May 19- July 16, 2010 Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children, El Salvador summer AMBASSADOR 2010 PROGRAM GIERIC LAPUT

summerAMBASSADOR

2010

PROGRAM

GIERIC LAPUT

FIMRCEL SALVADORPROJECT LAS DELICIAS

The Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children founded a clinic in the rural Las Delicias community in El Salvador in 2008. FIMRC and its local partners strive to eliminate child health disparities in an area where majority of health issues are due to a lack of education, poor infrastructure and scarce resources. In this light, the clinic provides not only pediatric health care services but also preventive health and community development initiatives. Such projects include a micro-insurance health education group, a fish project to combat dengue, recycling and waste management, a nutrition group focusing on a community garden, an adolescent group, and a healthy food festival.

WHAT: What drew me into the Ambassador program was the opportunity for coming up with an initiative, supporting FIMRC’s mission. My idea was a project that incorporated the arts with community development. A number of research literature on health interventions demonstrated that some of the more low cost, low resource –intensive interventions targeting early childhood development are play, reading, art, music, and tactile simulation.

GOAL: Thus, my summer project aimed to augment child health care in resource-poor settings through establishing an art program as a complementary health initiative. The art program aimed to encourage children to express emotions, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, increase self-esteem, personal fulfillment, empowerment, self-awareness, and achieve insight through the creative process.


ART PROGRAM

WHERE: The Canton Las Delicias Public School graciously provided us the venue for the art program, where I met with my students three times a week.


ART PROGRAM

The core of the program was two-fold:

Elementary GroupStudents from grades 1-5 participated in art lessons ranging from drawing, craft-making to painting.

Youth GroupStudents from grades 6-9 participated in making a school mural highlighting Salvadorian themes, culture and pride.



ART PROGRAM

Lesson Title: What I Want to Be When I Grow Up

Overall Expectations: The goal of this activity is for the students to affirm their self-image and enable them to visualize success by creating original artwork showcasing the achievement of personal dreams.

Art Lesson Example


ART PROGRAM

Helping Hands

Overall Expectations: To build self-esteem and competence as helping habits at home, in school, and in the community are recognized and displayed through original artwork.


ART PROGRAM

Impressionistic Father’s Day Card

Overall Expectations: The term “Impressionism” is associated with individuality, the sign or trace of an individual artist. The goal for this activity is for the students to express their own “impressions” as they explore nuances in color and shading. In addition, the artwork will also serve as a Father’s Day greeting card. In this light, the students will be able to express their appreciation for their fathers as they write appropriate messages on their personalized artwork.


ART PROGRAM

Healthy Habits

Overall Expectations: Active kids are likely to be physically fit, make friends, be confident, and strive for goals. Their drawings capture the joys of an active, healthy lifestyle. The goal of this activity is for the students to describe the benefits from involvement in physical activities, including enjoyment, discipline, self-expression, health, and social interaction. The student artworks will also be featured in an exhibition in conjunction with a community Healthy Food Festival.

ART PROGRAM

ART EXHIBITION


At the end of the program, selected works were featured in an art exhibition for families, friends and community members to enjoy.


ART PROGRAM

1. Drawing exercises and brainstorming ideas. 2. Making the grid and drawing the objects.

3. Painting the outlines. 4. Painting inside the lines.

The Making of the Mural


The MURAL

The Finished Product


ART PROGRAM

Based on the attendance rates, the students’ eagerness and participation, the art program was successful. Overall, the elementary group overwhelmingly expressed positive reviews. One student was particularly grateful, saying that through the art program, they were able to “do things they would never have the opportunity to do in school.”

In addition, the student body, the school director and teachers also expressed their appreciation for the mural. The mural not only served as the school welcome signage, but also was a reflection of what the student body wanted to express to their greater community.


Other Projects

HEIGHT CHART

I also had other side projects, including making a height chart for the doctor’s office in the clinic, and also spearheaded a World Map community mural.


Other Activities

WORLD MAP

Volunteering

Volunteering Activities: Aside from the aforementioned projects, I also had the opportunity to partake in various volunteering activities in the clinic and in the community. These include: A. helping in the community garden, B. doing house calls C. stocking medical supplies, D. making health education skits, E. visiting the schools, F. helping in the MHIP(health ed group) and G. participating in the healthy food festival.

F

BA C

E

G

D

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FIMRCEL SALVADORPROJECT LAS DELICIAS

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

MY FAMILY FIMRC TEAM

LAS DELICIAS COMMUNITY

For your emotional and financial support

To Alex Kelly, Dr. Tania Lopez, and Angela Supernaw, for your mentorship and guidance throughout my internship, and to the other volunteers, for being my second family in El Salvador.

For making me realize that often the people who influence us most aren't those in power but those who empower us to act and serve.

PASE LO BIEN!GRACIAS!

Documents

May 19- July 16, 2010 Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children, El Salvador summer AMBASSADOR 2010 PROGRAM GIERIC LAPUT