The Kids

The Boys and Girls at Proyecto de Vida

 

Originally posted on Saturday, November 22, 2014

The mission of Proyecto de Vida is to provide a home for boys and girls who have been abused or abandoned, especially those in situations of extreme poverty.

The project founder, Eduardo, will explain just a little more:

On the last page, I showed you some pictures of the ranch that is currently home for 27 kids who needed a safe place to go because of abuse and/or abandonment.  You saw the buildings and the most important rooms, but now I’ll show you the most important part—the kids—and tell you a little bit about them and about their daily routines.

Before I present the pictures, I need to mention that Mexican law prohibits showing online the full faces of those who are vulnerable.  Therefore, the pictures show faces that are covered or show a view from the side.  Also, I can’t tell you the names of the kids or any specifics about them.  However, I still believe you’ll be touched by what you see and learn here.

i believe that the kids are aware that their faces can’t be shown in online pictures, and they’re quite cooperative.

One of the younger boys poses for a picture--you can see the smile in his eyes

When I visited Proyecto de Vida at the end of 2014, there were 18 boys and 9 girls between the ages of 6 and 16 (they can be accepted as young as three years old).  The day-to-day routine is quite structured and busy.  During the week, everyone has to be up before 6:00am.  There are chores to do, laundry to gather, and a good breakfast to eat before school.  It isn’t easy, especially on a cold, foggy day in a house with no heating system.  Believe me, a nice, warm bed is much more inviting than a chilly tile floor!

Laundry and soccer at the same time

The girls are ready for school

 The older kids go to school by bus; the younger ones go in the van.  School starts at 8:00 and ends at 2:00.

Off to school on a cold, foggy day

The Proyecto de Vida van

The kids return around 2:30, and there is time for a little play.

Bang, bang!

Future cowboy

Some of the girls are taking cosmetology courses as part of their studies, and they love to practice!

The girls enjoy makeup

Finally, lunch, the main meal of the day, happens around 3:00.

In the dining room

Lunch outside on a nice day

The food is served to the kids

 If there’s a holiday, then lunch also comes with dessert.

Dessert is a really special event!

The kids chip in with all of the housework, including the dishes.

The kids wash the kids

By then, it’s 4:00, and time for homework.  Everyone chips in to help the kids, and they help each other, too.  If anyone has homework in English, I help them.  Most of it has been straight translation, but I’ve introduced the kids to interactive websites that have vocabulary games with pictures, and they love it!

The boys like to play computer games

The kids work together in the computer lab

One of the girls teaches a younger boy

Serious studying

Studies finish at 6:00, and then it’s time to relax.  Each week, each of the groups (girls, younger boys, and older boys) goes out for a soccer game.

Soccer field at sunset

One of the girls goes for the ball

The day winds down with showers for everyone, followed by a big snack.  The lights are out before 10:00pm, and everyone falls asleep quickly after a busy day.

Perhaps you are wondering why there are both boys and girls here.  Eduardo explains:

There are several groups of siblings here, and I spoke with one girl who has brothers here.  She told me that it’s good for them to stay together.  They spend time together.  They growing up together in a lifestyle that is as normal as possible.  These kids lost their homes and their parents, but thanks be to God and his work in Proyecto de Vida, they didn’t lose each other!

Their faces are anonymous to the public, but a these kids are a permanent part of a great family

In the next page, I tell you more about the wonderful staff and volunteers that take such good care of everyone, what happens on the weekend, and about a special Christmas program.