CadaNino (each Child)
In early 2008, the US and Guatemalan government implemented the international treaty governing international adoptions known as the Hague Convention. Previously, US Citizens were adopting children from Guatemala at the rate of approximately 4000 kids per year. With a tiny population, Guatemala trailed only China and Russia in the total number of US adoptions. Though a theoretically conservative, Catholic country, Guatemala was known to have an accommodative adoption processing capabilities that was believed to be bordering on fraud and human trafficking.
The Government in Guatemala, stopped taking new applications for international adoption at the end of 2007, but there remain approximately 2000 cases slowly winding their way through a new and somewhat obscure emigration process. Though the strains on the social fabric and network of orphanages has been tangible, the fears of widespread starvation of newborns and infants has apparently been avoided. Poor diet remains a challenge for much of the poor in Guatemala, but the family friendly culture has largely absorbed any surplus of unwanted children.
CRPN (Centro Residencial Psiquiatrico y Neuorologico) is small hospital for mentally handicapped children and young adults. Some residents have family, but their handicaps are too overwhelming for the family to address. In recent years, the government run organization has experienced significant turnover at the management level as well as in the social service areas of the government. As an outsider who sees extreme poverty in many areas of the Guatemalan topography, these residents are well treated. They have nutritious meals three times a day, clean clothing, basic medicine and people who work hard and care about them. They have a variety of educational programs with excellent teachers, but not enough time or resources for continued individualized tutoring. Generally, individualized development and education is the area that CadaNino focuses.
A combination of cultural ambivalence toward mental retardation and a government that is frequently in flux, has limited the access and implementation of volunteer programming at CRPN. A variety of not for profits and Churches have helped from time to time, but currently there is not a lot of support outside the government. CadaNino has two employees who are paid by the foundation, but who report to the Director of CRPN, Celedonio Soto. The first EV (employee/volunteer) is a physical therapist and she has had remarkable success with a core group of bedridden children. The second EV, (employee/volunteer) is a nurses aide who has just started a full time position working similarly to develop and engage some of the neediest cases on an individualized basis.
Cadanino’s objective is to make a difference in the quality of life of these children. Through the adaptation of management techniques we hope to keep each child’s development plan under constant review and revision. Progress toward independent and healthy living is the objective. For some children that may mean learning to crawl and maybe walk some day. For others, it means being able to feed themselves. Some of the others it may mean a refinement of anti-seizure medications and additional education that might lead someday to living with a family or a half-way house. The love of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit manifested in the love, time and commitment will reap miracles and success stories. Though I have joked with staff that my expectations are that two of the kids should be attending Harvard in the fall of 2009, that is perhaps a lofty and unobtainable goal. However, I do think there are several diamonds in the rough that will surprise on the upside with proper care. I think of Helen Keller and how low expectations were for her prior to her communications breakthroughs. Pray for these people for surely they are loved by Our Almighty God.
