Two day paint job

As a final project before my swearing-in group leaves this island (three weeks from tomorrow), a group of eleven of us got together to paint two rooms in an all-boys orphanage about 10 minutes away from La Caya. In two days we painted the two rooms were the boys sleep, including a mural in each room. 

This project, although seemingly intensive, was actually put together in the last couple weeks by my fellow PCV friend, Brittany. She, unfortunately, had to take a 10-year-old boy from her community to this orphanage and learned from the director that they had been trying to hire someone to paint the rooms, but it was too expensive. Brittany thus organized 10 of her Peace Corps friends to make it happen. Amanda and Alanna used leftover grant money to buy all the paint and materials. Katie and Sarah used their creative talents to design and paint awesome murals. And fortunately for everyone, I still live with Francia, who generously let all of us take over her house and treat it like it was our own.

I honestly am still surprised at how much we accomplished in two days, but it does go to show; with the right kind of manpower, there really is nothing a group of people can’t do. Here are some pictures of our work. 

The older boys' room before we started.

Arya painting the primer, me scrapping the walls down before he gets there.

Repainting the walls blue and orange.

After lunch, in the kitchen, being candid.

The boys playing a game (that Arya, not pictured, was leading).

Sarah helping with the "Mango Tree Values" mural.

Alanna and a boy painting his hands for the wall.

Jean and Amanda painting the bee mural on the other side of the mango tree.

Have you ever been this happy to be painting funny looking lady bugs?

The environment mural, complete. It says, "We protect the earth. We care for the environment."

Brittany, Amanda and Sarah painting mangos. Katie on the other side finishing up the bees.

Above the bees, Katie writing, "We care for our community." Because bees are a community too. Get it? This was my favorite of all.

Katie painting the values inside the mangos, including honesty and solidarity.