Today is a work day and so we started in earnest with our project.  Before our labour, we got a tour of the workshops where the students are in the mornings before they go to regular academic classes in the afternoon.  We were impressed with the size of the shops and now with girls added to the classes, there is a whole new dimension.








There is one female shop teacher who is glad to have girls in the class. 










The technical courses are carpentry, electricity and welding.  And we also did a tour of the computer lab which is quite impressive and these students will have a high quality of computer skills when they graduate. 


The final stop was in the chapel to see the stunning and moving mural painted on the altar wall.  It was the vision of our ITSM director Lazaro and painted by a graduate//art student from El Hogar.  Lazaro spent time with us as he explained the mural and the meaning to him. 

The plan is to make raised garden beds as we did at El Hogar last year.  Erika has all the lumber cut and ready for us and tools necessary for the job.  First the ground needs working and turning the soil and the strong grass roots which  is hardest job.  Meanwhile others were working on the boxes to construct them.



 

The sun is intense out there and so we traded jobs and it was clear that the team was really looking after each other.

The other task is to sort and do inventory on the donations we have all brought with us.  Wonderful generosity of those who have donated and we have been able to leave behind loads of soap and deodorant and shampoo.  It was best to do the counting and sorting on the floor and we are thankful to Dave who has done a hug job of the counting! 

We had a wonderful evening doing crafts and activities with the Grade 7 boys.  

We were surprised at the few who were happy to do cross stitch which Becky had prepared  

Then there were puzzles and card games and colouring and skipping.  -

Ros had a cookie making session  with some of the boys which was a success.  They then shared their efforts with the rest of the kids.  

We loved the evening and so enjoyed the boys.  I think they enjoyed the activities and certainly always had a smile for us.

e