It was recently Carnival in Latin America – a huge event celebrated in a variety of ways in each country throughout the continent. It incorporates three-four days of parties, dancing, dressing up, music, food, drink and much more! In Santa Cruz de la Sierra it is no different – involving three days of people dressing up in long overalls and partying in “garages” (basically open areas in the centre of the city surrounded by big walls where people normally park their cars!). You pay to become a member of a certain “garage” and then you get free food and endless supplies of beer. Or you can wander round the centre and party in the streets – where the Santa Cruz tradition is to throw paint at you… or beer… or petrol.. or whatever people can get their hands on!
It is a great fun event but very noisy, loud, drunken and often rather dangerous. Many of the kids have alcoholic parents and it is clearly very risky for them to be in the city during Carnival time. Instead, they are all invited to a special “retreat” together with the Church out in the countryside, and it is something to which kids really look forward. We were fortunate enough to have two of our current fantastic volunteers go to the retreat with them this year, and I think it was a great (if rather intense!) time for all.
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- Alalay Carnival Retreat
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- Stockwood Women's Institute
And whilst all of this was going on in Latin America, we were busy in the UK too – giving a talk to Stockwood Women’s Institute – it was a great opportunity to once again share about our work with Alalay and how they truly rescue these kids and offer them a new life. Many thanks to all the ladies for such a warm welcome. Please see photos of both events above – just click on them to enlarge.
