I (Tamara) volunteered with Children International as a health assistant in a community center that included a clinic. I worked there for 4 weeks and was able to help the doctors there by weighing and measuring children, filling out forms and instructions for their medication, and the never-ending filing and retrieval of medical files. I had a great time and learned a lot working with the doctors there. The doctors saw between 15-30 patients each day, starting with the sick kids, then children there for a scheduled (and mandatory) annual check-up. They were very patient with my (lack of) Spanish and were sure to show me the interesting cases and answer my questions. It really made me want to return when I am more qualified.
The community center is located in a poor neighborhood in the south of Quito called Lucha de los Pobres (Fight of the Poor). The center provides for the community (not just sponsored children) a library, playground and computer center. During the day the center is filled with families waiting for their medical appointments, kids working on homework or writing letters to their sponsors. Many children write their "first letter to my sponsor" at the center. It is a page that has prompts to help write the letter such as favorite subject, activities, etc.
I bought stickers to hand out at the clinic. It was a hit with the kids- they liked to put them on their hands. Sometimes I got 'helpers' that made sure each kid got one - they didn't want anyone to be left out. The kids at the clinic were all so sweet and cute. I loved hanging out with them and trying to decipher their Spanish! My experience working and playing with them was very heartwarming.
Medical staff. | ||
 Tamara with Dr. Patricio (dentist, left) and Dra. Paulina (M.D., middle).
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Pictures of | ||
 Outside of the front of the community center.
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 The front of the community center.
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 The playground area - yes, it is all paved (ouch!).
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 The cross-street at the center.
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 The computer room at the center.
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The hub-bub of the community center. | ||
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 This shy boy didn't want his picture taken.
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Sticker time. | ||
 Trying to see who is next in line. (Fuzzy)
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 Girl choosing her sticker. (Fuzzy)
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 Peeling off a sticker.
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 Letting a kid choose from the stickers laid out. (somewhat fuzzy)
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 Peeling off more stickers.
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The 'children' of Children International. | ||
 A group waiting outside for their appointments.
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 Tamara with kids in the waiting room.
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 Mom with her two daughters.
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 This girl saw my camera under my chair in the doctor's office and asked me to take a picture of her.
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 Mom with her two boys.
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 A mom with her two daughters- yes, the baby is sucking on a lemon!
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 Three cuties who really liked my camera.
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 The previous 3 kids wanted to take a picture with the camera- maybe not too experienced at it!
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 Another picture by the kids.
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 The last picture by the kids.
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 Girl on the ladder of the slide.
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 A group of siblings or cousins.
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 Moms with their kids.
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 This girl really wanted me to take her picture.
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 The girl's brother who didn't want his picture taken.
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 A boy with hearing and sight problems with his brother. He also saw my camera under the chair and wanted me to take his picture.
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 A boy with a tooth abcess - note his horribly swollen right cheek.
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 Same boy with siblings - the girls kept asking me to take them with me back home and seemed enthralled with me as a foreigner.
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 The girl on the left cut her head in the playground and had to get stitched up by the doctor.
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 Check out the girl picking her nose!
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 Going away picture with a bunch of kids.
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