Newsletter #10: School’s In Session!
May 31st, 2021
Hello everyone!
Our last Newsletter Update outlined a little bit of a rocky start to the year, but we are happy to let you know that a few things are starting to make the year look a bit brighter and more positive!
In April, we kicked off spring with our first step-a-thon, Step Into Spring! While hosting events has not been made easy by the pandemic, this was a perfect opportunity to have a fun event with friends, encourage exercise, and for participants to win prizes and a raffle. We are so thankful for the 58 participants who participated, and hopefully we will see everyone again at a future event (maybe in person..?!)!
April marked the end of a successful first semester for our alternative school program in Guatemala, with a new cohort of boys and girls joining us from neighbouring rural towns such as Rincon Chiquito, Potrerillos, Colonia el Pilar, and Canton Las Tunas.
To be able to cater to the individual needs of every student, we have been offering a multi-faceted program which offers
in-person tutoring
a virtual campus
a self-taught learning book guide
creative projects
parent education programs
At the beginning of the first semester, the team and children also received school supplies, shelves with cubbies, and a COVID safety kit to ensure the health of the children and our team. Each day, the children are able to receive a healthy snack to ensure that no child is learning while hungry.
We are so thankful for the strength and resilience of our educators and volunteers who continue to teach despite the many hardships faced due to COVID complications and lack of funding. And we are also so proud of the endurance demonstrated by the children whose academic performance has been impacted by the pandemic. According to the CDC, the COVID-19 level in Guatemala is still a Level 4: High level, with a long road to recovery ahead.
On May 15th, our monthly donors were able to connect with families in Guatemala during our second Meet & Greet event: Virtual Home Visits! We were able to interview the children and ask them important and hard-hitting questions like "if you had a superpower what would it be?" and have a show and tell. We were also able to hear the stories of some of the amazing mothers of our program who dream of a better future for their children. Check out the recap below!
If you are not yet a monthly donor, please consider clicking the button below to learn more about how you and your family can join this story of restoration and receive opportunities (like this Meet & Greet) to get to know the real people you are supporting!
Thank you for following our journey! We cannot wait to share with you the exciting things to come this summer!
Until next time,
Team EDUPAVI Canada