CAASAH: Shanda September- October '04

You will find there is very little consistency or schedule in the lives of the children and adults at CAASAH. Most of the care takers at CAASAH work for a basket of food and come when they are able, thus care takers change often. You may only see a care taker for week, on and off for a month or just for a day. The children do not try to learn their names, but instead refer to alI of them as Tia( o) or "Tia in the blue shirt." Because the care takers changed so often and with them rules and "correct" way of doing thing, I let the children's needs guide my work and the priority of rules, while working along side each new care takers as best I could.

Babies:
Not alI of the babies have HIV. It takes several tests to determine if the children have the virus. According to one of the nurses, the children often need to be 2 or 3 years old before the diagnosis is certain. Either way the good new is that many of the babies will receive an HIV free diagnosis and will leave CAASAH.

The babies spend practically alI of their first two years in a crib. It worked well for us to put alI of the babies on the floor of the room connected to the baby bathroom, allowing them to interact with each other and exercise while we took one at a time for baths. It is best if you have two people, one to bath and one to watch the kids. For the most part they are ok. However they are working on learning to share and Marcos (I have heard that he has been adopted) has grown into a biter. He especially likes Andrea's head.

The babies are bathed in the small room off the baby room on the right as you come down the hall. The "bathtub" is a plastic tub placed over a white metal stand over the drain. The shower head usually has running cold water. There is a large insolated container, usually found in the room with the shower head. If you bring this to the kitchen they wilI boil water and filI it. Then you can mix the hot and cold for the babies' bathes. The tub is very easily tipped over. AlI it takes is one the babies peering over the edge for a dropped soap dish. I found holding the baby under the armpit meant if need be I could hold them up even if the tub began to tip over. The soap dishes work welI to pour water over the babies and as bath toys.

Extra diapers are often found in a cabinet in the nurses' medicine/supply room on the left side of the hallway. Tissues, wipes, and rash cream are very useful to buy and bring as there is usually none at CAASAH. I don't recommend leaving any of the supplies at CAASAH. It wilI not be there when you return.

AlI of the babies like singing and music, and wilI usually stop crying and/or dance along. This is realIy helpful when you are the only volunteer and cannot get to alI of the babies at once.

Cleide Jane
Cleide does have AIDS (not just HIV). She is often sick and her muscles are underdeveloped. When I first arrived at CAASAH she was about 10 months old and could not hold herself up if I put her in a sitting position. I made sure to spend a few minutes every day making her use her muscles, holding her in a standing position or helping her sit. She loved the attention and by the time I left two months later she could hold herself standing by grasping the side of the crib.

Enrique
He likes to play on his side propped up in a supermodel-like pose. He is generally happy and like most of the babies just likes hearing his name.

Andre
Andre looks like the tough little guy, but he is really a push over and the other toddlers know it. He likes clapping. His mother lives in CAASAH, though I never saw her visit rum.

Samuel
He is one of the quieter babies. He rarely yells or cries for attention. Samuel smiles alI of the time.

Maria Victoria
Her mother supposedly comes to visit Vitoria, though I have never seen her. She usually starts crying when volunteers enter the roam. She loves "this little piggy" and will quiet down and stick her feet out of her crib to play.

Marcelo
He is called Macaco = monkey, because of his good crib climbing skills. Don't worry he can't get out. Like alI of the babies he likes music.

There are also two new baby girls as of this past January or February.

Children:

I definitely recommend bringing in supplies for games and crafts. Especially if you are alone start off slowly. Don't bring anything the first day. Get to know the kids a little and win a little trust and respect. Bubbles are very easy, especially if you are in charge of the wand and bubble solution. Balloons are fun, so are crayons, colored pencils and colored paper, balls and rackets (you'll find extra small rackets in the CCS supplies. I left many in the draws.)

The older girls will join in with these games and crafts, but not usually for long. We did a spa day for them and a few of the ladies. Face masks, hand and foot massage, nail polish, makeup... I'm not usually big into these things but the older girls really enjoyed it and towards the end alI of the children wanted a try including João and Sandro.

During the warmer months every Friday a volunteer from Salvador and a nurse take most of the children to the beach. This is another great way to get to know the kids. None of the adults seem to go into the water with them. The children were thrilled that we went swimming. Almost alI of the children will want to go with you into the deeper water. Margarete loves the water, but because of her handicaps she can't quite manage on her own, though she tries. Even while in the shallow water Margarete will keep scooting herself deeper into the water and is often flipped face down by the waves.

Michele
Michele will be one of the first to warm up to you. She is very hard of hearing. One of the previous CCS volunteers taught her a little sign language and she lights up when you show her your sign (As Sarah said, just make one up. Anything will do. Michele will be happy she can call you). She often acts younger than her age, which is probably do to the difficulty she experiences communicating with everyone.

Michele Bispo
This Michele is Miguel' s twin and one of the few children at CAASAH to attend school.

Sandro
Sandro loves playing with balls and rackets. That is a good way to get to know rum. He easily picks up on new games.

Ingrede
This beautiful little child you have to keep an eye on. Her way of getting desperately needed attention is doing everything you don't want her to. The grin on her face of the look in her eyes makes it plain she knows exactly what she is doing. As with alI of the kids, if you want any respect try not to let her think she has gotten away with anything. It doesn't really matter if they have, as long as they don't realize it. If you can try to beat her to the attention, giving it to her before she acts out.

Carol
She is easier to work with, because she is more inclined to listen. She will be very up set with you if she feels at alI neglected. These situations can be somewhat avoided if she clear on when her turn is before she thinks you have pushed her of[. Carol loves to hear you sing and it doesn't matter if you think you can't. If you know any dances to music I'm sure she would love to learn. My dancing skills go as far as the Hokie Pokie, but after I showed her once every day it was "Okie Pokie? Okie Pokie?"

Alice
She is on of the first children you will get to know, as she is usually the first to approach new volunteers. Alice is a great help with learning names. She is happy to join in any games and will join Carol with the Hokie Pokie.

Lucas
He, along with Moises and Edgar, is one of the younger children, as her was moved from the babies' room a year or so ago.

Edgar
He is very friendly and easy to get a long with. Edgar, like Lucas and Moises, is
willing to wait his turn. It is nice to look out for them, since the older children sometimes push them around. As most of the younger children Edgar likes to go with you into the ocean, but otherwise plays in the break water.

Moises
He is quiet and clam mannered. Moises likes to hold a ball at alI times and if it is taken he is not longer quiet or calm.

Daila
She like the other little boys has fairly recently moved in with the older children. She is Samuel's older sister, you can tell by their eyes.

Lourival (Louro)
As you have already read, Louro has a motor disorder of some kind, though that doesn't stop him from tumbling in waves or scaling the window sils. During my first month at CAASAH he did everything he could to destroy any activity or project the other children were involved with. He also acted as though he did not want any affection or attention. By the end of my second month his behavior changed tremendously. He began joining in the activities and gladly accepted attention. Louro even tried to help take care of the babies. Piggy back rides are a great way to earn his affection.

João
He, like alI of the children has had it rough. However he seems to hold everything in and is one of the most sensitive to abandonment. Both Miguel and João will cause trouble for attention. Their behavior was some of the easiest to change. AlI it took was attention and hugs. João likes writing. He is very thoughtful and often quiet.

Miguel
Is louder than João and often alI over the place, though he is very happy just sitting in your lap. He is quite a hoarder of anything you bring in and he will often enlist the alI to eager Alice as his accomplice.

Margarete
She has difficulty walking, more so than Louro, probably because she is less sure of herself. Margarete also likes piggy back rides and drawing. She listens pretty weIl to what you say, but wiIl get that glint in her eye like she knows something you don't, especiaIly when the older girls are present.

Barbara
She is stand off-ish and more wary of strangers than most of the others. Going to the beach and Spa day were helped us get closer to her. Barbara does want attention and affection, but you wiIl have to work awhile before she wiIl accept it.

Juliete
Her father takes her home fairly regularly. She can be helpful, but can also bully the younger children. She knows a little English, but you have to push her before she'll try speaking.

Marli
While she is actually the same age as Michele she fits in with the older girls. When she acted out I had to remind myself that she was younger.

Cristiane
You need to get to know her. She was the first child brought to CAASAH. She knows how things are run better than most of the caretakers and obviously doesn't want to be treated otherwise. She can be a great help. AlI of the children look up to her. If you are trying to teach them a new game and your Portuguese is so-so or non-existent teach it to Cristiane first and ask her to teach the others. She can be difficult to get to know, but it will help you immensely if you do. She went out of her way to show she was ignoring me my first few days. I tried to treat her as an equal and whenever I needed anything I sought her out first. She is still a child and will show it. I don't think humiliating her by punishment in front of the other children would work with her. While it took some time I waited till I had gained some of her respect before I tried to put her back in line. She does want your affection, but is very aware that people come and go, so it will take time. Some of my best moments at CAASAH were when I made Cristiane smile.

Cristiane has AIDS and the medications have strong side effects. Several days she stayed in bed, in too much pain to join us. I think her liver is badly damaged and I'm not sure how much longer she will live.

Michele Bispo, Carlos & Gilson
These three children attend school regularly, so you will not see them often. When they are around the enjoy joining most any activity.

I hope this will help you a little with your first day. You are welcome to email me. Have fun. shandagomes@hotmail.com