An excerpt from Keely's blog

(Keely is field director of Latin America)

30 01 2011

Keely has visitors!!! - Cali, Colombia...Orphanage:

So who were these visitors you ask? They were Janet Fink, the director of Super Kids, and two of her good friends- Lisa and Sabrina. Experiences like this are so cool– because you are so in the moment, you have to be very present. This is because so much happens in every second. You quickly find out who people really are. For this reason, you develop a unique bond with people who undergo it with you. You talk about things, things that really matter. And you really get to know them. I have known Janet for about a year and a half– but mostly as a voice on the phone or a talking face on skype. I had never met Sabrina or Lisa. But by the time they left, they really felt like old friends (yes, corny… but also very true). They just had this calm confidence and were so inquisitive and intelligent. I don’t even really know what to say– they were just so cool!
The basics of their time here looked like this: a day filled with sunshine and children. Evenings filled with conversation and lots of food (gourmet according to my current standards). I think the pictures will tell the story better than I can:

Keely, Lisa, Janet and Claudio the chicken... being tourists

The ladies bought the kids at Oscar Scarpetta some MUCH needed books. The kids loved them so much: turning the pages, looking at pictures, sitting on laps and reading the words. They played with the books ALL day!

Sabrina and friends in the toddler room

Reading 'til the cows come homeWe like our new books!

Spanish reading lessons

One of the older girls came and Spanish reading lessons as the ladies attempted to read to the babies in Spanish. She was VERY impressed at their reading abilities!!!
The books for the older kids were presented to the “library committee.” And the ladies were given a few small Colombian souveniers as a thank you. And then we all chowed-down some delicious Colombian food and drink.

Library Committee

And they were especially THRILLED about the twilight books!

Teenage girls will be teenage girls

They left with so many ideas. So many plans. I can’t wait to see what they can help us accomplish here in Colombia.

Packin up and movin out!

Janet, Lisa and Sabrina. Thank you so much for coming. You will definitely be missed.
The night they left, one of my best friends got here. I am so excited to have a buddy to explore with. And she is a PT too so I am really pumped to have someone to bounce some ideas off of. Next update will be the adventures of Keely and Kristi– I have no doubts it will be quite riveting! Until then…
Caio
KO

Keely's Colombia Adventures

Physical therapist, Keely O'Dell, arrived in Medellin Colombia this week. She will spend two months in Medellin and two months in Cali providing caregiver training and rehabilitation to orphans with disabilities. Some of Keely's colleagues will be joining her throughout her stay. Check out her fabulous blog http://superninos.wordpress.com/

Check out these really Cute Baby Booties

Thanks Jae, for working so hard with the Kechene Women's Association!

Our wonderful intern, Jae, just returned from Ethiopia. She helped older teen and young adult orphans in Addis Ababa create these "super cute," baby booties!!! Superkids will sell them to raise money to support programs for teen orphans in need of employment.

The Kechene Women's Association, is an organization of young women who have "aged out," of the Kechene Children's Home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

There are few opportunities for these orphaned young women once they have been released from government care. Most seek low-level service industry work in Ethiopia and Middle Eastern countries, but pay is extremely low and such work is dangerous in countries with few women’s rights and no citizenship protection. Unfortunately, many fall back on prostitution to provide for themselves.

The young women of Kechene need life-skills to navigate the world, earn a living and use money wisely. They need to learn how to set goals based on safe choices, self-sufficiency, and self-esteem. They need a future that offers a chance for a long, productive, and happy life.

A Successful Summer!

Thank you to Liana, Tanya, Anita, Joan, Mark, Neeha, and Rhonda for making this summer Superkids' biggest success! Teams of physical, occupational, and play therapists provided caregiver training and direct medical intervention to orphaned children in Addis Ababa Ethiopia and Cali Colombia. Superkids started a successful read aloud program in Addis that exposes orphaned children to books and improves literacy and language development. The Superkids Colombia team provided therapy and an exercise program for pregnant women in crisis living in Cali. We also provided funding for school age orphans in Medellin, Colombia to receive English language classes for 1 year. Superkids will send more physical therapists to China this fall to continue caregiver training.

Superkids is Growing! Over the past 3 years, Superkids has conducted 8 humanitarian aid missions in China, Ethiopia, and Colombia. We have worked with 7 orphanages, 4 foster care homes, and 1 pregnant women in crisis center. We have trained more than 300 orphanage caregivers, provided medical consultation for 100 children and infants with severe medical conditions, delivered 3 wheelchairs to teen orphans with spinal cord injury, and delivered more than 300 therapeutic toys.

Summer Update

Tanya and Anita have been in Cali 3 weeks already! They have been busy training orphanage caregivers, treating disabled orphans, and working with pregnant women in crisis. Check out their blog http://superkidscali.blogspot.com/

Liana has been in Ethiopia almost 2 months now. Her reading project is going even better than expected and the Kechene Women are busy making braided wrap bracelets. http://lili188.blogspot.com/

Next week 3 more therapists arrive in Addis Ababa Ethiopia to provide caregiver training and treatment for orphans with medical conditions. Caregiver training will focus on feeding and exercise. stay tuned!

Anita and Tanya arrive in Cali!

Anita and Tanya arrive in Cali!

Hola! We made it to Cali, Colombia last night after a long day of traveling. Magnolia, who is an interpreter for Gladney, met us at the airport and took us back to her apartment where we will be staying for the next 8 weeks.

Today, she took us to the local shopping center across the street where she helped us purchase a cell phone. Tomorrow we meet with Julieta, the director of the Instituto de Oscar Scarpetta. This is one of the orphanages where we will be volunteering. We are really looking forward to getting to know the kids and the staff. Stay tuned for our adventures...

Check out their blog superkidscali.blogspot.com