Somos Accion Days 1 & 2

Today (7/8) starts the week-long summer campamento (camp) at the community center for children 6-10 years of age. The camp was advertised to the community through the posting of signs in local colmados (convenience stores which are located everywhere). The camp was 25 pesos (a little more than 50 cents). The staff at the community center spent the week before planning for this camp. After much deliberation, we came up with the camp name Junots y Juntas Somos Accion y Diversion which translates to Together We Are Action and Fun. The kids are separated by age into three groups: the 6 year olds, the 7 & 8 year olds, and lastly the 9 & 10 year olds. Each age grouping is made up of 25 kids. However, the first day, all 75 kids were together. Maria and I were responsible for teaching the kids a dance. We decided to go with the easy and ever-so-catchy Cupid Shuffle. We described it as a popular dance in the United States. To be honest, I was intimated speaking Spanish to a group of that many children, but as soon as the music started, I was in my element. Luckily, the kids picked it up pretty quick and seemed to really get into it. It was the most fun when they added their own moves. Here's the original video on Youtube if you want to learn for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h24_zoqu4_Q

The campamento is only from 9-11:45am, but in that short time, we plan to squeeze in a bunch of fun activities. Each day, one of the groups will be in one of the three activity areas: a sports area called Campeones de Diversion (Champions of Fun), a creativity area called Soy Capaz de Crear (I Am Able to Create) and a reflection area called Creciendo Juntos/Juntas (Growing Together). Maria and I helped a lot in preparing for the last area by making animal-themed pencil holders, creating the bulletin board (above) as well as drawing the sign for the door of the classroom. Check out my artistic skills!

Tuesday 7/9 was the start of the first rotation. I will be helping two of the Accion Callejera teachers with the 7-8 year olds for the rest of the week. Our first area was Creciendo Juntos/Juntas. In the reflection area, the kids watch a 10 minute animated video about gift giving and friendships. Then, the teachers lead a discussion on what was just watched. The kids are then given time to draw their interpretation and expression of friendship. However, no one is supposed to put their names on the drawings; it's completely anonymous. When they are finished drawing, the kids get in a circle and place their creations in the middle. One by one, the teacher hands out a drawing to a different child at random; almost as if they are receiving a Secret Santa gift. Then the kids got to open up their drawings/gifts. All the kids were very creative. There were flowers, houses, animals, etc; just about anything and everything was drawn. And just about any and every color was used.

Following the activity was merienda (snack) and then back to our groups as we practiced our dance routine for Friday--the last day of campamento. On that day, the kids will be performing their group routines followed by a swim in the pool. My group was dancing to Don Omar's song 'Zumba'. I could see how important music and dancing is to Dominican culture just by observing these children. No one really hesitated at the thought of dancing. Most of them had crazy good rhythm and picked up the routine rather quickly.  Many already knew the song and were singing along. It will be exciting to see what the other groups are preparing for Friday. But for now, I am dusting off my synchronized dancing skills because tomorrow Maria, Sonya (AC worker), and I will be teaching the kids the Macarena. Ay!