Little Scientists and Bridge

The typical uniform for kids is a white coat over their clothes. Every time we see them on the streets or in school I smile and think- there go the little scientists. Today, We went to a school for kids with physical and emional challenges. We learned about the separation of kids with disabilities in schools. Integration barely exists but they are working on it. In reality 60% of the kids with more familial support, resources and stimulation could be in mainstream school. The truth is it is a double edge sword because the kids receive an excellent program at this school with attention and care they wouldn't get elsewhere. This includes a bottle smashing mechanism that the school worked for two years to go into fruition. This recycling project is mostly operated by the students. Their machine (since replicated by other near by) feeds a project that funds the school and gets community support. With this project, wood working a garden and more there is much more stimulation and support than they would get if they attended mainstream school. Here they also get 8 hours (instead of 4) and three meals everyday at the school (as opposed to 1). So the struggle of inclusion vs. resources continues.
Afterward we went I a park with a Rotary bridge designed with Japanese structure and symbolism in mind. Guillermo was inspired at the site of Hiroshima and implement the project afterwards.
After a lovely lunch and tiny nap at our host-Griselda's home we went to the volunteer department that Rotary (with huge help of Raul) helped start in 1985. One major nugget of interest is there are three married couples on the force. Aside from the chief each of the firefighters are equal. They stressed this equality. This picture of Jesus is in their kitchen where they spend lots of time drinking mate and in community.