Trash collection campaign!

We dance, but we also pick up trash! Every two months or so we organize a "campaña de limpieza" which translates to a trash collection campaign. Basically we gather all the kids from one community and meet at the local park or soccer field, we bring trash bags the kids bring their hands and we clean up!
I love it! Especially because we are teaching the kids that throwing the trash everywhere affects their own community. People in El Salvador have a nasty habit of throwing everything everywhere. People pee on the sidewalks and throw their trash out their windows.
So, we start them early and attempt to teach them to take care of their planet earth...

Here are the little trouble makers hard at work!

Contamination does worry me. The same day we were cleaning up we had a case of a sick little boy. He was throwing up and feeling faint. His big sister said he had been like that for a few days now... she said he must have eaten something.

I agree. If he drank contaminated water, washed food with contaminated water, or prepared a meal with contaminated anything this could make him sick. As a Public Health major I am closely paying attention to everything around me that is health related, and it is a lot.

While working here in Chalatenango I've had the pleasure to meet this little boy, his name is Jairito. He is such an example to all of us... he is also one of the biggest trouble makers! He lifts the young girl's skirts with his toes..haha. I can't help but wonder if the contamination around this area, both environmental and prenatal had anything to do with his condition. 

Jairo is an example to all.