The Kids from the House of Dreams Say Thank You!

We are so incredibly thankful to Steyning Grammar school in England for all the wonderful support they have given us over the years. Their fearless leader, Tim Treadwell, deserves a huge round of applause for keeping the kids, staff, and parents motivated. The energy and creativity they have put into extending such heartfelt generosity towards The House of Dreams Orphanage here in Cochabamba, Bolivia astounds me. From selling cakes, to running concession stands, to a day of sponsored silence they have truly rallied to assist us.

The efforts from the students of Year 7 helped in the following areas:

1. Covered one month of salaries for the caregivers, who are affectionately called “Tias” (Aunts)
2. Paid for one month of transportation costs… getting 15 kids to and from school and around town for their appointments and activities adds up
3. Bought one week’s worth of food for the orphanage

We really could not provide such a great home for these kids were it not for the individuals, such as the Steyning Grammar group, who help with financial donations. Thank you so much!

Enjoy this little video as a special thanks….

(The volume may be low, you might want to turn up your sound)

Please consider following the lead of these students and join us to help provide a safe and loving home for the Dreamers at The House of Dreams. Contact us for more information on how to give.

- Angie

A New Bike

The Dreamers have had four bicycles to share for quite some time. Up until now, the younger kids were too small to ride a bike, so having four bikes worked out well. But with the younger kids getting bigger and beginning to learn how to ride bikes, four wasn’t enough any longer.

One of our recent volunteers took notice and decided to donate a new bike to the House of Dreams to help meet the high demand. She decided to get a bike with pegs on the back so two kids can be occupied by one bike.

The kids were super excited to recieve the new bike and even more excited to take it for a spin. They say it rides a lot smoother than the old ones. The only challenge with the new bike is deciding who gets to ride on the pegs.

Romon

I’m impressed!!

A couple of weeks ago, I told our older three girls how impressed I was with them.  Our cook, had given the girls some knitting lessons, and after just a few lessons they were knitting away on their own.  I told the girls how at their age (10 and 11), my mom tried to teach me how to knit but I had a hard time with it.  They on the other hand, are knitting pros.

Anne and Estefan

For their first project, Anne knitted a skirt for her Barbie doll, and Estefani is halfway through knitting a scarf.  Our three older girls can now cook, paint and knit….I’m impressed!

-Marisol

 

Number Ten

Over the past year, a majority of the Dreamers have complained about their eyes in one way or another. As a result, nine of the Dreamers have been prescribed with glasses.

Estefani sporting her fun, festive new frames.

Estefani makes number ten. She had been complaining about her eyes watering a lot. After a trip to the optometrist, we discovered that of course she too, needed glasses. She’s not too excited about having to wear them just yet, but maybe she’ll get used to them.

Romon

Enrichment

As our Dreamers get older, we want them to try a  variety of crafts, trades or skills so that they can discover their talents and have many experiences that will help them to be successful in the future.  This summer vacation our three oldest Dreamers were presented with such opportunity.  My mother-in-law, who is a very talented painter, offered to give the girls classes in painting.

Anne and Estefani working on their handpainted tablecloths

The girls have been taking once a week classes at my mother-in-law’s house, in learning how to paint with acrylics on cloth fabrics.  They’re learing how to handle the brushes, how to mix and blend colors, how to add shading and highlights.

Jhoselyn’s first finished work

In a few years as our Dreamers begin their teen years, we may have a new opportunity for you to participate in their lives through the Projects Link on our site – helping with the costs of specialty classes, such as painting, mechanics, carpentry etc.   In the meantime, check out our Projects link to see where you can take part.

-Marisol

Giving

Every year, right before Christmas, it is becoming a tradition for every Dreamer to select one toy to give away. We usually collect the toys then figure out a place to where we can give the toys away. The rule is, the toy that they choose to give away can not be broken. It has to be in working condition.

This year, we sat down with the Dreamers and explained to them that it was that time of year, where they have to go through their toys to each give one toy away. They all pretty much knew the drill, so they dispersed to their rooms to look through their toys to find the one that they would part ways with. After all the toys were collected, Estefani asked, “Are we only allowed to give one toy? Or can we give more?” A few other kids chimed in right after saying that they, too, wanted to give another toy away. I told them that they could give away whatever they want, but that they didn’t have to give any more than one if they didn’t want to.

Some of the toys to give away.

They all disappeared to their rooms. All fifteen of them. Returning with more toys, then more toys, then more. By the time we were finished, we had around fifty toys in the pile! I reestablished that they didn’t have to give away more than one toy to make sure that they weren’t confused and thought it was a requirement. They all reassured me that they fully understood what I had said. I then asked why they gave so many toys.

Jose Luis explained, stating “There are a lot of kids who are poor, and they don’t have any toys, and we have a lot of toys. So I want to give them some of my toys so they can play.”

Then Estefani added to the notion by saying, “It really doesn’t matter if we get more toys for Christmas or not, we just want to be able to help kids who don’t have anything. It’s makes me so sad that some little girls don’t even have a doll to play with.”
There was not much I could say or do after their little speeches, so I commended them and continued to help them pile the toys up.

I was so proud to be a part of the lives of such wonderful children. Despite their situation and youth, these kids get it.

Romon

Arts and P.E. fair

Last Saturday, our Dreamers participated in the school’s arts and physical education fair.  There were dances, songs, and P.E. routines with all of the grades, along with displays of the year’s arts work.  Below are a few snapshots from the fair.

Fernando and his kindergarten class singing about a little man called Martin Tin

 

Anne and her 4th grade class  performing a hula-hoop routine

 

Estefani, at the end of her 5th grade class dance routine

-Marisol

Two birthdays tomorrow

Two of our Dreamers share the same birthday!

Tomorrow our sweet little Emelin turns 9, and our young lady, Jhoselyn, turns 10!.

Emelin

Jhoselyn

Since their birthdays are on the same day, I always ask them if one wants to celebrate the day before so that each can have their own special day.  This year the girls decided they both wanted the same flavor of cake, and want to celebrate their birthday together.  They suggested to me, that since I’m making one cake instead of two this year that it can be twice as big!

I guess we will be eating alot of chocolate cake tomorrow!

-Marisol

The need to smile big

I’d like to present a special need of one of our Dreamers.

Estefani

From Monday to Friday of this week, all of the Dreamers are receiving free dental care at a post-graduate institute.  Already there have been several  cavities filled, a few baby teeth pulled, all have had their teeth cleaned and floride treatments.  By the end of the week all of the Dreamers smiles will be complete…except one.

Estefani’s Dr. informed us that she very much needs braces, several of her permanent teeth are not coming in corretly, among other corrections that need to be made.  While the rest of the dental care for the Dreamers are covered by the scholarship, braces are not.  The entire cost for Estefani from start to finish will be $450.

This year, I noticed that Estefani smiles with her mouth closed in all her pictures, she’s become self-conscious about her teeth.

Please contact us if you would like to take part in covering the costs for Estefani’s braces so that she can once again smile big.

-Marisol

English Fair at School

The Dreamers displayed their skills in English at school on Friday. Each class prepared posters, snacks, costumes, maps, and other interesting things about their English speaking city or country. It was fun to see them exploring the diversity of other cultures.

Benancio showing the British flag, Anne by the map of England, some of the classmates by their booth

(top) a friend with Emelin, (left) Jhamil with a friend, (right) a friend with Jose Luis

Estefani dressed as Mary Poppins by the model she made of the famed Hollywood sign

Shirley and Jose in very itchy, but very cute Tinkerbell and Peter Pan costumes

The kids work hard on their English with the help of many dedicated volunteers. We believe that dominating two languages will give them a competitive edge as they grow. We are blessed to be able to give them this advantage due to the generous donations of many individuals.

Thank you to all the volunteers, school staff, and donors who help give the children such a high quality education.

- Angie