Class of 2022 had an amazing year!
Over the past year, you stepped up as we began the year by supporting families at home during the continued quarantine restrictions, and then as we welcomed students back to in-person learning at the Acorn Childcare Center. You helped us to nurture families through the crisis and then allowed us to offer a safe space for our young students to learn, grow and thrive.
Earlier this month, we graduated three students who will move on to primary school next year. The remaining students will return after the holiday break to start a new year at the Center, along with several new classmates who are in the enrollment process now.
We are proud of all they've accomplished this year and we are grateful for your support to make it happen! You can view photos of our students sharing some of their happiest memories and favorite school activities on our blog.
As you consider your end-of-year giving, we would be grateful if you considered Maya Childcare Inc. Our organization is run by volunteers and thus 100% of each donation goes directly to Centro Infantil Bellota (Acorn Childcare Center).
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Autumn brings one of the most important Guatemalan holidays: el Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). In Guatemala it is unique and quite different from the traditions in Mexico and other Latin American countries: celebrations mostly happen on November 1st, Día de Todos Los Santos (All Saints’ Day). It is a joyful celebration full of life and color where Guatemalans combine elements of Mayan culture and the catholic religion and honor their loved ones through food, flowers, music and activities.
One of the most important traditions on All Saints Day is the Guatemalan giant kite festival, where locals create spectacular giant barriletes (kites) measuring up to 15 ft. Kites serve as a symbolic connection to the dead, believed to help guide the returning spirits to their loved ones. At the Center, our students made their own, smaller, kites to observe this unique cultural tradition and join in the celebration!
Your generosity helps these young students grow, learn and thrive together in a safe, caring environment. Thank-you!
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With great enthusiasm the class of 2022 celebrated Dia del Niño - Children's Day - earlier this month!
For educational organizations like the Acorn Childcare Center, this day is long awaited and celebrated since its purpose is to promote and raise awareness of children's health and well-being. Guatemala has some of the highest rates of malnutrition and child mortality in the region. Knowing the many hardships facing our families, the Center provides each student with two nourishing meals and a snack daily in a safe and caring environment where they interact, imagine, explore and learn together.
Special days like Children's Day are filled with joyful activities such as piñatas, games, exchanging small gifts, face painting, and more!
This month the students also got to have their very own Market Day: a chance to use play money in their local currency to sell and purchase items at the "market." Not only was it loads of fun, it was great for practicing math skills, problem solving skills and social-emotional skills like turn-taking, waiting, sharing and making conversation.
Thank you for your continued support of our work at the Acorn Childcare Center. Your generosity makes it possible for us to provide quality early education, nutritious meals and family support, as well as, bring a little joy and fun into the classroom with special events like these. Thank you.
Click the link to view more photos from both of these special events.
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The students and staff at the Acorn Childcare Center had a uplifting celebration of Guatemalan Independence Day, a national celebration of Guatemalan culture! Wearing their traje típico they celebrated at school with traditional music and dancing.
We know how important it is for children learn about, celebrate and take pride in their indigenous culture. The children decorate with national symbols including Guatemala’s national bird, El Quetzal, Guatemala’s national flower, Monja Blanca, and Guatemala’s flag and coat of arms. And of course danced to the sounds of Guatemala’s traditional instrument, the Marimba. How special it feels to be able to celebrate together again after the last few years where that has not been possible!
And none of it would be possible without your generosity. Every donation helps ensure that we can continue transforming the lives of families facing extreme poverty. The Center makes a world of difference to children and families that are struggling. Their warmth and appreciation is hard to fully convey, but we hope you find that being part of their network of support feels valuable and worthwhile. Thank-you.
Visit our blog (mayachildcareus.org/news) for more photos and videos of this joyous event!
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The government organization that oversees preschools and childcare centers visited The Acorn Childcare Center and we have been given the green light to open for in-person learning! For the past few weeks our students have been visiting in small groups for a day, to get used to the Center and learn the daily routine.
The students are now able to attend in-person 4 days a week (with 1 day for cleaning and sterilization). Our staff are overjoyed as we also welcomed back our cook, Doña Moni, and custodian, Doña Leti, and opened our doors to the Class of 2022 together for the first time. We also hosted our first in-person parent meeting this week and everyone shared how relieved and happy they and the children are to be able to get together.
Read the full story and see all the happy faces on our blog:
https://www.mayachildcareus.org/2022/06/09/acorn-childcare-center-is-open/
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