The Buenosdias foundation for street children

In Guatemala all children, including the street children believe in the legend of the worry dolls. If you're worried about something, put the little home-made dolls under your pillow and when you wake the next morning your worries will be gone, or taken away by the worry dolls as it were. Sadly, though this may work for normal, but for the 7000 street children in Guatemala it's a different story; their worries don't disappear overnight. 

Travellers who book a trip to Mexico, Guatemala or Belize with Mexico Travel Plan can make a donation to the Buenosdias charity project, a foundation which helps street children in Antigua, a small tourist town approx 30km from the capital city of Guatemala. When night falls in the city, children as well as adults roam the dark streets and alleyways looking for a safe place to sleep. Many are addicted to alcohol, crack or even glue, the cheapest way to get high. Dutch volunteer Claudia Smit witnessed the plight of the Antiguan street children while she was working in Antigua in 2001 and decided to set up the Buenosdias charity project. Buenosdias provides these street children with a decent meal, a hot shower, medical care and education. By contributing to the project you can help ease their problems - just like a worry doll.

In May 2001 Claudia (now chairman of the Buenosdias foundation) headed to Guatemala to work as a volunteer with the street children of Antigua. There she worked with a small school for children called "Ninos Obreros", literally "working children". School supplies were scarce, the space was cramped and hygiene was poor. She later joined "the God's Child Project", run by Patrick Atkinson and a small group of staff. Here there was a good educational system, health care, sufficient daily meals and plenty of room to play. A good basis and planning proved to be the secret of their success and with this in mind Claudia set up Buenosdias in December 2002. Buenosdias has now opened a small shelter for street children in Antigua, Guatemala which will initially provide a safe haven for approximately 10 street children. Besides meals, the children also receive medical care, education and guidance.

"The smile of a street child is very special, because the reality of their plight is heartbreaking. Through the Buenosdias foundation in Holland I came into contact with the God's Child project; a project in which children are taken off the streets and offered a better future. We have seen children come in to the project who cannot walk because they were always carried around on their mother's back; children with rotten teeth because they've never seen a toothbrush; children neglected due to lack of money and forced into a life on the street by their parents because there was no other choice."

"When I visited the project on my first Monday in Antigua (14 November) I was amazed at what I saw. I'd imagined a small building with scarcely any supplies, filled with neglected children but instead I saw a beautiful building with lots of greenery, a playground, a football court, classrooms, a medical area with a doctor, pharmacist, dentist and even a psychologist. I was given a tour of the place by Cecila who told me all about the history of the project and their vision. God's Child believes that every child needs proper guidance and deserves a happy future. A child won't be able to learn if there's something physically or mentally wrong. That's why besides education, God's Child also provides the children with medical care."

"At the moment it's school holidays (until January) but although there aren't any lessons, daily morning activities are organised for the children. Because I had my Spanish lessons in the morning this was a bit of a problem at first, but I managed to move my lessons to the afternoon so I could come and work on the project in the mornings."

"The days begin around 9am when the children are playing outside and having a great time playing football (and very good at it too), clambering up the climbing frames and running round the playground. When the bell sounds between 9.15am - 9.30am all the children gather in the church for daily assembly, after which they go to one of the classrooms or are given an activity. This is where I help the children in my best Spanish, much to their amusement when I get the words or pronunciation wrong. At the moment I'm working 3 days a week. Working and studying at the same time proved a bit much so I've taken a step back but still really enjoying it..."

"Saturday 17th November I went with another group of volunteers to San Pedro, a project for children who have been abandoned by their parents. I was very moved by what I saw here, totally different to Antigua; small children (1-3 years) begging for attention, children who simply didn't know how to play and just opened their mouths to get some food. They're changed at fixed times so after an hour they were all walking round in wet clothes. Too understaffed to give them the love and attention they need, very sad. A 3½-year old girl was lying in bed, no taller than 3ft, her ribs sticking out because she refuses to eat. It breaks your heart seeing such a small child lying there and not knowing whether she's going to make it. It's the harsh reality."

"The children in Antigua are like normal children; playing, dancing and enjoying themselves. Next week I'm going to be organising a sports activity for the children so I'm pretty excited how that's going to go. I'll keep you posted..."

 - Bianca