VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK 2018

Simply Smiles Home for Children Oaxaca, Mexico

 You will be living and working at the
Simply Smiles Home for Children in Oaxaca, Mexico!
 learn more!
Click the image to watch a 7-minute documentary about the Simply Smiles Home for Children.

http://vimeo.com/241236318
Gabriela Chvez Hernndez
Director of the Simply Smiles Home for Children
Oaxaca, Mexico

In 2002, at the age of 12, Gaby chose to leave her home in a remote Mexican village to
pursue her education in Oaxaca City. She attended middle and high school while living
at the Casa Hogar Benito Jurez Childrens Home. This is where Simply Smiles first met
Gaby and began to realize what an exceptional person she is. At only 12 years old, she
was in charge of a room of children and cooking meals for the 70 other children. At the
same time, she was excelling in school.

When Gaby was nearing the end of high school, Simply Smiles offered her the
opportunity to come to the United States for college. Gaby agreed, saying she wanted
to show the other children that they can achieve their dreams. In 2015, Gaby graduated
from Sacred Heart University with a degree in Business Administration from the Jack
Welch School of Business.

With a diploma in her hand, Gaby had met the goal she set for herself as a young child.
She could now choose to do anything, work anywhere she wanted, and live anywhere
she desired. She decided to work for Simply Smiles and run our operations in Mexico.

Upon your arrival in Mexico, Gaby will be there to meet you. She will guide you through
your week, sharing her unique perspective and her inspiring life story along the way.

These U.S.-based staffers also help to host our volunteers

in Mexico. You will work with one (or more of them)
before, during, and after your trip.

Samantha Zach Jasmine

 youre going to mexico!
Volunteering with Simply Smiles in Oaxaca, Mexico is nothing less than a life-changing experience for you and for
those you are traveling to meet and serve.

The people of Oaxaca (pronounced wah-HAH-kah) inspired the creation of Simply Smiles when our founder, Bryan Nurnberger,
first volunteered at the Benito Jurez Casa Hogar Children's Home in 2003. Your time with us among the children and families of
this extremely economically impoverished state will give you the opportunity to have a real impact and a transformational
experience of your own at the Simply Smiles Home for Children.

During your week in Mexico, you will not be a tourist, an onlooker, or a passerby.
You will be fully immersed in the culture, in the work of Simply Smiles, and in the vital process of helping to provide the
bright futures that everyone deserves.Volunteers like you are the driving force of Simply Smiles

Thank you!

To learn more about Simply Smiles, we invite you to read through our website: www.SimplySmiles.org
 volunteer testimonials
Take their word for it You are embarking on a life-changing experience!
My experience in Mexico with Simply
Smiles will truly stick with me for the
rest of my life! We touched the hearts of
so many people and they certainly
touched ours.
Sierra Custer, Mexico Experience Volunteer;
University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point
The Simply Smiles staff made it so
comfortable for me, knowing and feeling
in my heart that my daughter was in a
safe and nurturing place with all of you -
it was a real gift.
Kim Donnelly, mother of Mexico Experience
Volunteer, Sarah Donnelly (pictured);
Brookfield, CT
Simply Smiles has made me realize that I
want to devote my life to service so that
I can help create brighter & sustainable
futures for others, one smile at a time.
Yoonjong Lee, Mexico Experience Volunteer;
Choate Rosemary Hall, CT
I had the time of my life! The people I
met, the things I saw, and the lessons I
learned will stay with me forever.
Margaret Stracuzzi, Mexico Experience Volunteer;
Lyme, CT
I have seen firsthand the amazing
projects that Simply Smiles has initiated
and completed and the hundreds of
lives they continue to save.
Chris Miller, Mexico Experience Volunteer;
Hopkinton, MA
It was great! The Simply Smiles staff is
tremendous I keep thinking of all of the
great friends we made in Mexico.
Lori Breidenstein, Mexico Experience Volunteer;
Ephrata, PA
 defining the need in oaxaca, mexico
31% Oaxacas children are An estimated 53%
of Oaxacas 3.8 million
population are children
dying primarily from
intestinal diseases, 42% An indigenous
woman in Oaxaca is
of Oaxacas population
have not completed
primary school (grade 7),
under the age of 15; malnutrition, of Oaxacas population three times more while 14% have received
60% are under the age of respiratory infections, has no access to likely to die from no schooling at all.Only
30.Approximately 25% of heart disease, health care, and there
the total population has childbirth than a non- 5% of Oaxacas
accidents, and is only 1 hospital bed indigenous woman is. indigenous population
migrated to the U.S. goes beyond primary
violence. per 1,000 people.
school.

Population dispersion
According to the Oaxaca
Fund Initiative, nearly 71% makes it difficult to
deliver services and
39% 41%
of the population has been
of Oaxacas roads are of girls marry in their
90%
of Oaxacas indigenous
unpaved; 50% of
localities are
channel resources to
nearly half of the states
teens, resulting in
Oaxacas maternal
deemed economically
inactive, either because
they have given up looking
population, a situation
teachers do not meet the inaccessible by mortality rate being the for work due to lack of
made worse when you opportunities, or because
requirements for an vehicle, affecting second highest in
academic background consider that 24% of the the environment in which
nearly 500,000 Mexico (103 deaths per
needed to teach. population has no they live prevents them
people. 100,000).
access to potable water. from securing a job.

The 2000 Census labels 2% of

Infant mortality rate:
17 of 1000 births.
Among the indigenous
population, the infant of Oaxacans speak
mortality rate is even
greater(Mexicos
national rate is 13 of
1,000, while US rate is
7 of 1,000).
Oaxacas per capita Oaxacas population as As of 2010,
34% income averages $1,900
USD. The average
Oaxacan lives on less
disabled. We believe this
figure to be inaccurate, as the
United States reports that 18% 16%
than $1.25 a day.Money of Americans are disabled. In
an indigenous sent home from family addition, our first-hand of Oaxacans were
experience in Oaxaca has
language. members living outside revealed large numbers of illiterate (12% of men
Mexico accounts for the disabled individuals. and 20% of women).
14% speak no third largest source of Disabilities weve encountered
Spanish at all. include polio, cerebral palsy, The national illiteracy
income statewide, after
tourism and coffee. blindness, deafness, and rate for Mexico is 7%.
Down syndrome.
 traveling to mexico
You will travel by air from the U.S. to Oaxaca, Mexico. Oaxaca has stunningly
beautiful landscapes: from mountain valleys to cloud forests to pristine beaches.
This beauty is marred only by the abject poverty endured by so many of its 3.8
million residents. Oaxaca is the second poorest state in Mexico (behind Chiapas)
and is roughly the size of New England.

There are direct flights from Houston George Bush

Intercontinental Airport to Oaxaca, Mexico. Airport code IAH.
24 / 7
Simply Smiles will pick you up at the
Oaxaca Airport. From the moment you
There are many flights to Oaxaca that connect from the U.S. arrive, we will be with you 24/7 until the
through Mexico City. Airport code MEX. moment you depart.

Your destination is Oaxaca, Mexico. Airport code OAX.

The Simply Smiles staff will be at the airport to pick you up.
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 passport
A current and valid passport is required
for entering and exiting Mexico. Your
passport must have more than 180 days
until its expiration. You will receive a
tourist visa form on the plane as you
enter Mexico which serves as your
permission to be in the country.
religion
While we are in Oaxaca together, we will
not evangelize our individual faiths in
any form. We are there to serve and
support a population in need. Come
with an open heart and mind. Your
compassion is all you need to share.
inoculations
You are required to visit your local travel
clinic and tell them you are traveling to
Oaxaca, Mexico.
Your tetanus must be up to date.
language
Most people & children you encounter will
only speak Spanish. However, you will
have a bilingual staff member with you at
all times to help you communicate
throughout the week. Remember, your
presence & thoughtful actions will speak
louder than any words. Some helpful
Spanish phrases and words are included
toward the end of this handbook.
what you will eat
Simply Smiles will do the shopping in
advance of your arrival. With the staff,
we will prepare and eat all of our meals
together. On your release forms, please
specify any special dietary needs that
you may have.
flexibility
Flexibility is the word we live by in
Mexico! No amount of planning will
eliminate our need to be flexible while in
Mexico. School may be cancelled.
Roads may be blocked. Flexibility is fun!
cultural differences
Acceptance that you are in another
culture is central to our presence in
Oaxaca. Be open-minded. The
American way is not always the best
way. Tread and act lightly. If you have a
question, just ask! Simply Smiles is with
you 24 hours a day.
mental preparation
You are traveling to serve children who
have nowhere else to live other than at
the Simply Smiles Home for Children.
Some of the sights you will see and the
stories you will hear are going to be
difficult to accept, understand, process,
and respond to. Remember, we will all
be witnessing and hearing the same
things and will be able to lean on each
other.
where youre staying
During the week you will be staying at
the Simply Smiles Home for Children,
located in San Bartolo Coyotepec, a
suburb of Oaxaca City.
photos and videos
Pack your cameras! But sensitivity to
someones comfort, dignity, and privacy
takes precedence over that Kodak
moment. There may be times where we
will ask you not to take photos.
sleeping
You will sleep in bunk beds in an area
designated for volunteers. We have
mattresses for you. Please bring a set of
twin-sized sheets, a sleeping bag, and a
small pillow.
water
You will only drink bottled water while in
Mexico. Simply Smiles will purchase all
of your water for you. Make sure to
bring a Nalgene-like water bottle to
drink out of. There are showers at the
childrens home, but we will try to
conserve water as best we can. Be
prepared for fast showers.
bathrooms
Our childrens home has running water,
flush toilets, and showers that you will
use throughout the week.
altitude
The altitude at the Simply Smiles Home
for Children is 5,032 above sea level.
With altitude, hard work and the sun,
dehydration is always a concern. Pace
yourself and drink lots of water!
culture
You will be immersed in an environment
where you will be eating traditional
homemade Oaxacan food and learning
Spanish every day! We may even get a
chance to explore Oaxaca City.
Throughout your week, you will get to
experience the beauty of Oaxacan
culture.
weather
The weather can vary greatly in Oaxaca.
Temperatures can range from 45
Fahrenheit at night to over 100 during
the day. Bring a sweatshirt for the chilly
Oaxacan evenings.
 medical conditions
Your release forms will disclose your
allergies and medical conditions. Some
health conditions may be prohibitive to
your participation. Simply Smiles
reserves the final decision for
participation based on pre-existing
conditions. If you are traveling with
prescribed medication, you must make
sure to bring enough for the entire week.
communication
Throughout the week at our Home for
Children, teens are asked not to use their
cell phones. The Simply Smiles staff will
have phones that are reachable in an
emergency. We will be posting to our
social media networks periodically
during your week, so your family and
friends can follow your weeks activities
and progress from home.
packing
You should be able to fit everything you
need for the week in one collapsable
duffle bag without wheels. Please pack
lightly. A packing list is provided later in
this handbook.
physical demands
This experience can be physically
demanding. We will have work projects
for people of all physical abilities, but you
should be in good health and ready for a
challenge. Keep in mind that you will be
in a constant state of motion and activity
trying to keep up with the kids!
them!
giving gifts
As a group, we may be giving out
needed items like food or school
supplies. However, please do not give
presents of any kind on your own (even
a stick of gum). We do not want to
cause jealousy or be looked at as just
vending machines. Your presence and
friendship are the best gifts you can
give.
bugs
You will need to protect yourself from
mosquitos and other insects. You will
follow all precautions outlined by your
doctor and the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC). Bug spray with DEET
and long-sleeved shirts and pants are
on the packing list be sure to pack
pocket money
Your trip fees are all inclusive. But you may
want a small amount of money for extra
snacks on your travel days or for
souvenirs. An ATM will be available in the
airport upon your arrival in Oaxaca. Once
you are in Oaxaca, there will not be an
opportunity to exchange dollars or cash
travelers checks, and U.S. gift cards will
not work in Mexico. $100 USD will be more
than enough pocket money for the week.
work projects
During your week, we may be doing
some work projects at the childrens
home or in the surrounding
community. For all projects, you will
be working side-by-side with our staff.
No prior construction knowledge is
required just a willingness to learn!
 your weeks schedule
The schedule for the week wont follow the plan below exactly, but here you can see a rough outline
of how your week at the Simply Smiles Home for Children might unfold:

SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY

You will arrive at the Oaxaca City Airport
on Saturday evening. Simply Smiles will
be waiting for you at the airport. After you
get your bags, well hop in our vans and
take you to the Simply Smiles Home for
Children 10 minutes away. Well have a
delicious dinner and then bunk bed
time! Youll get a good nights sleep after
a long day of traveling.
After a nice breakfast, we'll ease you
slowly into the experience so that you
can acclimate to the over 5,000 feet of
altitude. There will be an activity where
you will get to know the children. After
lunch, there will be a tour of the Simply
Smiles facility and more activities with the
kids. You will conclude the day eating
dinner with the kids and maybe even
story time!
You will have the option of walking or
riding with the kids to school in the AM.
After breakfast, you will have a meeting
with Gaby, the director of the Simply
Smiles Home for Children, and then
transition into your work projects for the
day. In the afternoon, you will pick the
kids up at school and then eat lunch with
them. You will help them with school work
or be engaged in an educational activity.
In the evening, you will have dinner with
everyone and help the kids get ready for
bed.
We will continue our work projects
throughout the morning and pick up the
children from school in the afternoon. We
will incorporate different activities, as well
as help them with homework and chores
in the afternoon. In the evening, you may
be able to take the kids on a walk before
dinner!

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

Wednesday is our first flex day. You may
be continuing work projects, or you may
be special guests at the childrens
school! In the afternoon you will eat lunch
with the kids and then leave for a special
outing in Oaxaca!
After breakfast, you will either continue
your work projects or visit the school
again to host a special activity. You will
come back, enjoy lunch with the kids,
help with their homework and then
prepare a special BBQ for dinner. Tonight
you will have a final group reflection
before your last full day in Oaxaca.
This is the culmination of your week! You will depart Saturday morning from
Depending on the projects you've been the Oaxaca City airport. As you ascend
working on, you will be wrapping up at over the mountains, you can reflect on
the childrens home, visit the school one what you have just experienced.
last time, or you may go on a trip to
downtown San Bartolo Coyotepec! We
will be at the childrens home to have
lunch with the kids, help them with
homework and play games. After dinner,
it will be movie night! We encourage you
to sit next to your best pal and enjoy your
final evening together.

This schedule will be different for every group; it all depends on the childrens school schedules!

remember our mantra: flexibility is fun!

 We are traveling to serve those in need, but

y
your safety is our #1 concern, our #1 focus,

et
and the determining factor for every decision
s af we make.
ur
Simply Smiles would never intentionally put our volunteers into harms way.
yo

However, as with any endeavor, there are inherent and objective hazards. You
have assumed these risks through your agreement to participate in this journey.
We have done, and will continue to do, everything reasonable to mitigate these
risks. Your safety is our top priority.

Were with you Simply Smiles Easy access to

3000+ Our staff is trained hospitals and
24 / 7 began hosting
volunteers and in Red Cross
volunteers in CPR/First Aid clinics in
during your trip growing
2003 Oaxaca

buddy system common sense were family our experience traveling

The volunteer group will Common sense is our Gaby was born in Oaxaca.
Oaxaca has proved to be Only Simply Smiles staff
stay together as much as best ally. Go slowly, think Simply Smiles is part of the very safe for volunteers will operate our vehicles,
possible. Individuals are first, and make smart, communities we serve. and tourists. which are properly
required to be with a conservative decisions. We are not visiting guests; we Simply Smiles has never maintained and
are family.
buddy. had an incident. frequently inspected.
 packing list
What should you pack? You wont need much.
Fashion takes a big back seat to function on this trip. Bring clothes that you wont mind ruining. And follow the list closely!

your passport with a color copy and any other necessary travel forms

your medical insurance card(s)

ATM, credit cards

a Nalgene-type water bottle with your name on it

your personal medications, in their original bottles, and significant quantity for the trip

Pepto-Bismol, Imodium, Tylenol, Dramamine (if you get car sick). Your travel doctor may
give you a prescription for other medicines, like Cipro, as well. It is required to disclose on
your release forms what medications you will be taking during your week.
DEET bug spray
sunglasses

headlamp-type flashlight with extra batteries

camera with extra batteries and memory cards

travel-sized waterless hand sanitizer

work gloves

sunscreen, sun hat, bandana, aloe

rain coat
bath towel

glasses, contact lenses, lens solution

water bottle soap and shampoo

bug spray with DEET and after-bite medications (like a cortisone cream)

sneakers and/or light work boots (closed-toe)

sandals (Teva, Keen, or Chaco type is suggested; flip flops are not allowed)

pack enough clothing for the week - you will not have the opportunity to do laundry

clothes for the heat - shorts and t-shirts; moisture wicking fabric is good for the humidity
Please pack everything in one duffle bag one-piece bathing suit
with no wheels
closed-toe shoes a very light pair of pants and a long-sleeved shirt for bug protection

sweatshirt

Shorts must set of twin sheets and a small pillow

Remember to
reach mid-thigh. Under 18 years light sleeping bag
Please do not Outlets are pack anything
No low cut old?
bring any shirts. Please standard U.S. you cant live clean clothes for the plane
No cell phones
valuables. dress 110v plugs. without in your rain coat - breathable fabric is best, but definitely waterproof
are allowed.
conservatively. carry-on bag.
 cell phones
Youth under 18 years of age may have their cell phones with them while
traveling, but youth are not allowed to use their cell phones during their
time with Simply Smiles in Mexico.

From our experience hosting thousands of volunteers, there are three

primary reasons for why youth may not use their cell phones during the trip:

1) Phones have a very high percentage chance of being lost or broken in the
environment where we are working and living. We dont want this to be a
memory from your time in Mexico.

2) Phones are a barrier, a distraction, between you and full immersion in the
experience.

3) When you have a phone and someone else does not because of their economic
circumstance, you risk making someone feel badly about themselves. You risk
harming what can be an already fragile sense of dignity.

Adults, we strongly encourage you to try and disconnect for the week. If you
are an adult and you need to use your phone, we have a dedicated place to do so
and ask that you do your best to restrict your usage to a minimum.

You will need to add Mexico service to your plan in advance.

Thank you so very much for understanding. The feelings, privacy, and dignity of
our friends in Oaxaca are paramount. And together we must try and do everything
in our power to protect them.

Thank you.

Please see the Communication with Mexico page of this handbook for how you can
be reached in an emergency while in Mexico with Simply Smiles.

Youth (under 18) are not

allowed to use cell phones
on Simply Smiles volunteer trips.
 communication with mexico

Simply Smiles
Simply Smiles Main Staff
Simply Smiles USA
Mexico Number Samantha Steinmetz:
Gaby will answer, and she speaks
Norwalk, CT Office: fluent English.
203-321-6726
203-810-4041 Zachary Gross:
011-52-1-951-253-6603 203-598-4825
Jasmine Martier:
267-615-7341

Reception & Cost
Cell reception can be inconsistent
and quite expensive in Mexico.
The Simply Smiles Home for Children
does not have a land line. In an
emergency, the best course of action
is to contact Simply Smiles in the
U.S., and they will be able to
contact the staff in Mexico.
Follow
Phone Tree the volunteer team!
Simply Smiles strongly suggests
that you create a phone tree within
your group. This way, upon your
arrival in Mexico, we can call just one
person and everyone will be
subsequently alerted that you have
arrived safely. We will also post the
teams arrival to the Simply Smiles
Search:
social media platforms.
Simply Smiles Inc
@simplysmilesinc
 mexico entry & exit
To enter and depart from Mexico, youll need a valid passport
with more than 180 days left until its expiration.
Non-U.S. citizens may have additional visa and travel
documentation requirements. It is the individual travelers
responsibility to make sure that they have secured, and are
traveling with, all necessary documentation.
If you are a non-U.S student, you are also required to travel with
your I20 form, signed for travel.
On the plane to Mexico, everyone will be issued a tourist
visa form. This is your permission to be in Mexico.

You will select Turismo/Tourism as the purpose of your trip.

You are a tourist; you are NOT WORKING in Mexico. Address where you will be staying:
Answer any questions put to you politely, but you do not
need to offer any extra information. If you are asked how Nios y Hroes #1
long you will be staying, say ten days, or diez das. Esq. Calle La Valentina y Paraje
You will fill out your information on both the top and bottom Ixxeyeni - 4a Seccin
sections of the form. San Bartolo Coyotepec
71256 OAXACA
The form will be signed and stamped by a Mexican Customs Mexico
agent when you arrive at the airport in Mexico, and the bottom
portion will be detached and given back to you.

You do not need to write

anything in the Uso Oficial
sections.
This bottom portion of the form will be detached
and returned to you as you enter Mexico.
Airport personnel will fill out
You will need to submit this piece of paper at the and stamp these sections.
airport when you depart from Mexico.

We will keep your passport and visa

locked in our safe throughout the
week so that you need not worry about
misplacing it during your trip.
declaring what you purchased in mexico
As a U.S. citizen, you have the right to bring $800 worth of merchandise from Mexico into the U.S.
However, those purchases must be declared by filling out a Customs Declaration form.

You will either receive a paper Customs form on the plane ride back to the U.S., or
your flight attendants will let you know if your arrival airport has automated kiosks with digital questionnaires that you will use instead.
Be honest and fill out the questions to the best of your ability. Below is a sample of the questions you will be asked.

front back
 costs
Below you will find the approximate costs for your Simply Smiles Mexico Service Trip. Please note that these figures are estimates and
have been provided in ranges. The exact cost to you can vary based on the cost of flights, transportation to and from your departure
airport in the U.S., insurance, group fundraisers, etc.

Expense Per Person Cost Description

Simply Smiles Fees $750 Approximately 50% of the Participant Fee ($375) represents a fee for services and
(This figure is determined by Simply Smiles.) personal items (such as your meals) provided to the Participant during their service
trip to the Reservation and includes sales tax.

For sales tax purposes, the remaining 50% of the Participant Fee ($375) represents a
donation to Simply Smiles, Inc. to help cover costs of items, such as food and
supplies for programs, which are provided by Simply Smiles for the benefit of the
children and youth living at the Simply Smiles Home for Children.

Flights $700 - $1,200 Plane ticket costs can vary greatly. Your group leadership, with the help of Simply
(Group/ Individual Responsibility) Smiles, will book your tickets for you. If you are not part of a volunteer group, Simply
Smiles will provide you with the necessary information for booking your flights.

Travel Insurance $20 - $50 Groups are required to carry travel insurance. This will help to defer the costs in the
(Group / Individual Responsibility) case of an emergency.

Group Liability Coverage Per your existing policy Your group is required to have liability coverage to protect you, the organization you
(Group Responsibility) are traveling with, and Simply Smiles.

Transportation to and from the airport in the U.S. $0 - $100 Some groups choose to charter a bus, others to car pool.
(Group / Individual Responsibility)

Approximate Total: $1,470 - $2,100

tax deductibility
As Simply Smiles is a 501(c)(3) organization, a portion of the fees and travel costs associated with your time serving impoverished people in Oaxaca, Mexico may be
tax-deductible as allowed by law. We use the phrase may be as the IRS always reserves the final decision on any claimed tax-deduction.
As with any tax deduction, the IRS does require substantiation (proof). In this case, you will need to provide proof that you participated as an un-paid volunteer in a
service trip. Save any and all receipts such as airline ticket stubs and boarding passes, food receipts, transportation receipts and any other receipt that would prove
you actually did participate.
Simply Smiles would be more than happy to provide a letter documenting your participation at your request.
Simply Smiles is not a tax authority. This information on deductibility is provided for your reference. We suggest you consult your tax professional.
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 helpful spanish phrases
Simply Smiles staff members are more than happy to assist you with any language questions you may have while you are with us in Oaxaca.
Weve provided some common phrases and words here that you can review before your trip to help break the ice with the kids upon your arrival.

The kids also LOVE to learn English and other languages, so think of your experience as a cultural exchange!

English Spanish
Hello Hola
Goodbye Adis
How are you? Im well. Cmo ests? Estoy bien.
What is your name? My name is ____. Cmo te llamas [YA-mas]? Me llamo [YA-mo] ____.
How old are you? I am ____ years old. Cuntos aos tienes? Tengo _____ aos.
Would you like to play a game? Quieres jugar un juego?
What is that? How do I say it in Spanish? Qu es? Cmo se dice en espaol?
Do you need help with your homework? Necesitas ayuda con tu tarea?
Thank you Gracias
Youre welcome De nada
Good morning! Buenos das!
Good night! See you tomorrow morning! Buenas noches! Hasta maana!

At the end of every meal that we share together, youll notice that the kids will excuse themselves from the table when they are
finished by saying, Gracias. Everyone else at the table will then respond by saying Provecho!
While theres no direct equivalent phrase or custom in English, provecho is similar to bon apptit in French as a way of saying to
someone enjoy your meal or in this case, at the end of a meal, Im glad/I hope you enjoyed your meal.
o!
ch When in Mexico, if you walk by a group of people who are eating a meal, it is customary and polite to say Provecho! to them.
ove Others may wish you the same while you are eating; you can simply say Gracias! in response.
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 homework help
Throughout your week with us, you may be asked to assist the
children with their homework. Dont fret; you do not need to be
fluent in Spanish to help out!

Most often, the kids just need an adult by their side to

encourage them and keep them focused. Most assignments
that theyll be working on will be practicing elementary skills,
like learning their colors & numbers.

the colors the numbers math

los colores los nmeros matemticas
red rojo
orange anaranjado
1
uno
2
dos
3
tres
4
cuatro
5
cinco
1 + 2 = 3
ms son
yellow amarillo
green verde
blue azul
6
seis
7
siete
8
ocho
9
nueve
10
diez
13 7menos
= 6
son

purple morado
pink rosado
11 12 13 14 15 5 x 4 = 20
por son
brown caf once doce trece catorce quince

gray gris
black negro 16 17 18 19 20 15 3 = 5
diecisis diecisiete dieciocho veinte dividido por son
white blanco diecinueve
Thank You!
Questions?
Please reach to our Volunteer Coordinator, Samantha Steinmetz
203-810-4041 (office)
sam@simplysmiles.org

SimplySmiles .org