There are some medical supplies at the farm and some knowledge of how to use them, but there is no professional medical attention, nor basic knowledge about parasites and other common ailments. In many ways, Los Chavalitos is a center for the community. Adults come from miles around to attend literacy classes in the schoolhouse. Many locals are employed as laborers and thus come to the farm every day but Sunday. In many ways, Los Chavalitos is a center for the community.
Adults come from miles around to attend literacy classes in the afternoons in the schoolhouse.
Many locals are employed as laborers and thus come to the farm every day but Sunday. Alejandro, the director, is a well-known and respected community organizer, who has brought many community members together to work on projects, like building several local schools, piloting a community tree nursery, and environmental and agricultural education workshops for small farmers. But again, the residents of the countryside have so little disposable income that they cannot even afford to take the bus into town. One worker, complaining about an ear infection, was asked if he had gone to the health center. When Lanny Smith, President of DGH, arrived unexpectedly one night in 1999, he immediately set about making friends with both children and adults, in excellent Spanish.