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CENTRO DE ACOGIDA TEMPORAL (C.A.T.)
C.A.T. is a home for disabled persons dependent on the government social agency SEDEGES. Currently there are 32 residents, most of them children and adolescents who have been orphaned or have been taken from dangerous home environments. Their disabilities range from mild to severe, and consist of physical, mental and sensory needs.
Presently our partnership with C.A.T. has us helping them with one-time needs and providing them with much needed volunteer support.
In the summer of 2006 we completed a series of renovations that have greatly improved the living conditions of the center.
The structure in which C.A.T. runs was not sufficient for the needs it is meeting. The floors were broken and uneven while apporximately half of the residents use wheel chairs. There were no bathroom facilities designed to allow entry of wheel chairs. Only two of the toilets were functioning properly and the only hand sink was out of order when we arrived. As for showers there were two, neither of which was in good running order. In addition, there was no area where the younger children can play, and thus they were limited to a short trip once a week.
A group of board members from Niños con Valor visited the center at the end of 2005, formed a relationship with the center, and thanks to our supporters has been able to meet the highest priority needs - the construction and renovation in the bathroom and laundry facilities and the creation of a playground.
We divided this project into four distinct sub-projects which are listed below.
- Restoration of the Bathroom
Before:
The situation was not good and dangerous hygienically speaking. The one sink did not function, the toilets functioned alright at best, and there were no toilets suitable for wheel-chair access, which is needed for nearly half of the residents. The smell was foul.
What we did:
The entire section of the building was rebuilt. We replaced the old sink with two new sinks be installed and in place of the 4 toilets that were there, we installed 2 new toilets designed specifically for wheel chair accessibility and 1 normal toilet for staff use.
Cost:
$4040 USD
- Restoration of the Shower Room
Situation:
This room used to consist of one poorly functioning shower and a space for the washing machine. Because of the number of residents one shower was simply not sufficient, nor was the condition of the shower.
What we did:
We installed 2 new shower stalls large enough to allow wheel chairs and staff members to enter with ease.
Cost:
$1820 USD
- Building of Laundry Facilities
Situation:
Laundry is done at C.A.T. both by hand and in a washing machine. Before there was a single tub sink outside and the washing machine was in the shower room described above. By installing the two showers, there was a need to build a small room to house the machine out of the reach of the children.
What we did:
We built the necessary room for the washing machine and replaced the old single tub sink with a new double sink designed for hand washing clothing and diapers. We put new tile on the floor and walls to protect them from water damage.
Cost:
$1300 USD
- Installation of a Playground
Situation:
Some play equipment was already been donated to CAT, however there was no area in which the kids could play safely and shaded from the sun. Because of the limitations facing many of the residents, they only visited a nearby park once a week, so the rest of the week they had very few opportunities for recreation.
What we did:
We had an architect design an area with durable artificial grass, install the donated equipment and hang a semi-shade tarp to protect the kids from the sun.
Cost:
$1000 USD
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