Playground Project

The first day I arrived in Mindelo, I wandered around the city trying to find where I work. Somehow I had managed to find an article on the internet which said that the SOS in Sao Vicente was located in Ribeira Julião. Fresh off the island of Santiago that meant nothing to me, so I asked the security guard at the Câmara how to get there. Confused to why I would want to venture outside of the city and unable to show me on the local map (since it wasn’t on the map) he told me that I could get there by taking the number 5 bus. After finding the bus stop I nervously got on, off to a zone that wasn’t even on the map! After about 20 minutes of driving through the back roads the bus driver pointed at a church and told me this is where I wanted to go. I did the old finger wag and said that I wasn’t with the church, once again ‘’Bu sabi onde ki o SOS fica? Sta em Riberia Juliao?’’ (about the equivalent of someone walking up to you in Manhattan and saying ‘’ Excuse me but do you all know where I could find the Empire State Building?’’) By some strike of luck, 2 adorable kids (Mila and Yuran) who also happened to be going to the SOS said they would show me. Three minutes later we got off the bus. Holding my hands they walked with me to the Administration building where I began my journey as a volunteer at the Centro Social SOS.

I don’t think I ever needed anyone so much as I did at the moment. The reassurance that a six and ten year old was able to give me is unbelievable.

That is just one of many stories I have of how a child at the SOS helped me, made me feel ok when sometimes things felt like they were anything but ok. Most of these kids who come to the center are from impoverished homes where they have real worries, where they don’t know if they are going to eat dinner today or tomorrow. They are the reason that I want to build this playground. Childhood is about play and fun and laughter, not about worrying when you are going to get your next meal. Please help me, give these kids a chance to have the joy that they deserve.
(This is a really terrible sketch, but this is a google image of the Center, and shows where the playground will be constructed)

Please contact me for more information at CathrynDuffy@gmail.com
If you can help finance this project or donate materials please let me know.