Successful Service Trip to Rancho de los Ninos Orphanage

If success is measured in smiles, then one would only have to look at the faces of the kids and volunteers pictured below to understand just how successful this service trip was. The Kioko Center closed for a week in February so several staff therapists and members of their families could volunteer a week of their services at Rancho de los Ninos in El Castilla, Mexico. At the ranch, the therapists were able to evaluate and develop treatment plans for 22 of the children. Through translators, the Kioko Center therapists trained and educated their staff and caregivers. The rest of the team of volunteers were involved in multiple jobs around the orphanage. They constructed and repaired therapy equipment, painted the Spanish alphabet and benches, organized learning materials and installed a new kitchen counter and sink. Members of the team included Dr. Tara McCormick and her husband John and their children, Tristan (11), Liam (8), Kiara (7), Bridgette (5), and Nolan (3), Sarah Girard, OT, Jessica Kenney, OT and her husband Sean and mother, Maria Parreira, and Diane Caraviello, a local grade school teacher.

Above and beyond the smiles, there were many other measures of a successful trip. The director of the orphanage, seeing the progress made in these children, added another caregiver solely to carry out therapy activities. A very special boy, named Jesus, reported that his muscles felt so good after receiving range of motion, that he did not want it to end. Another little guy, named Carlitos, was so motivated by the American children, he began to make long walks with them to the local market to buy the daily milk supply. His twin brother, Ismael, began to tolerate the use of a stander during his snack time. All of the children found pleasure in making crafts and participating in a Valentine’s Day festivity.

As Mother Teresa once said, “you can do no great things, only small things with great love” and that we certainly did. The smiles, the laughter, and the tears at our departure will leave us with the everlasting impressions of our experience.

A big thank you goes out to all the local businesses and our parents at the Kioko Center who donated items for a raffle and participated in numerous fundraising activities. A special thank you to the owners and staff at Phillip Ciampa for their large contribution completing a Cut-a-Thon and raffle for our cause.

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