(This post reflects experiences from day 4 of our trip!)

Hey y’all, it’s Alyssa from Texas!

Today is a day that I know me and the rest of the group will remember for the rest of our lives.  We woke up early this morning and had a glorious hotel breakfast spread (compared to the food in Basovilbasso!)  Then we hopped on the bus to the L’dor Vador old age home and Baby Help Center.  This place is absolutely incredible.  It is the only old age home and baby day care center combined in the world.

In the words of Vivianna, the head of Baby Help, “the old age residents who need love, and the babies who are neglected and are also in need of love can give the needed love to one another.”

It was wonderful seeing how our fundraised money is going to make such a difference in the new Baby Help Center along with our 200 lbs of in kind goods.  Thank you so much to everyone reading who helped us out with our fundraising and goods collections!

When we got to the Baby Help Center we split into different age groups to play with the kids.  Even though the children could barely understand us, we know it meant so much to them and us as well to play and just have a great time.  After a few hours of tireless playing, a group of JDC Board members and supporters, including Howard and Leslie Schultz, held an opening ceremony for the Baby Help Center, which has recently moved into its new location literally inside the old-age home.

There were speeches, wine, and treats.  Although this was a very exciting and fun day, it was very humbling to hear a story of how the Baby Help Center had changed one abused mothers life.  Not a dry eye was seen as she told about how the Baby Help Center saved her and her daughter.  It meant so much to us to actually see the children and know that the money we raised is going to a most honorable cause.

Next we were able to get a tour of the glamorous L’dor Vador facility.  It is the most spectacular old age home that I have ever seen in my entire life.  I know that when I retire I want to live here, because not only is the food amazing but the people and residents are incredible.  There is so much light and beauty that it doesn’t feel like an old age home, but more of a country club with room for 300 residents.  Knowing that the community has come together and created such a wonderful center for their elderly is really a sign of the growing strength of the Argentinean Jewish community.  The hope is that the L’dor Vador facility will become a model for the world mixing both the elderly and the community youth.

From March 14-22, 2010, 25 students from Hillels at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Houston, and the University of North Texas volunteered with the Jewish communities of Buenos Aires and Basavilbaso, Argentina.