Education Guatemala Project #28151

Help 500 Guatemalan Children Receive an Education

by El Patojismo

Help 500 Guatemalan Children Receive an Education

Project Report | Feb 7, 2022
We Are Back in Action

By Donna Jepson | Project Leader

WE ARE BACK IN ACTION!!!

Our school is open to in-person classes, we managed to organize all of our students in groups, so they can come twice per week to participate in all of the activities we offer. As yet, our government has not given us permission to fully open. We have been preparing for months to give our students the best welcome back to school. Our teachers are creating innovative programs to capture the interest of all the students and keep them on the path to being educated.

Some of our senior students.

Our team has interviewed, personally, every student and separately their parents. We were very disturbed to learn that 20% of our students have been seriously affected by the pandemic, including malnutrition, psychological and physical abuse, and of course economic hardship. In response, we have developed a Wellness Program to assist our students in their recovery. We hired a Psychologist who will create and implement not just personal help to those most severe cases but also create and deliver workshops in groups for the children, for the parents, as well as for the teachers.

Gabriel Rosales, a former student and now a teacher of our team interviewing a mother of our program.

Our students are very excited to come back to school, some have been knocking on the door to see if classes had already started since the first days of January. Paolo is one of them, he came to the school every day even though classes had not started, our school is a safe haven from the tough reality he goes through every day at home. He started to attend El Patojismo in 2017. Paolo is very energetic, compassionate, and always willing to contribute to any school activity. In his own words he needs the school as here he feels safe, he can participate in art which he loves, as well as sports.

Paolo 13 years old a 7th grader with Nelson whose been with us since he was 3 years old.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO HELP THESE KIDS IN THE WAY THEY DESERVE WITHOUT THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM OUR FAITHFUL DONORS; WE THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS.

MUCHAS GRACIAS, JUAN PABLO AND THE TEAM AT LOS PATOJOS, DREAMS, AND IDEAS IN ACTION.

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Oct 13, 2021
Reestablishing In-Person Activities

By Thais Arriola | Project Leader

WE ARE SENDING YOU GREETINGS FROM GUATEMALA

We are very excited that our academies for extracurricular activities are getting stronger than ever. Since we are not allowed to have all of our students back to school at once due to COVID-19 restrictions, our team strives to implement the necessary hygiene protocols so our students can go back to in-person activities. Regardless of this impediment, most of our students have been able to attend our online programs but some have no access to internet connection, so we have been increasing our efforts to allow our students to access the diverse resources we offer.

We are giving 7-9 classes daily to different groups of children and teenagers. Some of the classes we are offering are music, art, sports, chess, cooking, computer training/basic programing, and educational reinforcement.

Mayte and Arianna are sisters that have been part of El Patojismo since 2015. Sadly, these girls are having difficult situations at home with their family due to the lock down and economic problems from the pandemic. Thankfully, the extracurricular activities at the school have been a way to keep them in touch with their innocent/creative minds, but most importantly to proper meals. Mayte and Arianna have been able to receive 5 online classes per week through their parents’ WhatsApp. Additionally, on Wednesday mornings, they are assisting marimba (Guatemala’s national instrument) lessons following their art class and, at the end of the week, they participate in the chess club. Both of them love and enjoy all the classes that they receive at the project.

We are very proud to say that we are witnessing the powerful benefits and impact that these academies have and will continue having on our students’ wellness and lives.

Without your generous and ongoing support, we would not have been able to serve and support these two smart and sweet girls and the other 498 children in our school. We thank you and want you to know that we truly appreciate each and every one of you. Your support is vital, please help us continue to give these 500 kids a chance at a better future.

We thank you and want you to know that we truly appreciate each and every one of you.

Muchas Gracias from El Patojismo, Guatemala.

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Jun 20, 2021
We Send You Greetings from Guatemala

By Donna Jepson | Project Leader

WE ARE SENDING YOU GREETINGS FROM GUATEMALA

We are very happy to tell you we are now permitted to bring students back to the school in small groups, finally. We are starting with the younger students that have the most challenging lives. Our return includes a medical assessment as well as hands-on attention from their teachers. We are so happy to welcome them, to hear them laugh and engage with their fellow students and teachers.

The construction of our new secondary school is moving along at a rapid pace, without delays nor problems. Our goal is to finish the school within one year and move our senior students to a new, modern and functional school complete with a technology program, English program, a cooking school program and our regular curriculum including arts, music and academics.

Angel is an example of why we will never give up. When Angel came to our school he was undernourished and troubled due to familial problems. He was mainly alone with his older brother, they had to rely on neighbors to share food with them. We have worked with Angel and his father for more than 9 years. The father is now taking care of his sons and working full time. Angel has changed; during his time with us, his health has recovered and he is doing well in his studies. He is in 5th Grade, doing well academically and participating in sports. He loves both basketball and art classes. He wants to be a cook when he grows up.

Our international and national donors are the true heroes here. Without your generous and ongoing support, we would not have been able to serve and support hundreds of children in our country. We thank you and want you to know that we truly appreciate each and every one of you. Please continue to support our school.

Muchas Gracias from El Patojismo, Guatemala.

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