Sponsers

Nery Fernando
Nelly Rafaela

Brandon Enrique

Juan Sebastian

Below is a letter from Carey, the Susana Wesley Preschool director, about sponsering a preschool student. Currently we need only 4 more sponsers. I wanted to spread the information in case any of you may be interested :) If you have questions feel free to email Carey at her address listed below or me at mkt06@fsu.edu!

March, 2010


Dear Friends:

My name is Carey Cooper, and I am the director of the Susanna Wesley Preschool in Camanchaj, Guatemala. Our school is part of Salud y Paz, a nonprofit organization serving Mayan families since 2001 (www.saludypaz.org). We have just begun our second school year and have several beautiful Mayan children in need of sponsors!

Let me tell you a little about our preschool program. The primary goals of our program are to increase children’s chances for success in the public school system with high quality, culturally sensitive preschool curriculum and to promote healthy development by providing nutritious meals (breakfast, snack, and lunch five days a week), teaching healthy habits (such as hand washing and teeth brushing), and offering medical and dental care. The children attend classes Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m, and each child receives a backpack, school hoodie, and all necessary school materials. We currently have 21 students between the ages of 4 and 6, two local teachers who speak Spanish and K’iche, the local Mayan language, a kitchen staff of local Mayan women, a volunteer school nurse, and a volunteer school director (me!).

Ten children are currently in need of sponsors, and we need your help. The cost to sponsor a child is $45/month. Although the children are in school for nine months only, we ask for a 12-month commitment, which helps cover the cost of snacks and meals, school supplies, medical and dental care, and staff salaries (teachers and cooks). As a sponsor, you will receive photos of your child via our preschool blog, which is updated every few months with information about school activities and student photos, and at least two cards/drawings from your child during the year.

Thanks again so much for your interest in the Susanna Wesley Preschool, and please let me know if I can answer any questions. If you decide to sponsor a child, I will send information about how to make a one time or monthly donation online.


Sincerely,
Carey Cooper
(cecooper@princeton.edu)

Project Salud y Paz
(http://www.saludypaz.org/)

Across the lake

Heather and I in a swanky tuk-tuk with zebra print.

A pueblo across the lake: San Juan. We visited on Sat. It is less tourist-y than Pana

Part of an awesome mural

Coffee plantation. We met a man who gave us a spontaneous tour!

Woman weaving in the cinta style.

She told us it takes 2 days to complete something like a table runner.

Up-date

Buenas Tardes a Todos!
Hope all is well and this up-date finds you all healthy and happy.
For me, it is difficult to put my experience here into words. There is just so much happening and so many emocions and thoughts to absorb. But I am going to try my best to give you some high lights!
One of our pre-school students named Nery received an operation to correct 2 wandering eyes a few weeks ago. Today was his first day back at school, and it was so wonderful to see him be able to look straight ahead. He has healed beautifully. Nery received the operation at the Salud y Paz clinic in Camanchaj, and it was performed by a team of surgeons from Texas. Praise the Lord!
Last Friday we celebrated the birthdays' of students from January and February AND both Mari and Paulina's (the teachers) birthdays. We had a pinata, cake and brownies, and the students all made cards for the teachers. What a fiesta! When we were preparing to sing the birthday song, Carey asked the students what we should sing and one answered, "La Granja". I think members of the CCUMC mission team who were here in the end of January will especially appreciate that the infamous "La Granja" lives on :)
I have begun working on the parent handbook or Libreta de Informacion. Mari and Paulina made a list of what they think should be included, and now I am working closely with Mari to complete it. Also, we have an abundance of donated books. So many that we are able to send some home with each student. What a blessing! It is important for a child to have access to books and print so that they can begin to develop literacy skills. I am trying to sort the books so they can be sent home equally in quality and quantity with students. Sabrina and I are also assisting in the classrooms during art, centers, and writing practice times.
Recently, one of our students has been pulling on my heart more so than the others. Brandon is a really neat kid. I think he's dealing with some difficult things in his home life though which are resulting in some educational and behavioral difficulties. Prayers specifically for Brandon would be greatly appreciated!
As always, thank you all for your support.
In Amor Salud y Paz,
Madisen