I finally made it to the Centro de Esperanza Infantil this afternoon. I hadn't been there since last year's renovation. What a difference between the "new" center and what was there before. There are new rooms on the second floor, lots of rearranging of prior spaces (including the patio), and the staircase is now in a new location. It looks great and is so much more functional for the programs at the center.
I met David, my sponsored child, there, and after his mother arrived, we headed downtown to pick up the clothes his mom had ordered for his 6th grade graduation next month. All the young men have to wear the same "outfit"--black pants, and a dress shirt of a very nice shade of blue with a matching striped tie. My daughter and I are treating him to his "graduation" garb since we won't be here for the ceremony. We were both lucky enough to be in Oaxaca for one of David's end-of-the-year ceremonies as well as for his older brother Rodrigo's graduation from junior high. Ashley also attended Rodrigo's high school graduation since she was still working in Oaxaca at that time.
After picking up the pants, shirt, and tie, I took him shoe shopping. It took us three stores before we found a style he liked and a size that was appropriate. After we finished and were having ice cream in the Zocalo, Rodrigo joined us for a quick visit. Rodrigo is sponsored by the CRHS Spanish Honor Society. In two years he will finish his university studies and be a Special Education teacher, an amazing accomplishment thanks to the Oaxaca Streetchildren Program. It's hard to imagine him now as the 13 year old I first met ten years ago. Three years ago when he enrolled in his university studies, I promised him that I would be here for his graduation. That's a promise I will keep, for sure!
