An Orphanage/Shelter for children and their families who live with HIV and AIDS. The women who head the center are Juana Ortiz Quezada and her sister Rosalva. As Juana greeted us we wanted to first learn about the center and see if we would be able to meet with the children. She explained to us the reasons for this center and the importance of educating families, parents and children of the disease. Juana and Rosalva discovered that their younger sister, Eunice had contacted the virus when she was 6 months. She died at 4 years old because at that time there was no medicine or proper knowledge of the disease. Juana and Rosalva searched on their own and fought to find the proper care. Naomie, their other sister, was the first child from Tijuana able to participate in a protocol through PACTG. She conveys to us how proper education will help all people affected with the virus to live a good life. The government pays only for the children’s medication month, which covers the basic medicine. But they have over three thousand dollars per month in expenses including food, school, and basic needs. And that’s where we come in.

We met the children but were not allowed to take photos of the children as to respect their confidentiality. Due to lack of education, there is a notion of shame associated with this disease. Also due a to lack of education, many children with the virus would die because he or she would stop taking the medicine once he or she would feel better. In order to help the children and families understand the importance of the treatment they used a unique story: “In all of us there is a good king and a bad king. And in order for the good king to always be strong the child must take the potion all the time.”Seems very simple to understand in those words. Even as we were playing with the children we couldn’t help but notice how in their imaginary stories, when playing with their dolls they asked their dolls to take the potion in order to be always strong! With proper food and medication and education there is great HOPE. Our Foundation’s mission is to inform and to educate in order to save lives, as well as helping lives by supplying the basics needed for survival.

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Is it good? Is it bad? It is our opinion not to judge, but to give a helping hand to a fellow citizen of the world. People aren’t going to stop crossing the border just because we offer them no aid– they’re economic refugees. We can want and expect people to take the legal, very expensive, long route to immigration, but what happens to the one who has no money and no hope and no way to feed their children? These people are risking their lives for the hope of something better.

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We parked close to the gate so the access will be easier to unload the boxes, and we notice numerous adults waiting outside. The guard informs us that these people are waiting to hear from their sick family member who is inside the hospital. They have walked for hours or have taken the buses from very far cities, and because there are no waiting rooms in the hospital or money for hotels, they have no other option but to wait outside. We take the elevator to the Pediatric level where the children are. We are so grateful that the personal and parents are welcoming us at such a late time in the evening.

A huge Christmas tree stands in the hallway. We sort out the toys according to age and gender. We couldn’t bring food because most of them have a special diet due to their conditions or illness. That night the age range of the children was from new born babies to 13 years old. Lucky were those who had parents by their side. All families were so grateful for what we brought. Children were smiling and hugging us. Then we were led to Oncology, where the children with cancer were. We made sure to wear the appropriate blue robe, cover our mouth and wash thoroughly our hands for the safety of the children. A bouncing 2-year-old baby took Claudia’s and the volunteers’ attention as he grabbed the little toy and smiled at us. He has a brain tumor and was due for surgery the following day. Each room was separated with glass walls and windows. Each child on his bed with a parent by its side. Different kinds of cancers with different hopes. The nurses were kind to let us share with them what we could. We are praying for the healing of all the children, their courageous family and all the staff that bring them comfort daily.

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ORPHANAGE EL FARO our last stop before heading back to Los Angeles. There, fifty children are being sheltered. As we enter the shelter and start unloading the truck all of the children come to help us carry the belongings we have for them. We place all the clothes on a large table in a dark room where an old TV entertains twenty something children. Some watch the old monitor, some are eating the protein bars we gave them, some are excited to show us around, and some play with their new dolls. The center is separated in different quarters, for girls or boys, then children or teenagers. It is a family owned orphanage and children are rescued from parents who can’t take care of them. Some see their parents once a month, some once a year, some never. Drugs, prostitution or domestic violence are the common factors. There are twenty children per room and each has his or her own bed. We look at the scenery – outside lays trash, wires, tires, abandoned cars, roofless homes, construction waste, dogs wandering around. But in the midst of all of this, these children have a place they can call home.

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Children were so happy…

They ate, tamales, sweet bread, drank juice and hot chocolate.

The live entertainment kept everyone happy and the children from the city of Bell Gardens’ ballet folklorico danced to several traditional songs. Cecilia Bogran, from Univision channel 34 was the master of ceremonies and with the help of children held several raffles throughout the day. Fonovisa Records recording Artist and host of MTV3 ReMexa show, Jazmin Lopez did an autograph signing and took pictures with the children and their parents.

The highlight of the evening was when Santa Claus arrived and gave presents to all of the lovely children. The evening was full of excitement and joy. Thanks to all of the sponsors more than three hundred children and their families had dinner, gifts, and an unforgettable Christmas celebration. We would like to thank all of the volunteers, because of you, this event was a complete success.

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