visits.





This little girl must take medication everyday because she has AIDS.

After every family had been given clothing, the clothing, toys, and shoes, were opened up for anybody to come back in and grab whatever they could.  It immediately became a madhouse and all the leftover clothing disappeared very quickly.

People walked out with as much as they could possibly carry.

After a long day of work, the students take an opportunity to cool off before getting back on the bus.

"Today was another experience for very blessed Americans to see a level of need that they've probably never even imagined in their lives.  I hope that by raising their awareness that they will continue to find ways in their lives to eradicate poverty and malnutrition, especially for young, innocent children." - Srta. Morse, program director