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Los Amigos de Casa del Niño

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Los Amigos de Casa del Niño

Our goal is to support the work of Casa del Niño which provides health, education and recreation programs to families in Jocotenango, Guatemala. That was July.

In 2005 I traveled to Guatemala for a language school. I lived with a local family and became friends with the cook/housekeeper. Though she was the same age as my daughter, I learned that she had never had the opportunity to attend school. The night before I returned home, she and I visited the local adult night school and learned that there was an old storage closet that we could use for a nurser

y so that she and several other women would be able to attend school in the evening. I promised her that the nursery would open by January when the new school year began. I returned home the next day. Emails to family and friends led to donations that would pay for a teacher's salary. My host mom who was a former teacher, interviewed and hired a wonderful teacher. Her high school aged son and his friends emptied out the room at the adult night school and painted it. Needed supplies and furniture were purchased. In January, 2006, my friend and two other women began evening classes while their children were cared for in the nursery. This continued for two years and came under the umbrella of Casa del Niño. The women moved from the area at that time but I have stayed in touch with my friend and her now 13-year-old daughter who is in 8th grade. She is a very motivated student. In 2008, Casa del Niño was given a piece of land in Jocotenango and the goal of the organization became the development of a community center. My connection with that organization has continued to grow and is the focus of this page. The soccer league and nursery school have evolved into a school with 125 students. In addition to family and friends, our donors have included Downingtown Friends Meeting, Chester County Reading Association, Rotary Club of West Chester, East High School Interact (Rotary), Stetson Middle School ESL Classes, In Ian's Boots, Villa Maria Academy, Fern Hill Elementary School, Mary Daniels and Hillsdale Elementary School, Henderson High School (School to School Club), Dr. Donna Sanderson and West Chester University Elementary Education students. Thank you for your interest. Peggy Pillard

04/28/2022

CANI has welcomed Diego, a volunteer from Chile. He is a lawyer and will be helping Jorge and Marvin with a variety of projects. Muchas gracias, Diego!

04/26/2022

Students were part of a drawing contest celebrating the diplomatic relationship between Guatemala and Israel.
Felicidades a todos los estudiantes!

04/03/2022

Carlos, our volunteer from Mexico, gave a lecture about his country. The students enjoyed it and it broadened their knowledge and understanding of the world. Muchas gracias, Carlos!

03/26/2022

The wood oven that Sophia started while volunteering at CANI has been completed. Jorge and Marvin were hard at work last week. The oven will be used for baking projects when children return to classes. Vaccinations are beginning for children ages 6-12 years.

03/18/2022

After two long and challenging years, the students enjoyed a bit of a break and the chance to use their creativity on Crazy Hat Day!

03/11/2022

Carlos is a young man from Mexico who is volunteering for a month. He is helping to revamp some classrooms in preparation for children returning to face-to-face instruction. Bienvenido Carlos! Muchas gracias!

02/26/2022

Teachers, students and parents continue to work together to make this a good school year. Teachers are instructing on zoom but also making home visits to see how the children are doing, to deliver materials and to check on homework. It is challenging but everyone is pulling together.

02/18/2022

Sofia got things started with cinderblocks before returning to Germany. Now a permanent wall is being built to enclose this area which requires difficult and careful work. Sofia is gone but not forgotten.

01/30/2022

Sofia has been working on a new community project. She is constructing a clay oven so that she can teach children how to bake bread. Muchas gracias, Sofia. Eres una mujer de muchos talentos.

01/28/2022

The new school year has gotten off to a good start. Classes are virtual for now and all are working very hard. A variety of activities are taking place on site. Sofia has contributed her time and talents with cookie baking and card games. The soccer field is being used and soccer school will be starting in February.

01/15/2022

CANI has been preparing for the start of the new school year. Sofia, a volunteer from Germany, has been offering activities for the children. In the first picture she is in search of ingredients for baking cookies. She has also been painting restrooms which have been expanded for when students eventually return in person. Muchas gracias, Sofia! Due to the rise in COVID cases, classes will begin virtually for the safety of students, teachers and their families. Teachers have been preparing to make this the best possible experience for the students. Classes begin on Monday, January 17.

12/16/2021

The school year ended in November with a celebration in honor of the students, parents, teachers and staff who have all pulled together during such a challenging time. The pictures below give a sense of the day. All are looking ahead to the new school year which begins in mid-January and are determined to make it the best that is possible for the children.

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West Chester, PA
19382

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