Liver & Kidneys ...

It is stunning, the amount of people coming by every week that have problems with kidneys and or liver.
The trips by bus to and from the hospital are only $0.50 , but then they need to take medicine that costs...
Not a lot, but still...
At any given moment, there's always one or two street kids in the hospital, or Centro de Salud.
And all street children suffer from the same problems...
Everybody knows it's the glue.
I hear in the States, they prohibited the use of the poisonous solvents without compromising to the quality of the glue.
One can smell all they want, it won't be a nice smell, but it won't mess with your head, or any other body part.
Gradually being eaten away by chemicals sounds like a painful way to die, doesn't it.
Still, it happens more often than one can imagine.
The once happy vivid faces turn gradually into zombie like faces without any expression at all.
One hardly notices the difference, until one day you hardly recognize them, or they hardly recognize you, but for different reasons.
It is incredibly difficult to get rid of the bad habit.
Every website about glue addiction says it is virtually impossible without professional counseling.
unfortunately, that is nonexistent here, but fortunately, there are several organizations that try very hard to keep these children away from the stuff.
Or at least try to keep their minds off it, even for a while...
Break dancing classes, futbol (soccer), baseball and boxing are regularly being organized by different organizations.
It is a real blessing, and one of the few moments when one can see happy faces.
Winning or loosing isn't even that important...
What matters is: being with friends and having a good time!
Street competitions are organized on a regular basis...
Several teams compete at the same moment, depending their age, ...
It is a great moment with lots of happy faces...
Almost everybody wins a prize.
T-shirts, toys, cookies, ...
We are always glad when we can do our part in this, and it is so much worth it...