SAMVARA - CHRISTMAS 2011. Part 2

CHRISTMAS BOXES

Happy faces in Tasaste!

Wolberto, who organised a little fiesta for the children

John's Toyota was loaded to the roof on the way down to Samvara with Christmas boxes for children in Tasaste.This year we had a special commitment. We brought down a very great number of Christmas boxes for three families whose Christmas would otherwise have been a very meagre affair. These boxes were part of the British School Quito Christmas campaign organised by the PTA. Primary and Secondary students combined to fill nearly 400 'shoe' boxes with presents. Each box, named for the particular child who would receive it, carried a new toy, some useful articles for school, a big packet of Christmas treats, and other items. Most of these boxes were delivered in and around Quito, but some made it to a small school in Esmeraldas with the Book Bus, and a number were carried by John to Tastaste, where they were handed to the children with the help of Paul and Steve Tobar, a Primary teacher who was also staying nearby for Christmas. The children were so very, very happy to receive these boxes, which were handed out on the beach. Total joy!

These children live in the mountains behind Tasaste and walk to
and from their school in Tasaste each day. We brought 23 boxes
for the children of just three families. None of the children have
a father at home.

Wolberto is a humble fisherman who lives on the beach at Tasaste. He and his wife also run a little kiosk there. This is their livelihood and has been for 15 years. Wolberto also looks after Phil and Mercy Cooper's casita on the beach nearby. John, Robbie and Maia have enjoyed some of their very best seaside holidays there, always breakfasting with Wolberto. Wolberto is a generous and wonderful man, which makes it all the more sad that he is being pushed out by the local 'mafia' who, quite without any legal rights, are trying to turn the beach at Tasaste into a visitor destination, attracting the swelling mobs from Pedernales. Many people are very concerned about the future for this lovely piece of Manabí coast.

Wolberto with his first child, Jandry. Here he is showing us how
to shell an oyster.