By Rebecca Mueller | Project Assistant
Today I’m happy to share the story of a 5-week Scheel Center volunteer, Carmen, and to alert you to a special opportunity to support our students: Global Giving is offering a match of 30 percent for all donations received on March 16th, 2011. They will also award a cash prize for the project receiving the most donations.
Carmen is a 19-year-old volunteer at the Scheel Center. She is studying in a local Spanish language school and dedicates several days a week to service at Scheel. Carmen wanted to become involved in the daily lives of Guatemalans, and most importantly, to work in a project that needed her.
During the morning hours, Carmen is an aid to Teacher Marcela, who heads the Scheel Center’s combined second and third grade class. Carmen corrects homework assignments, teaches German vocabulary, and once she gave a lesson all about volcanoes. According to Carmen, Guatemala classrooms are a bit more challenging to teach in than classrooms in Switzerland. But, she loves the experience, and embraces the spontaneity required to keep the students’ attention.
Carmen supports the Scheel Center in other areas, too. On Tuesday afternoons, she babysits a group of 15 kids, aged 2 to 10, while their mothers attend Mothers Club meetings. Carmen has facilitated games, painting, paper-hat making, and the creation of musical instruments with recycled materials. Carmen also takes a kitchen duty shift once a week, assisting Doña Edna and Doña Ana by washing dishes and preparing lunches for 153 students.
Carmen’s willingness to chip in fits perfectly with the Scheel Center philosophy. Scheel Center students, too, are encouraged to serve and improve their communities. They dished out hot meals to displaced families when their school became a shelter in the aftermath of May 2010’s Tropical Storm Agatha. They volunteer regularly at The GOD’S CHILD Project’s Casa Jackson, and help with the Project’s newsletter mailing each month.
This month, feel proud: Proud of Scheel Center students and dedicated volunteers, and proud that your contribution is helping us continue our mission. We encourage you to visit our website for more information on volunteering with us in Guatemala. We also urge you to make a gift on March 16. Lots of bright futures are depending on it!
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By Rebecca Mueller | Project Assistant
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