The Pérez Brothers

The Pérez brothers — Jefferson, Joel and Roberto (names changed) — are 13, 11 and 9 years old, and they all have sponsor parents through CENIT's Adopt-a-Dream program. Scraping out enough of a living to feed and clothe the family in the country proved to be impossible. Therfore, the family of ten moved from the country to Quito two years ago in search of a better life and more opportunities for their children. As happens all too frequently, the reality of life in Quito was nearly as hard as the one they had left behind. Both parents and the older children spend long, hard days working in the Camal market and barely make enough to get by, much less to enrol the children in school. Through CENIT's market program in the Camal, our volunteers met the Pérez boys and got to know their family's situation. With their help, all of the school-age children were enrolled in CENIT's school. After proving to be exceptional students, the three oldest boys were enrolled in Adopt-a-Dream, matching them with sponsor parents who pay for all of their school costs, as well as a monthly food allowance for their family. Last year, Jefferson finished primary school in CENIT's ESTAR program and became the first-ever member of his family to enrol in high school. Joel and Roberto continue to be some of the best students in CENIT's primary school.

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Clinic

Aim

To provide medical care to CENIT and the surrounding community who would otherwise be unable to access medical care. To provide preventative health care via education, campaigns, and direct interaction with the target populations as well as provide a way for patients needing specialized non-primary health care to be able to access these services.

Project Information

The CENIT Clinic is attended by a doctor two afternoons per week and is available to any of the persons in the CENIT service area, members of the CENIT community, and members of the south Quito population. With a staff of administrative volunteers, a nurse, and a doctor, the clinic offers general health consultations and treatment, accompaniment to and payment of further medical services, family planning consultations and limited treatment, and referral to CENIT social services. In addition, there are occasional gynecological consultation days when outside collaboration is used to conduct sexual and reproductive health checks. A minimum of 180 patients are seen per month.

Volunteer Requirements

A clinic volunteer must be at CENIT for a minimum of three months, and must speak a basic to intermediate level of Spanish. During afternoons when the doctor is seeing patients, the volunteer is responsible for preparing the patient to see the doctor: taking blood pressure, height, weight, and finding out why the patient is seeking medical attention. Longer term or highly skilled volunteers have increased options, including: bringing patients to other medical services, attending basic medical needs of the students when the doctor or nurse is not present, helping with health checks for the school children, etc.