My husband & I sponsor 2 girls, Dalia & Angelica at Safe Passage, the education reinforcement center where Shared Beat works. Today I took a break from counting pills and reviewing medical charts to take them to lunch. We took a taxi from the Guatemala City dump neighborhood to the new Walmart. What an amazing contrast in realities only 10 minutes down the street.
Sometimes it's difficult being a sponsor. You see children with very little and you want to give them everything. You walk a fine line- they need things but if you gave them everything is that the right thing to do? The children living in the areas around the dump need so many things. With the help of the sponsorship coordinator,I decided to give each of the girls a certain amount of money and told them they could choose to use it for food, clothing, hygiene products or school supplies.
At first they were overwhelmed. But after the initial WOW they headed straight for the grocery section! We kept track along the way and before long both girls had spent 2/3 of their money on food for their families. We then went straight to hygiene produts. Dalia needed a backpack and Angelica needed socks and underwear and we were done. The last bit of our time together we ate lunch, got an ice cream and headed back to the school.
The girls were so pleased with themselves. They could've chosen to buy clothing, school supplies, something just for them. Both girls chose to share. They love their families and appreciate the struggles putting food on the table presents.
This happens everytime, we well meaning do gooders think we're saving the world and it turns out- they save us!
Thanks Dalia & Angelica for sharing your day and your life with me!
Feliz Dia!
Jenny
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