One of the volunteers works at a place called the Youth Hostel. Contrary to the impression that the name gives the hostel is actually more like a juvenile detention centre/shelter for abandoned youth as opposed to a backpackers’ hang out.
Today they launched their activity week, a seven day program to raise funds and also to promote the Youth Hostel and the volunteer had invited us to attend their Family Fun Day/launch.
The Youth Hostel is quite far from Belmopan but a friend of a friend was driving down so four of us tagged along. When we got into the car we found out that the friend of our friend was not driving but instead he had got someone else to drive…which was a good thing too because he was drunk and it was only 11 am!
We arrived in the middle of the church service, which was taking place under a tent and we made sure that the driver and his drunk companion parked as far away as possible. They did eventually join the rest of the group, and mr drunk is no stranger to the Hostel, he visits one of the children on a regular basis and helps out.
The day went well, though it was hard for some of the children especially those whose family have left them. I helped out as a judge in the Dormitory Competition which was good fun. I opted to take a bus back but the other girls got a lift with sober driver and drunk friend (who had actually sobered up).