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Wednesday, June 21,2006
Exeter Times Advocate
Local girls volunteer at hospital and school in Guatemala
By Nina Van Lieshout
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
MOUNT CARMEL —
Two local girls have
returned recently from
a volunteer trip to
Antigua, Guatemala, in
Central America, work-
ing with malnourished
infants and children
with disabilities.
Annette Roelands and
Kristine Peters, both of
the Mount Carmel area
travelled to Guatemala
for 12 days with an
organization, Students
International out of
California.
"I was at a hospital
and Kristine was at the
school," says Roelands
who is working towards
a Bachelor of Science
and Nursing Degree
through a joint pro-
gram between
McMaster University
and Conestoga College
and working at the
Parkhill Chateau
Gardens.
At the hospital, Obras
Sociales Del "Hermann
Pedro," Roelands was
"holding babies, feed-
ing them, changing
them and bathing
them."
Every child Roelands
was helping was mal-
nourished and "a lot of
them had a cleft
palate," says Roelands.
At the hospital there
were children of all
ages, "a couple of four
and five year olds but
most were under two
years old," some who
had been there for a
couple of years.
Peters was working at
the school, Brillo Desol.
"It means Sunshine,"
she says.
Peters was working
with disabled children.
"I worked with kids,
trying to teach them
math and crafts," says
Peters who is also
attending McMaster
University, majoring in
math and minoring in
accounting.
Peters also works at
the Pinery in Grand
Bend in the accounting
office for the summer.
A shocking statistic
Peters learned was,
"Nine out of ten go to
elementary school,
three out of ten finish
Grade 6."
The girls were the
first Canadians to trav-
el with the Californian -
based organization.
They were also the
first to stay with site
director Fernando
Saravia and his wife
Marianela and family
While volunteering
there were two days
where the girls were
able to visit Guatemala
City, going to a private
school.
They also visited each
other's ministry sites as
well as others. There
were seven altogether,
including three differ-
ent schools, a hospital,
a health care clinic, an
agriculture site and a
technology site.
Both Roelands and
Peters say it was an eye
opener going to
Guatemala which bor-
ders the North Pacific
Ocean, between El
Salvador and Mexico
and the Gulf of
Honduras between
Honduras and Belize.
Peters says when they
travelled to Guatemala
City they saw many
shacks lined up along
the road where people
live.
She was also sur-
prised when she visited
one of her student's
homes, an eight-year-
old boy, Giovanny who
picks garbage for a liv-
ing.
But she says the fami-
ly seems happy, prov-
ing that you do not
need a lot to make the
most of life, something
Peters says she realized
on their trip.
This was the first mis-
sions trip for Roelands
and Peters and both
say they would recom-
mend it to anyone.
"I would highly rec-
ommend it. It wasn't
too expensive and they
organize everything for
you," says Peters.
"It was definitely a
good opportunity," they
say.
They were especially
pleased with all of the
people who "sponsored,
supported and prayed"
for them.
Roelands and Peters
were able to raise
enough money for their
trip to leave some
behind as donations.
They are also grateful
to Fernando and
Marianela Saravia and
family who took them
in for their stay.
If interested in travelling
with this organization
visit www.stint.com for
more information.
Above, Annette Roelands, in front left and Kristine Peters, back left stand with
Fernando and Marianela Saravia and family where they stayed while volunteering
in Antigua, Guatemala. Roelands volunteered at a hospital and Peters volunteered
at a school.They were the first Canadians to travel with the organization, Students
International, based out of California.
Above,Annette Roelands holds one of the malnourished children from the hospi-
tal she volunteered at in Guatemala. Below, Kristine Peters stands with two boys
from the school she volunteered at in Guatemala. (photos/submitted)
Above, Kristine Peters walks with Giovanny who picks up garbage to make money
for his family in Guatemala. Below,Annette Roelands sits with one of the children
she worked with at the hospital in Guatemala. (photos/submitted)