It is an ordinary morning, on the way through the intersection of Teniente Cañón and Artola streets, in La Vigía neighborhood, a murmur and many complicit laughs; invite you to stop in front of a unique poster: The Smurfs’ Home.
This is how it is known by the neighbors and children attending, this kindergarten, which since 2012 with the arrival of self-employment, opened its services to the community, by the dear uncles: Roly and Celita, names by which they are called by their children this pair of educators.
Captivated by the uniqueness of the facility, welcoming, with all the comforts and educational materials, I could not resist the temptation to ask permission and approach it.
The encounter
After passing the sanitary zone and a waiting room, I reached the threshold of the central space, keeping the distance between the 12 little girls who flutter around the place, I was received by Celita, who without stopping attending to all the girls at the same time , showed me the installation and allowed me to take some photos.
Our conversation was left for after 5:00 PM when the little ones had already left and we could exchange calmly.
Photoshoot
While I was trying to take some photos, an action I’m not very good at, I was able to soak up their routines. When I interrupted with my arrival, they were in an educational activity and in addition to having fun, they memorized the process of sugar cane in a mill.
Roly came to stay in front of the games and Celita with great devotion, love for teaching and pride in what she achieves with her daily work, showed me her educational materials, banners, games and teaching aids and the seat of honor of the heroes.
While I was taking my photos, Ainhoa came to pose, not only did she ask me to go out under the heroes, but she also called Ana and then four other girls joined her, her joy at having a visitor was very evident. Not to continue interrupting, I promised to return and when I said goodbye, the 12 girls surrounded the hosts for one last snapshot, the one that will leave them coloring a beautiful memory of happy childhood at the home of those very special uncles.
Celia
The master’s degree in preschool education sciences is called Celia Recio Ortiz, she dedicated 26 years of her working life as director of children’s circles, but a health problem took her away from the classrooms and halls.
Her husband, seeing her sad for being out of what she is so passionate about, which is to teach and educate little ones for life, proposed to open her Home of the Smurfs and for a decade they have already trained more than 80 children . Today they only have girls but they have almost always had children from both sexes.
Many of them are already in high school and happily come to say hello and show off their new uniform to the uncles. This comforts them because seeing them progress in their training they know that their mission goes beyond caring for them, it prepares them for their school life.
Many sad stories with happy endings have passed through this school, including that of a child with autism spectrum disorders, who did not socialize even with his family and here, managed to integrate and acquire some habits of independence to join his special school.
They also remember a girl with language disorders, another with marked shyness and so a long list crowns her work, which is comforted by feeling part of these families and being useful in the education of their little ones.
Roly
The history teacher, Uncle Roly, has been Celia’s husband for 30 years, his love and work life are surrounded by games and pranks, because Rolando González is in charge of teaching history from an early age to his disciples, to encourage their love for our country.
So every day he talks to them about the Granma yacht, about its expedition members and at least they can now name five of them: Fidel, Raúl, El Che, Camilo and Almeida.
They also know the patriotic symbols, they learn the national anthem and the figures of Camagüey’s history, of Ignacio Agramonte already speak, like a brave mambí, who accompanies us in an equestrian figure in the most beautiful park in the city.
I insist that the statue is equestrian because a little one argued with her father, because he did not say that El Mayor has a statue riding on a horse. The father did not know the term and asked Roly what “equestrian” meant, pride for the teacher who managed to contribute something to the family.
Lots of love
We have spent a pleasant afternoon, talking and enjoying the energy that these guys put into teaching. Their small daycare center is a kind of paradise in which they share birthdays, local festivities, knowledge and visits from the Education and Public Health districts, with whom they collaborate closely, like a large family.
I take with me the happiest image of a family that works to educate the future of this land, those who do not lie or hide their feelings, by rolling them in a hug, which says a lot about their love and dedication.
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
