Changing the World, One Child at a Time

Dear Friends of Casa Guatemala,

This is the month that we celebrate the love and friendship that we share here at Casa Guatemala, and also, to celebrate the love we have for all of our Casa Guatemala Family around the world! We are so grateful for everyone who allows us to continue our work in 2023, which is our 45th year of service! The kids have a full day of fun activities and delicious food planned thanks to our amazing staff who have been hard at work since the start of the year to create our loving environment for them to grow and learn in! 

This year, our school program started in mid January and so far we have 170 students in our school, four studying in Las Brisas and seven at the high school in Rio Dulce! The public school program doesn’t start until next week, so we are expecting to receive a few more students from families that are not able to come up with the funds needed to purchase the long list of school supplies and uniforms that are required at the free public schools. These costs create a barrier for thousands of children around Guatemala, but especially those from the rural areas where many families continue to be subsistence farmers and fishermen with little income. We also find that single mothers reach out to us as their only option to be able to work while providing an education and care for their children as there is a lack of affordable childcare available. 

One of the children we are able to help with their high school this year is Maria Alejandra! We found out that her family had brought her home after finishing her middle school so that she could work and help support the family. We didn’t want to see her unable to graduate so we decided to offer them the opportunity to have her return to where she started her educational journey! It is a big change from the city life, but she is happy to be back in the jungle with her old friends and teachers! 

We have a lot of work ahead of us this year but we know that we are finally getting back on track after a couple of really hard years! We are so fortunate for all of our supporters from around the world who have helped us through the hard moments and celebrated the good times too! Your continued support for our work makes it possible to carry on what we do. Every child that comes to Casa Guatemala, goes on to create change in their families and in their communities thanks to you. There is not a day that goes by when I do not see the long term impact of our work in the banks, shops, schools and boats passing by with our Casa Guatemala Alumni working hard as professional adults in our town. 

Last month, some of our grown up kids decided they wanted to bring their children to Casa Guatemala to show them where they had grown up. It was such a special day to have so many of my kids and grandkids together! To see our kids remember their time with us with pride and gratitude, as they shared their stories with their own children who played and laughed and got to know the home where their mothers had grown up, was a very special moment that reminded me of just how important our mission is.

Thank you for being a part of this magic and for sharing your love with us all! We love you very much and wish you the very best today and everyday! Let’s hope that together we will continue to change the lives of the children in our care, and that they will continue to go forward and change the world! 

With love and gratitude, 

Heather

Volunteers Wanted! 

Now that we are back to our full day schedule, we are looking to get our long term volunteer program up and running again! We especially need to fill the English Teacher position and the Volunteer Coordinator positions so that I can have some help to recruit new people to our project! As we are starting anew, we have made some changes are are now looking to fill specific roles to ensure that the children have the chance to learn unique and creative extra curricular activities! We are currently looking to fill the following positions:

• Volunteer Coordinator: 6 month Minimum; Intermediate Spanish. Experience in project management, HR, team leadership. Works to promote volunteer programs, interview and vet new volunteers, training and scheduling of volunteer teams.

• English Teacher: Feb-Oct, Monday through Friday. Must speak fluent Spanish and have a background in teaching English as a second language.

• Medical volunteer: 3 month minimum; intermediate spanish required. Nurse, Physician Assistant, Pharmacist or Doctors

• Agriculture Volunteers: 3 month minimum; basic Spanish required. Experience in farming and preferably permaculture.

• Artistic Activities Volunteers: 3 month minimum; intermediate spanish required. Experience in dance, theatre, music and/or visual arts required.

• Nutrition/Kitchen Volunteers: 3 month minimum; intermediate spanish required. Experience in nutrition and meal planning and preparation

• Sports and Activities Volunteers: 3 month minimum; intermediate spanish required. Experience in sports and outdoor activities for children required.

• Educational Volunteers: 3 month minimum; intermediate Spanish required. Experience working as a teacher. Volunteers will assist in the classrooms, library and after school.

• Social Media Coordinator: 3 Month Minimum; Basic Spanish required. Experience in photography, videography, graphic design and/or marketing preferred.

• Grant Writing and Fundraising Intern: 3 Month Minimum; Basic Spanish required. Experience in research, report writing, fundraising and/or grant writing preferred.

Get Social With Us!

If you don't already follow us on social media, you really should! We post so many pictures and videos so that you can see the true Casa Guatemala experience!  

Links:

• Check out our latest Video!