Tuesday, November 9, 2010
This morning Jorge took Pat and I to a hogarcita. We received special permission from PANI to visit. It was located a little outside San Jose. This particular orphanage was located in an extremely nice section of Costa Rica. Once we arrived at the orphanage, we met with the Director and were told a little bit more about the focus and what the orphanage provides to the children who live there. This particular orphanage has around 8 different houses, with 7-10 children in each house and 2 adults in each house to act as the parents. The compound was very nice and well kept.
The Director explained to us that this particular orphanage was not so much for housing children available for adoption, however, it was housing children that have been pulled out of their homes and away from their families for an average of 6 months time. Children are placed in this hogarcita for similar reasons that children in the U.S. are placed in foster care. The children come to live here and are provided what sounded like great opportunities until they can be reunited with their biological families. If after 6 months the child or family is not yet improved enough for the child to return home, then this orphanage allows them to stay longer. Here, they are still schooled and provided medical care. There are Social Workers and Psychologists on-site all week to help the children in various areas. The Director said many of the children have emotional or behavioral problems or some sort of special need. The staff at the orphanage work hard and closely with the children to help better the child in all areas. They provide the children with a lot of learning opportunities, especially focusing on teaching the children trades. They want each child to learn a trade because once a child turns 18, they are released back to their families. If it becomes evident that a child is unable to return back to the family, then the child is moved to a different orphanage, probably a privately run one, where the focus is more on adoption. Lastly, the children were beautiful!
After this, Jorge then took us to a mall located in this area. This mall looked just like the Galleria (in Birmingham, AL), if not much nicer. I really felt like I was somewhere in the States at this moment. Pat and I agreed that this would be a place a family could retreat to if they were feeling homesick. It had mainly all the same stores but much pricier because it is all imported things.
Jorge had to return to work, so Pat and I walked around town for awhile and then stopped in for a late lunch at a local restaurant. We decided to come back to the hotel after eating to check emails since things at the office are very busy.
On another note, Costa Rica really is a lot like places in the United States. Even in the physical characteristics of the people. It still shocks me when we are diving down the “interstate” and I see a Applebees and an Outback and then walk into a mall and see all the same stores I see in Birmingham, Alabama.
Anyways, I am not too sure what is on the agenda for tomorrow.
Kelli Rumanek
Villa Hope Social Work Intern
Tags: Adoption, Costa Rica, international adoption
