"Children of the Dump", a Rotary Success Story
Posted by Tommie Buscemi
Kingwood Rotarian, Frank Huezo, returned to Chinandega, Nicaragua in August 2010 with Art Rascon of ABC13 Eyewitness News, plus other Rotarians, for a follow-up of Mr. Rascon's 1999, and 2002 Emmy Award winning documentaries, "Children of the Dump". On October 12, and October 13, 2010, ABC13 Eyewitness News showed how Rotarians have changed and saved the lives of children in Chinandega.
"To watch Art Rascon's story, please follow this link: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7721250
"To watch Art Rascon's story, please follow this link: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7721250
Over the past 12 years donations of time and money from our area have changed the lives of countless children in Nicaragua. Eyewitness News Reporter Art Rascon takes us back to the dump site where these children live and work and takes a look at the amazing progress made over the years. Click on Art Rascon's TV Article to see the video.
A few years ago, the girls at the dump site of Chinendega, Nicaragua couldn't play the violin. In fact, none of the children had even picked up an instrument. And the blind students had no home and no future. The students had no classroom, much less computers.
All of them used to live and work at the city dump.
"When you came out with the first documentary, with the Children of the Dump, that really made this thing, this project, take off," said Houston Rotarian Frank Huezo.
The project there has grown so rapidly over the years that there's now a school housing hundreds of students and even another school on the other side of the street. It has tripled in size to more than 500 students. And just down the street is a clinic serving a hundred kids a day.
"You wonder whether you're making a difference, but then as you say, you look at these children and you really believe you are," we asked Huezo.
"Absolutely. Absolutely," he replied.
Still, many of these kids go to school for only reason: food. And for that, they are grateful.
It may be their only meal all day, but when lunch is over, they're still smiling. The children walk or pile into trucks with only one place to go: off to the dump.
Dardni has been living this life for years, working side by side with other school friends. Every day she spends the morning at the school and the afternoon at the dump, she said.
Despite the misery there, kids are still remarkably happy, especially those who have been rescued.
"Sometimes, I said, 'It's incredible. I can't believe it,'" said Maria Jose. She is another amazing success story pulled from the dump by Houston-area Rotarians.
Now working and making a good income, Jose often returns to her former home to pray for more miracles of rescue.
Houston-area Rotarians say the most difficult part of this project was realizing there are so many more children to save and not enough money to make it happen.
If you would like to learn more and help, contact:
Jim Kite Hope and Relief International Foundation 10700 Gerke Road Brenham, Texas 77833 (979) 251-0840 jimkite@sbcglobal.net Frank Huezo, Rotary Club of Kingwood Email: frankhuezo@aol.com
To read the cover story "Rising From The Refuse" in the December 2005 issue of "The Rotarian Magazine" on Page 46, please copy and paste the following address into your browser: http://books.google.com/books?id=HjMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA50&lpg=PA50&dq=art+rascon+emmy+award+children+of+the+dump&source=bl&ots=nDY1tZyson&sig=jyiOhacLIZ4ER4z_PiA7aKZm1n8&hl=en&ei=X9jFTKuoBIX6lwfO1JUJ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=art%20rascon%20emmy%20award%20children%20of%20the%20dump&f=false
A few years ago, the girls at the dump site of Chinendega, Nicaragua couldn't play the violin. In fact, none of the children had even picked up an instrument. And the blind students had no home and no future. The students had no classroom, much less computers.
All of them used to live and work at the city dump.
"When you came out with the first documentary, with the Children of the Dump, that really made this thing, this project, take off," said Houston Rotarian Frank Huezo.
The project there has grown so rapidly over the years that there's now a school housing hundreds of students and even another school on the other side of the street. It has tripled in size to more than 500 students. And just down the street is a clinic serving a hundred kids a day.
"You wonder whether you're making a difference, but then as you say, you look at these children and you really believe you are," we asked Huezo.
"Absolutely. Absolutely," he replied.
Still, many of these kids go to school for only reason: food. And for that, they are grateful.
It may be their only meal all day, but when lunch is over, they're still smiling. The children walk or pile into trucks with only one place to go: off to the dump.
Dardni has been living this life for years, working side by side with other school friends. Every day she spends the morning at the school and the afternoon at the dump, she said.
Despite the misery there, kids are still remarkably happy, especially those who have been rescued.
"Sometimes, I said, 'It's incredible. I can't believe it,'" said Maria Jose. She is another amazing success story pulled from the dump by Houston-area Rotarians.
Now working and making a good income, Jose often returns to her former home to pray for more miracles of rescue.
Houston-area Rotarians say the most difficult part of this project was realizing there are so many more children to save and not enough money to make it happen.
If you would like to learn more and help, contact:
Jim Kite Hope and Relief International Foundation 10700 Gerke Road Brenham, Texas 77833 (979) 251-0840 jimkite@sbcglobal.net Frank Huezo, Rotary Club of Kingwood Email: frankhuezo@aol.com
To read the cover story "Rising From The Refuse" in the December 2005 issue of "The Rotarian Magazine" on Page 46, please copy and paste the following address into your browser: http://books.google.com/books?id=HjMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA50&lpg=PA50&dq=art+rascon+emmy+award+children+of+the+dump&source=bl&ots=nDY1tZyson&sig=jyiOhacLIZ4ER4z_PiA7aKZm1n8&hl=en&ei=X9jFTKuoBIX6lwfO1JUJ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=art%20rascon%20emmy%20award%20children%20of%20the%20dump&f=false