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HomeMeeting InformationMessage from the ChairActivitiesOrphanages/ConductorsThe InspirationDonationsThe ProcessSpeakersConductors NeededProject Possibilities Historic Roundhouse2005-2006200420032002:July-Dec2002:Jan-June 2001 2000Historic Whistle StopsOrphan Train ChroniclesPhoto AlbumCalendar Club CarAbout RotaryUseful Links BrochureContact UsSite MapFor members...Administration Login
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We will archive any features we publish on this site, so keep checking back to read all about the activities involving the Orphan Train Project. Table of Contents
Archives: 2006- 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002: July - Dec | 2002: Jan - June | 2001 | 2000
BULGARIAN ORPHANAGE DIRECTOR AND ROTARY ORPHAN TRAIN PROJECT INTERMEDIARY ON THEIR VISIT TO THE USA
PARTICIPATING COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CHILD CARE STAFF
Because of the initiative and sponsorship of the Rotary Orphan Train Project, the Rotary Club of Oregon, Wisconsin, the Rotary Club of Madison West Towne-Middleton, Wisconsin and Mooseheart, Mooseheart, Illinois, Bulgarians Dimiter Krumov and Mitko Nenkov were able to spend a month in the United States. While in the States, Dimiter and Mitko participated in a special training course entitled "Teaching Social Skills to Youth" at Mooseheart, the famed "Child City. " This is the same course taken by new staff members. Following their time at Mooseheart, the team went to Madison and the nearby community of Oregon for more relevant experiences. Krumov is the Director of the Ovcha Mogila Social Home for Professional Training (near Svishtov). Nenkov is Orphan Train Project Intermediary for Central North Bulgaria and has been associated with the Orphan Train effort for its entire history. The training at Mooseheart started on July 16th and finished August 1st.
For three years, Mooseheart has utilized a new approach to building "the whole person" for the children there. The purpose is to set up effective skills for the child care staff.
The list of subjects studied included:
Professionalism,
Within the program, the visitors from Bulgaria got acquainted with children's homes, schools, cathedral, health center, stores, post office and utilities. Special attention was paid to the farm, as the Social Home for Professional Training at Ovcha Mogila has a similar, but smaller, farm than Mooseheart's.
Keeping horses, cows, sheep, hens, pigs and rabbits are among the favorite activities for kids at Mooseheart and Ovcha Mogila. The American style of farming should be transferred to Bulgarian orphanage for all these common activities.
The impressions and useful information from Mooseheart will be shared with other orphanage directors. A special video was made for this purpose.
Many social activities were planned and enjoyed by the guests of Mooseheart. They included visiting a recreational park at Wisconsin Dells, a trip to the Museum of Science and Technology in Chicago, and tours of Aurora and Batavia, Illinois. The visitors from Bulgaria were also guests at a meeting of the Rotary Club of Aurora.
The Bulgarian visitors gave the children of Mooseheart a special Power Point presentation on a variety of topics. It included the cross impacts of the American and Bulgaria cultures. The presentation included pictures of needy children in Bulgaria, and their life in orphanages. Children of Mooseheart were also shown pictures of their counterparts from the Katia Vancheva Home for Children and Teenagers in Shiroka Luka, Bulgaria. The children saw pictures of the children of Katia Vancheva unloading food provided with support from the children of Mooseheart and the Rotary Club of Aurora.
Mitko and Dimiter are grateful to the faculty, staff and children of Mooseheart, who were most gracious in their hospitality. In particular, they are grateful to Beth Littrell, Bobby Gilliam and Scott Hartman, who made the visit possible.
GETTING KNOWLEDGE DURING THE OREGON / MADISON AREA VISITS
The second part of the stay was principally in the Oregon and Madison, Wisconsin communities, where the visitors enjoyed the hospitality of many people and organizations. Mitko and Dimiter were guests and speakers at the Rotary Club of Fitchburg-Verona, the Rotary Club Oregon, the Rotary Club of Madison West Towne- Middleton, the Rotary Club of Middleton Area Sunrise and the Rotary Club Madison Breakfast, all conductors of the Rotary Orphan Train Project. The visitors were also given tours by members of the Madison Central Lions Club and a past district governor of Lions from Beaver Dam. The Rotary Club of Oregon, Orphan Train conductor for the Social Home for Professional Training at Ovcha Mogila, coordinated a busy schedule for the guests.
While in Wisconsin, emphasis was placed on giving the Bulgarian visitors agricultural experiences that might be transferred to the orphanage's farm at Ovcha Mogila and elsewhere. In addition, childcare and children's activities were shown to the guests. The Wisconsin observations included:
A Private sapling (tree) farm near Oregon,
The interesting discoveries and rich knowledge the guests received from their visits to all the above places are included in a special presentation directed both to the local government of the Svishtov Municipality and the Government Department of Social Care of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Due to volunteering Rotarians, the guests were shown places of business, research, education and a rich social program. Among the places of entertainment were:
Lake Mendota - motor boating , Madison Capitol tour, Madison Farmers Market, Old Stamm House in Middleton for dinner, a visit to Wisconsin Museum of History, Historical Artistic Memorial Sculpture Park show, an elegant evening meal at Johnny Delmonico's Restaurant, Mount Horeb landscape viewing, Cave of the Mounds excursion, and the Mount Horeb Mustard Museum visit, and a back yard barbeque.
Hearty gratitude and appreciation by Dimiter and Mitko are directed to all Rotary volunteers, their families and others participating in the busy schedule, by sharing their homes, precious time, dinners and personal interests. Special thanks to Al and Gail Brown, Sandy Miller, Helen and Gordon Baldwin, Dick Ihlenfeldt, Alison Fry, Valentin Georgiev, Jim and Roberta Vellucci, Ron and Connie Morken, Caryl and Bob Hesslink, Jim and Jacque Schutz, Linda and Richard Barrows, Jerry Tyler, Mark Riese, Larry Mahr, Kay, Mary and Richard Gesteland, Peder E. Moren, Russ and Millie Andolina, Chester Albright, the Rotary Club of Aurora, Illinois, John Parsen, Susan Titus, Harold and Phyllis Nagler, Jeanne and Glenn Koepp and Prof. Lennart Backstrom and anyone we inadvertently failed to mention. 9/12/01
COMMENTS BY Dr. MITKO NENKOV ABOUT RECENT EVENTS
Subsequent to the submission of the foregoing article, and after the recent tragic events in the United States, Mitko Nenkov forwarded the following remarks: " We are shocked by the brutal terrorist act in New York and Washington. Give our condolences to all American people and symbolically to the families of the victims." 9/12/01
MI REFUGIO AND ROTARIANS OF REEDSBURG-WESTERN SAUK COUNTY
Shortly after the Orphan Train Project began, the Rotary Club of Reedsburg-Western Sauk County (WI) climbed aboard. The facility they agreed to work with is in Guatemala, the "Land of Eternal Spring," at a kid's place known as Mi Refugio. Technically, Mi Refugio is not an orphanage, but a refuge for about 200 children who live in the garbage dump of Guatemala City. In the dump, the children and their families lead a mean existence of scavenging for food and salvageable items. Mi Refugio itself is located some distance from the dump in the mountainous area above Guatemala City, near San Pedro. During the rainy season, from April till October, severe runoff impacts the area. Vehicular travel in and out is difficult even in dry weather. It is at Mi Refugio that an American named Kari Engen works to better the lives of these children. Her daily routine is to bus the children to her facility, where she provides them food, showers and schooling. At the end of the day, Kari returns the children to their families at the dump. Kari is sensitive to the families and is careful not to interfere. However, she is available to parents and children wanting her help.
How did the Rotarians of Reedsburg get involved? Past Club President Dennis Schulte and member Dan Farber, joined by Madison West Towne-Middleton Rotarian Hugh Hayes, decided to check out Mi Refugio by going there. In 1999, they flew to Guatemala and joined a construction crew, helping Kari improve the place where children find respite from life's daily battle for survival. There, among other things, they helped construct canopies over the walkways connecting classrooms, restrooms and the kitchen/dining building. Since school is held during the rainy season, and bathrooms are some distance from the classrooms and dining facilities, waiting in line and moving between structures is now a bit more comfortable. The crew also helped build retaining walls, protecting the facility from potential mud slides.
As one team member described it, when the main access to Mi Refugio gets blocked by the inevitable mud slides, there is no way that supplies or students can be brought in other than by using the crude path up the tortuous incline to Mi Refugio. While the Rotarians were there during the dry season, most of the building supplies used by the crew were hand carried up to the site. Often vehicles would run out of power and drop their load at the bottom of the steep terrain.
Rotarians were touched by the appreciation of those who received their help. Dennis Shulte said: " Sending money or clothes is a great way to help, but to make a real impact, one needs to remove himself or herself from the comfort zone of life and get personally involved. I cannot begin to explain the rewards that come with personal contact. My eyes well up when I see the appreciation of those on the receiving end of volunteerism, i.e. a child receiving a pencil and a pad of paper, a family receiving clothes, a young girl receiving a hair brush, or a mother receiving food and clothes for her child." Schulte also remembers seeing a roof covering a pile of tin called "home" and "that look from experienced eyes that have seen much more than one should see at any age."
Since their members' return, the Rotary Club of Reedsburg-Western Sauk County has collected over $1400 to donate to Mi Refugio. Much of this is due to Dan and Dennis speaking to local church groups, schools and civic groups, gathering donations along the way. Contributors include: St John's Lutheran, Rock Springs; Zion Lutheran Church, Loganville; Sacred Heart Catholic Parish in Reedsburg; Leland Methodist Church; St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Loganville; St Peter's Lutheran Church and School, Reedsburg; Cazenovia Senior Citizens; Cazenovia American Legion; LaValle American Legion; and, First Presbyterian Church, Reedsburg. Donations are used for school supplies, medical supplies, food, construction of sanitary facilities and student scholarships. The Rotarians have also forwarded some clothing to Kari's father, who has taken it with him to Guatemala. To learn more about how you and your group can help the children at Mi Refugio, contact Dan Farber at (608) 524-2339.
COMPUTER PURCHASED FOR LA DIVINA PROVIDENCIA Recently, the Madison Jaycees and their friends purchased a computer for their children's home called La Divina Providencia, in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. In the past, videos and other items were purchased by the Jaycees, Ridgeway Elementary and the Dodgeville Kiwanis, all conductors for this home. Thank you notes from the children were numerous and beautiful. All asked God's blessings upon those involved in helping them. The thank you notes all came with beautiful artwork. Unfortunately, we can't show all of them. A few examples follow:
"…First, I want to thank you for the computer that we are enjoying very much, and we want very much to learn to use the computer…Etelvina"
"…The computer was your last gift and we are enjoying it very much. May God bless you, your family and friends. May he watch over and protect you always. With attention, Jesica and the young ladies of the home."
"…With much affection I send my thanks for the computer and the videos that are beautiful. The video that I like best is the Lady and the Tramp and Mickey Mouse and the Beanstalk. I love you with all my heart. May God bless you and I will keep you in my prayers. With attention, Angelica Maria R."
Orphan Train Intermediary Polly Reyna, who lives in Guatemala and translated the children's notes from Spanish to English, wrote:
"…As I translate these notes, it brings home to me that these girls have such a capacity to love and are so innocent in their expression of love. It literally brings tears to my eyes. They have so much love to give and need so much to receive love. I truly believe that you, your fellow Rotarians, the Jaycees and all the Orphan Train Conductors through this great work are giving concrete expressions of love to these children. 8/29/01
ST. MARIA GORETTI HELPS SANTA MARIA DE JESUS HOME
MADISON - During the past school year, students at St. Maria Goretti School have been raising funds for girls at the Santa Maria de Jesus Home for Girls in Mazatenango, Guatemala.
The home is for girls who are victims of domestic abuse or neglect and is sponsored by the Madison West-Middleton Rotary through the Orphan Train Project.
Rotary representative Ed Fink came to the school May 29 to receive a check for the Santa Maria de Jesus Home for Girls. Through bake sales, popcorn sales, candy "Hugs" sales, Guatemalan bracelet sales, and earning money for chores, students raised a total of $2436. "The Orphan Train Project gives our students the opportunity to reach out to those in need and to live as Jesus did," said teacher Jill Dove.
The text of the foregoing article appeared, without the pictures, in The Catholic Herald of the Madison, Wisconsin Diocese on June 14, 2001, and is used with permission.
BEFORE THAT, STRAZHITSA RECEIVED COMPUTERS FROM ST. MARIA GORETTI
St. Maria Goretti School had been associated with a Bulgarian orphanage called the Hostel for Children and Teenagers, near Svishtov, for the past several years. Last year's classes raised money for the orphanage in Bulgaria, only to have it close before the money was spent. Since the funds were raised for Bulgarian children, it was decided the money would be spent on Bulgarian children. The orphanage chosen was one at Strazhitsa, to which many of the children from the old orphanage were transferred. Because of the closing of the Hostel for Children and Teenagers, St. Maria Goretti decided to work with Santa Maria de Jesus in Mazatenango, Guatemala, as both schools taught Spanish.
The children at St. Maria Goretti wanted to buy computers for their friends in Bulgaria, and so three computers, other equipment and software was purchased. When Rotarians from the Orphan Train visited Strazhitsa in October, 2000, they dedicated the computer lab purchased by the St. Maria Goretti students. Later, when the public school in Strazhitsa obtained computers, a Rotarian commented that "it was the first time the orphans were one up on the local kids." 6/14/01
THE LONGEST SUMMER VACATION WE EVER HAD WAS THE WEEK WE SPENT IN PERU
My first reaction to hearing about Oshkosh Rotarians traveling to Lima for seven days, for basically the price of airfare, was, “Hey, that’s a cheap vacation! I think I’ll go!” The side trip to the Andes was extra but I’d wanted to visit Machu Picchu for years so the whole thing looked like a bargain -- and a place I could take my daughter who just happened to finish her last (as in graduating) final at college that day and just happens to speak fluent Spanish, which I do not.
After a raucous greeting party on Saturday evening (hosted by possibly the most fun Rotary club on the planet, La Molina Vieja) we were hit smack in the face by reality the next day when we visited La Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) orphanage. Miguel, the founder and director, was described by folks in our group as, “Ghandi-like,” and “Mother Theresa with a MBA.” His story is one that can bring tears to even the most hardened curmudgeon.
Miguel, who was a professional man - lots of money, prestige, nice digs in a nice neighborhood - lost his son to heart disease when the boy was just an infant. Miguel’s story, as translated by a Rotarian named Walter (we nicknamed him Kojak because of his pate and demeanor), is one of reaching out to others to kill the pain of his loss. Very soon after the baby’s death, Miguel came across two smelly, dirty ragamuffins on the street. The kids were homeless (as are 10,000 other kids in Lima) so Miguel took them home to live with him and his wife. The next day the kids were gone and once again Miguel felt the pain of loss. But the strangest thing happened. Those two kids returned with four more and that six soon doubled to twelve. We got goose bumps and teary as a choked-up Walter translated every word. The only sound in the room besides the two men’s voices was the sound of sniffling and purses opening to retrieve more tissues.
Just to prove that no good deed goes unpunished, Miguel’s neighbors complained about all the orphans living in their nice neighborhood. So Miguel acquired a piece of property in the northern slums of Lima, a bad hour’s drive from downtown, and set up cardboard shacks with grass mat roofs. The cardboard and grass mats fare pretty well because the “rainy season” in Lima is during August when they get a whole .1 inch of rain. The compound now consists of a commons area with a concrete floor and actual roof, a “kitchen” with a couple of natural gas burners, boys and girls dormitories (the cardboard and grass mat variety), and a nursery area for the infants and toddlers. They do have electricity but water is delivered by truck, COD. No cash, no water - a market economy at it’s worst.
The kids at the orphanage, who are amazingly well-adjusted thanks to the love lavished on them by Miguel and his helpers, range in age from a few months to 18 years. By the time they leave La Sagrada Familia they have a high school education (Miguel established an elementary school next to the orphanage but the high school is about 3.5 miles away) and have learned a trade. The three trade areas are baking, pottery, and furniture making. The goods are transported to local markets and the proceeds provide income for the orphanage. Their goal is to become self-sufficient although with the shaky Peruvian economy that probably won’t happen in the near future. The fact that they are even trying for some level of self-sufficiency impressed the heck out of us!
Transportation to the markets and the high school are very real problems which my club is addressing. Miguel has two trucks, one of which is dead while the other is dying. Southwest Rotary is in the process of raising $15,000 to send to Peru for a truck purchase. We are working with my Lima host family who happens to own an auto repair business and is throwing in five years of free labor for the truck - Miguel must pay for parts. We will set up a $1,000 per year account so the truck can get regular oil changes, maintenance, and perhaps some fuel. A lube job runs $80 and gasoline is at least 4 times more than in the U.S., even at our current prices.
Any clubs wishing to help us with the truck purchase and maintenance will be most welcome. My daughter and I will both return to Lima this summer - my daughter as a volunteer English teacher at a Lima business school and I to work on a project at the orphanage. The Peruvians will send an exchange teacher to Oshkosh this fall in what we hope is the first year of a “Teacher Exchange Program.”
A Rotary-based trip to Peru is like nothing you have ever experienced. On one hand the locals want to show off what they have and on the other they will pitch more fund raising projects than you’ll see at the international convention. The needs are great, they have more than enough heart, but so few resources to help their own. If you go, be prepared to be run ragged (and love every minute of it!) and have your eyes opened to true desperation. All of us came away changed by the experience, but not in a sad and helpless way - we actually saw that there is hope through people like Miguel and organizations like Rotary. This will never work as a government to government program. We need real people getting involved. We, the Rotarians on both sides of the equator as well as other like-minded people, must step up and make the difference.
The Rotarians in Lima I trust with my life as well as my money so any contributing club can rest assured that their dollars are being monitored carefully. I, and my fellow Peru travelers, invite anyone to make the trip. The airfare runs about $800 and you will be put up in a beautiful home by one of the La Molina Rotarians. I have not met a friendlier people than the Peruvians nor a group that more desperately needs our help. We have so much - probably too much. Consider sharing it with those other people who call themselves Americans.
INTERACT CLUB OF SUN PRAIRIE RECOGNIZED FOR HELPING KULA
The Interact Club of Sun Prairie High School of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin has been a consistent helper to the orphanage at Kula, Bulgaria, also assisted by the Rotary Club of Sun Prairie. Over the past three years, the club has made school year donations in the sums of $275, $250 and $525. Just recently, the Interact Club raised $102 for Kula with a golf tournament. This consistency of interest and activity was recognized at the District #6250 Rotary Convention, with a citation presented to President Ross Weittenhiller by Orphan Train Project Chairman Ed Fink, who named the Interact Club of Sun Prairie the first Interact Club "conductor" on the Orphan Train. Consistency of interest, according to Fink, is important to the children served by the Orphan Train Project. The Interact Club of Sun Prairie has shown determination in helping the mentally handicapped children of Kula.
Wisconsin State Journal; Madison, Wis.; Apr 22, 2001; Lori Kurtzman Wisconsin State Journal
Even when he's at work, deep into the busy day of a stockbroker, Ed Fink can't get the faces of the Bulgarian orphans out of his mind.
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