The children are our future. And the best we can give them is education so they can create a solid platform in life. But once a year, it is allowed to spend the day playing. Join us on one of these days!
The gray turned to sunny after a night of rain showers this Friday in September. The village of Corozal on the north shores of the island of Roatan was quiet as usual in the morning. The exception was at the school, "Escuela Rural Mixta Poliocarpo Bonilla,” where children's laughter and shouting filled the air, echoing through the dense forest and around the wooden houses. Four days before the official date, the school celebrated “Día del Niño y la Niña” or “Children's Day.” In addition to being a fun day, it is also used to educate and raise awareness about children's rights, including the right to education, health, food, and safety.
The teachers organized games in the schoolyard surrounded by a fence decorated with the flags of the Central American countries while waiting for the rest of the day’s program to begin.
It is mandatory for the armed forces, better known as the “Fuerza Naval Honduras,” to participate and support these events across the country. Nine soldiers from the local base on the island took a day off from their military tasks and provided a bouncy castle, music, and some piñatas filled with candy.
Piñata is a very popular item. It's beaten until sweets are flooding out.
Our club, the Rotary Club of Roatan Utila and Guanaja (RUG) collaborated with the military second year in a row. Cupcakes donated by “Olga Alvarenga Pasteles personalizados Roa” , and two giant piñata donated by Silvia Isabel Zelaya and her business “Gráficos Insulares” in the village of Los Fuertes, made this day very special for the children.
Abigail Rosales is the coordinator between the organizations, ensuring that everyone has a clear understanding of the event and its requirements. She also plays the same role when organizing medical brigades, which the Fuerza Naval is also required to support—a decision made by a former president of Honduras.
Angela is serving the children with juice and cupcakes at the dump. Toothbrushes are also available. Our club are running dental care events at schools to prevent the kids to loose their teeth when they are young.
The next stop for the day is the community near the trash dump on the island's western side. People with little means try to survive off what they find in the trash and sell it, while maintaining some dignity. Children from all around came to join in the fun when the bouncy castle was set up, the music playing, and the cupcakes and piñata were provided.
The soldiers enjoyed managing the piñata, bouncy castle, and music, while our club gained profound inspiration for future projects by witnessing the joy and happiness on the children's faces, a testament to the positive impact we can make in the community.
A heartfelt thank you to Olga and Silvia Isabel for their generous donations, to the Fuerza Naval with First Lieutenant Eduardo Arteaga for providing manpower and equipment, to Abigail for her seamless coordination of the event, and to our dedicated Rotary team members, Mike and Ange Szuch, Earl Harcrow, Roger and Angela Bjoroy-Karlsen, for their unwavering commitment and hard work in making the event a resounding success and leaving a lasting positive impact on the community!
Our Rotary operations are depending on members that steps up, using their knowledge and creates awesome events for the people that needs it. Ange Szuch, Earl Harcrow, and Mike Szuch are people of action and a part of the team that makes an unforgettable day for the children at the dump.
The principal of the school, the president of RUG and the commander of the Naval team are pleased with this year's "Dia Del Niño!
The military gets a warm welcome from the children at Escuela Policarpo Bonilla in Corozal.
Bouncy castles are never wrong for kids.
Written by: Roger Bjoroy-Karlsen, Public Image Chair