Safe Passage | Camino Seguro

Doug joins student Reyna for lunch in the Comedor. As a repeat volunteer, Doug has been especially struck by the way his relationships are strengthened with each visit to Guatemala.

"Because some of us had the privilege of visiting Safe Passage once before in February 2008, returning there in October 2009 became a journey of reconnections. Our Rotary International District 7790 Team #3 was there to once again provide service to the children and families of Safe Passage. What we received was far greater than what we gave. While there several of us reconnected with staff members whom we had met on the previous trip. But more importantly we made reconnections with the children and mothers who are served by SP. The most gratifying reconnections were with our sponsor children. We could see for ourselves how they had matured as young people. It is very evident that SP is doing an incredible job of meeting the many needs of the children and families. This is not to say that our work is done. It is like scraping the tarnish off a silver bowl and seeing the brilliance of the polished silver spot coming through, but the bowl has much more surface to be polished. It is no different with those served by SP. With every reconnection you see more brilliance shining through. The children are cleaner, more confident, and smiling through eyes that gleam with hope for a better life. It is even that much more obvious with meeting the women of CREAMOS that creating opportunities for hope through education is the way SP will succeed."

- Doug, Farmington, ME, October '09