The CI van arrived about 15 minutes early and I immediately recognized the translator. Her name is Yaseni. She was the translator for sponsor Steve Hogan who has taken many videos of his visits and she has been in some of them. My host, Luz, misunderstood when she talked to Yaseni Saturday on the phone and thought that we had to travel to Santiago about 155 miles away to visit Kendry. Yaseni was the one who had to travel because her home base is in Santiago but she came down to help with sponsor visits at the Santo Domingo office which is where we are. I also met the driver who is very nice elderly man.

Our first stop was at the main CI office. Yaseni showed me all of the offices and I met several staff members who  were in charge of some of the CI programs such as health services, educational services, sponsor relations. Yaseni explained some of the changes that are taking place CI. For example, instead of having a sponsored child graduate from the CI program at age 19, they can stay in the program until age 24:) Children who are interested obtaining a college education can receive financial assistance from CI  as long as they have been accepted into college.
Yaseni was also very excited about a new music program which teaches children how to play musical instruments. Many of the children perform in the CI orchestra. The children are very emotional as they perform because they love playing the instruments.

The next stop was at the community center. I believe that Yaseni said that there are 8 CI centers in the DR. Five are in Santo Domingo and three are in Santiago. This was the center that Nicol attends but I did not know that she was there until I looked up after the van was parked and saw a beautiful little girl waving and smiling from one of the windows of the center :) I thought it was her especially after I recognized her mom from Susan's video.

I was not told that this was Nicol until later even after I mentioned that I thought that I saw her :) :) Once we were inside I saw many children and moms sitting in the reception area waiting for services.
I was able to see all of the service areas of this center. The children receive dental checkups, medical check ups, prevention classes, medication when needed, tutoring services, recreational opportunities and other services. I saw the library, computer lab, and I had the chance to participate in a dance class with some of the children! It was great to especially see so many teens involved in the activities at the center

 The lobby of the main office of Children International in Barranquilla, Colombia

 The main CI office in Barranquilla, Colombia

 My translator, Yaseni, at the main office

 

Children involved in activities at the community center

 

Dancing with the children at the community center

 Posing with the  children at the community center