When the time came for Maureen Fessenden to choose a vacation spot, she didn't consider geography - only children.
Provided photo
Maureen Fessenden shares a happy moment with children from the Puericultuorio Perez Aranibar Orphanage in Lima, Peru where she spent her two-week vacation time in March.
Maureen Fessenden shares a happy moment with children from the Puericultuorio Perez Aranibar Orphanage in Lima, Peru where she spent her two-week vacation time in March.
Fessenden, of King Ferry, took two weeks away from work in early March to visit Lima, Peru, where she volunteered in its Puericultuorio Perez Aranibar Orphanage. The institution is the largest of its type in South America.
“I got teary-eyed just hearing about it,” said Fessenden, who chose the Peru location from eight possible destinations. “Working with all those children with no families touched my heart and made me want to go there.”
Fessenden set up her service project through Global Volunteers, which made all of Fessenden's travel arrangements aside from her flight. She stayed in a hotel with fellow volunteers and a program leader fluent in Spanish and English helped the group communicate.
At the orphanage, Fessenden spent her mornings taking care of Fabian, an 18-month-old boy with epilepsy. After helping her pupil dress and start his day, Fessenden escorted Fabian to a nearby clinic for physical and speech therapy. It was there that the language barrier hit Fessenden hardest.
Even the scant conversational Spanish she remembered from high school was of little use while speaking with the clinic's staff, though she began to pick the language up over her time spent in Peru. She also compensated for her inability to speak Spanish with the people skills she learned in her work as a recreational physical therapist at the Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca.
Language was less important on Fessenden's afternoons, when she would supervise toddlers as they transitioned from nap time to play time. After providing welcome relief to the orphanage's regular staff by helping change diapers and dress the children, Fessenden escorted them to a large gym-like play area.
“There was a lot of crying and bumps and bruises to attend to,” she said.
After her days at the orphanage, Fessenden took advantage of her free time to shop Lima's markets and see shows with Peruvian dances and art. She journeyed to the Machu Picchu ruins on her one free weekend and spent the subsequent week recovering from the near-8,000-foot elevation at which the famed Wonder of the World rests.
When Fessenden's two weeks in Peru were up, she faced the greatest challenge of her trip - leaving.
“I was extremely emotional,” she said. “Even now I get teary-eyed thinking about leaving.”
Fessenden shared slides and stories from her time in Peru with her Bible school at the United Church of Genoa. The group recently shipped two boxes of clothing, shampoo and medical supplies, along with a monetary donation, to the orphanage.
Though she doesn't see herself returning to Peru due to the emotional difficulty of such a trip, Fessenden is already planning her next Global Volunteers outing for winter 2009. It is in Romania that she hopes to continue learning the lessons set in motion by her stay in Lima.
“I love letting children know that they're important for two weeks,” she said. “It's about making a difference in the life of a child.”
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
“I got teary-eyed just hearing about it,” said Fessenden, who chose the Peru location from eight possible destinations. “Working with all those children with no families touched my heart and made me want to go there.”
Fessenden set up her service project through Global Volunteers, which made all of Fessenden's travel arrangements aside from her flight. She stayed in a hotel with fellow volunteers and a program leader fluent in Spanish and English helped the group communicate.
At the orphanage, Fessenden spent her mornings taking care of Fabian, an 18-month-old boy with epilepsy. After helping her pupil dress and start his day, Fessenden escorted Fabian to a nearby clinic for physical and speech therapy. It was there that the language barrier hit Fessenden hardest.
Even the scant conversational Spanish she remembered from high school was of little use while speaking with the clinic's staff, though she began to pick the language up over her time spent in Peru. She also compensated for her inability to speak Spanish with the people skills she learned in her work as a recreational physical therapist at the Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca.
Language was less important on Fessenden's afternoons, when she would supervise toddlers as they transitioned from nap time to play time. After providing welcome relief to the orphanage's regular staff by helping change diapers and dress the children, Fessenden escorted them to a large gym-like play area.
“There was a lot of crying and bumps and bruises to attend to,” she said.
After her days at the orphanage, Fessenden took advantage of her free time to shop Lima's markets and see shows with Peruvian dances and art. She journeyed to the Machu Picchu ruins on her one free weekend and spent the subsequent week recovering from the near-8,000-foot elevation at which the famed Wonder of the World rests.
When Fessenden's two weeks in Peru were up, she faced the greatest challenge of her trip - leaving.
“I was extremely emotional,” she said. “Even now I get teary-eyed thinking about leaving.”
Fessenden shared slides and stories from her time in Peru with her Bible school at the United Church of Genoa. The group recently shipped two boxes of clothing, shampoo and medical supplies, along with a monetary donation, to the orphanage.
Though she doesn't see herself returning to Peru due to the emotional difficulty of such a trip, Fessenden is already planning her next Global Volunteers outing for winter 2009. It is in Romania that she hopes to continue learning the lessons set in motion by her stay in Lima.
“I love letting children know that they're important for two weeks,” she said. “It's about making a difference in the life of a child.”
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
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