La Casita … our year-end update for 2022

      At the beginning of 2022, the new extension to the Casita opened, and the crowded learning centre got to spread out. Now we’re able to reach out to more people more effectively than before. COVID restrictions relaxed a bit during 2022, but still continued to affect the schools. San Antonio schools started out the year with a hybrid plan (kids attending for either 2 or 3 days a week) and has now switched to a system of attending every day, but only for 3 hours, and homework to follow up. This means that the Casita continues to operate at top capacity, with lots of kids needing help with assignments. As well, teachers continue to send groups of kids for ‘reforzamiento’ in specific subjects. And then there’s the kids who just need a place to hang out and read a book from the library. On average, there are 75 children per day at the centre. We have been so thankful for the extra space provided by the extension. 

Alma, our newest teacher, works with kids on math concepts 

During the year our lead teacher, Evelyn, left the Casita to take a job in her home village. After a rigorous interview process, Lidya – who was the teacher assistant for several years while attending university and earning her 3-year teaching certificate – was promoted to lead teacher, and Alma, one of our scholarship students with 2 years of study in education, is now the new assistant. Ana Olivia, another scholarship student now graduated with her degree in social work, is the efficient part-time local coordinator, also teaching sewing classes and self-empowerment classes for mothers, and liaising with families in the community. This energetic, committed team of local young women – aided by scholarship student volunteers – keep the Casita humming all the hours of the week. In the evenings Antonio, one of the university scholarship students, teaches computer skills to adults, and on Saturdays the junior high scholarship students come for extra lessons in basic subjects and English. And I haven’t even mentioned the garden, where our night watchman-gardener, Germán, inspires children who come to help cultivate impressive harvests of fruits and vegetables, used in the lunches of the Ancianas. 

For more information about the Casita, go to the link La Casita - a centre of learning and support. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mYADY5G-4aWFuiIuU-H76VY1Z0cLHqOf/view?usp=sharing . 

Ancianas enjoyed kite-making for the annual kite festival 

As in previous years, the Ancianas – 25 sweet, frail, elderly women – arrive twice a week for a hearty lunch, exercises and craft activities. Many of these women are isolated, living alone in tiny one-room houses, and this time together provides nourishment not just for bodies but for spirits. A fine time (often punctuated with hilarity) is had by all. 

One of our volunteer Co-op students collected a few short autobiographies of the Ancianas in a little book called The Story of the Ancianas of San Antonio Palopo. You can view this at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nR1XwnMf5z0tU0owEGF9M4iJhifikO-b/view?usp=sharing 

A scholarship student practices her sewing skills 

This year we had 16 scholarship students: 4 in university, 1 in technical college, and the rest in junior and senior high. All of these students pitch in to help keep the Casita running at top capacity: maintaining the garden and library, serving the Ancianas’ lunches, tutoring students and giving computer lessons. The contributions of these students fill the Casita with energy and spirit. 

So, in summary, we are doing all the same things as in the past, but doing it better: serving more students and adding new programs, thanks to our energetic team and our new expanded space.  Of course, none of this would be happening without generous donations from folks like you. We are so thankful for your support! For those of you who like to give non-material gifts to family and friends, we’ve put together a Feliz Navidad/ Season’s Greetings card that tells your friends you’ve given a donation in their name. Check it out below.

PS: We can issue income tax receipts for all donations over $20. If you send a cheque, make it out to Innovative Communities Foundation (put San Antonio Education/Community on the memo line), and send it to Innovative Communities Foundation, 300 – 722 Cormorant St., Victoria, BC, V8W 1P8. To donate online go to www.innovativecommunities.org/communities/Guatemala/san-antonio-education. You can donate through Paypal just by clicking the donate button on our San Antonio page, and you will get a tax receipt you can print. (And when you donate to ICO, every penny goes to the project; we are all volunteers and there are no administrative costs.)