The Hogarcito, the orphanage in San Ramón, is home to 14-16 children, ages 3 months – 12 years, who have been orphaned or are unable to be cared for by their families for a variety of reasons. Even though the largest portion of Hogarcito’s budget is provided by the government, it does not cover all of Hogarcito’s budget needs and fundraising is an ongoing activity of the Hogarcito staff and supporters. In response, CAA members and friends have generously donated their gently used clothing, household goods, toys, craft supplies, sports equipment, and many other miscellaneous items to be turned into cash to support the children’s needs.
The other challenge with Hogarcito’s budget is that while they may amass the funds required to cover their annual expenses to run the organization and meet the children’s needs, there is often not a lot of, if any, money left over for things that might be considered “extras,” the kinds of special activities, celebrations, holiday traditions that might be part of a child’s life in a traditional family. While the Director and the staff at the Hogarcito do an amazing job of focusing on children’s individual needs to provide a safe, warm, and nurturing environment for each child, it can often be these little “extras” that can help create a sense of normalcy, connection, and positive childhood memories for the children.
To that end, for the past several years, CAA’s Birthday Buddies program has honored each child at the Hogarcito with a special birthday celebration. On their birthday each child receives a special gift, chosen just for them and a traditional birthday party with cake, ice cream, special treats for them and all of the other children at the facility who attend the party as well. Special acknowledgements like these help to reinforce to each child that they are unique, special, and important to those around them.
In addition, CAA has provided the funds and the means for special activities and celebrations to help create a sense of fun and belonging for the children. A trip to the movies with a stop for ice cream afterward is a special treat for the children at the Hogarcito. Likewise, during a school vacation, an outing for a day of swimming at a nearby recreational area with an outdoor lunch was a fun and happy experience for all those, staff included, who went. And being able to enjoy a Christmas tamale given as a gift to you from those who care about you allowed the children to participate in the much-loved Costa Rican cultural tradition that signifies family, celebration, and community.
In reality, CAA may not be able to significantly impact the challenging family circumstances that many of the Hogarito’s children face. It is our hope and wish, however, that through our financial support and program participation activities, we can help to brighten the lives of these children and create some positive and happy memories to nurture their spirit as they grow.
We sincerely appreciate all of CAA’s members and friends who have and are continuing to contribute their time, their talents, and their funds to help us do this work. Muchas gracias!
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