I came to Guatemala after learning that the average years of schooling in this country is four years and that 3 out of 10 children graduate the sixth grade. This is their normal. Niños del Lago is working to change that.
Niños del Lago is an educational recreational facility that gives children, who rarely see outside thier villages, the chance to experience first hand that their life is not the only life available to them. It may be the first time that the idea seeps into their being that it doesn't have to be this way.
Ninos del Lago works with the neediest children who don't have the resources to attend the public schools and are educated in local school programs offered through social development agencies. Unfortunately, many children end up leaving these classes. We incent them to stay in these schools by making it a requirement of our program. They return year after year as long as they stay in school and in their home programs and they take the lessons they learn at Camp Niños del Lago back to their peers in their community.
We're in our second year of major construction. Last year, I created the structure of the organization while Arlaine, our Founder, focused on construction. We completed cabin foundations, camp roads, roof structures and a storage facility. Together, with the help of our generous sponsors and donors, we brought Niños del Lago to the point where we can open in as short as 18 months if we stay on track with our funding.
This year, we begin construction on the main building and complete a minimum of 2 duplex cabins so that we can provide services while continuing to build to full capacity. When complete, we will receive more than 3,000 children per year.
I know many of you have met Coco before, but take another look and tell me, after you see his smile, if you'd like to help create "a new normal" for him. If someone like me can do this, we all can and you don't even have to come to Guatemala (though I would love to see you - it gets lonely sometimes). Please consider making a donation of $25 and pass this along to someone you know who wants to help make the world a better place for the children.
Let's begin 2010 by changing these things that should not be normal so that Coco can thrive and break out of his cycle of poverty! Donate
**All donations through KrisforKids through the end of Feburary, will be matched dollar for dollar to a maximum of $3,000.
En Español:
Las cosas que vemos todos los días se convierten en normales, incluso cuando no deberían serlo.
Vine a Guatemala después de enterarme de que la media de años escolares en este país es de 4, y que solo 3 de cada 10 niños terminan el 6 grado. Esto aquí es normal, y Niños del Lago trabaja para cambiarlo.
Niños del Lago es un campamento educacional y recreacional que da a los niños, quienes raramente han salido de sus pueblos, la experiencia de primera mano, de que las vidas que llevan no son las únicas vidas que se encuentran disponibles para ellos. Es posible que sea la primera vez que se encuentran con la idea de que no todo tiene que ser como actualmente es.
Niños del Lago trabaja con los niños mas necesitados, quienes no tienen recursos para acudir a las escuelas públicas y son educados en programas escolares locales llevados a cabo mediante agencias de desarrollo público. Por desgracia, muchos niños terminan por abandonar las clases. Nosotros pretendemos incentivarles para que permanezcan en la escuela haciéndolo un requerimiento del programa. Podrán volver año tras año siempre que permanezcan en la escuela y en sus programas, así como que lleven lo que han aprendido en Niños del Lago de vuelta a sus comunidades.
Nos encontramos en nuestro segundo año de construcción. El año pasado cree la estructura de la organización, mientras Arlaine, nuestra fundadora, se centró en los trabajos de construcción. Completamos los cimientos de las cabinas, las carreteras del campo, los tejados y el edificio del almacén. Juntas, con la ayuda de nuestros generosos sponsors y donantes, hemos traido a niños del lago al punto en el que podemos afirmar que abriremos nuestras puertas dentro de 18 meses si seguimos recibiendo donaciones al mismo ritmo.
Este año, hemos comenzado la construcción del edificio principal, y completaremos un mínimo de dos cabinas, de modo que éstas puedan empezar a alojar niños mientras continuamos construyendo para alcanzar nuestra máxima capacidad. Una vez en este punto, recibiremos más de 3000 niños por año.
Sé que muchos de vosotros habéis conocido a Coco ya, pero por favor, volved a mirarle y decidme después de ver su sonrisa si no os gustaría contribuir a crear un nuevo concepto de “normal” para él. Si alguien como yo puede hacer esto, entonces todos podemos, e incluso no es necesario venir a Guatemala (aunque me encantaría veros, a veces se hace un poco solitario). Por favor, considerad haced una donación de 25 euros y pasadlo a cualquiera que sepáis que quiera colaborar para hacer del mundo un lugar mejor para los niños.
Showing posts with label En Español. Show all posts
Showing posts with label En Español. Show all posts
The Children - Yes!
Have you read "The Invitation" by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, an Indian Elder? I recently ran across it while cleaning files on my computer and preparing for 2010 (I keep poems etc. in a file to look through when I need some inspiration). Here's an excerpt which especially speaks to me --
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money
you have. I want to know if you can get up after a night of
grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what
needs to be done for our children.
Yes! (Full poem below)
En Español:
Los Niños - Si!
Habeis leido “La Invitación” de Oriah Mountain Dreamer, un anciano indio? Lo encontré hace poco limpiando archivos en mi ordenador y preparándome para el 2010. Guardo poemas y citas en un archivo para echarles un vistazo cuando necesito inspiración. Aquí hay un fragmento que me inspira especialmente:
No me interesa donde vives o cuanto dinero tienes. Quiero saber si puedes levantarte después de una noche de pena Y desesperación, cansado y sin poder moverte, y hacer lo que
Ha de ser hecho por nuestros niños.
Si!
Full Poem: The Invitation, May 1994, Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Indian Elder
It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know
what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your
heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you
will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams, for the
adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I
want to know if you have touched your own center, if you've been
opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed
from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own,
without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it. I want to know
if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with
wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers
and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, or to
remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you're telling is true. I
want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to
yourself, if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not
betray your own soul.
I want to know if you can be faithful and therefore be
trustworthy. I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's
not pretty everyday, and if you can source your life from ITS
presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and
still stand on the edge of a lake and shout "YES!"
to the silver of the full moon.
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money
you have. I want to know if you can get up after a night of
grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what
needs to be done for our children.
It doesn't interest me who you are, how you came to be here. I
want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me
and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have
studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when
all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with
yourself, and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty
moments."
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money
you have. I want to know if you can get up after a night of
grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what
needs to be done for our children.
Yes! (Full poem below)
En Español:
Los Niños - Si!
Habeis leido “La Invitación” de Oriah Mountain Dreamer, un anciano indio? Lo encontré hace poco limpiando archivos en mi ordenador y preparándome para el 2010. Guardo poemas y citas en un archivo para echarles un vistazo cuando necesito inspiración. Aquí hay un fragmento que me inspira especialmente:
No me interesa donde vives o cuanto dinero tienes. Quiero saber si puedes levantarte después de una noche de pena Y desesperación, cansado y sin poder moverte, y hacer lo que
Ha de ser hecho por nuestros niños.
Si!
Full Poem: The Invitation, May 1994, Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Indian Elder
It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know
what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your
heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you
will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams, for the
adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I
want to know if you have touched your own center, if you've been
opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed
from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own,
without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it. I want to know
if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with
wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers
and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, or to
remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you're telling is true. I
want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to
yourself, if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not
betray your own soul.
I want to know if you can be faithful and therefore be
trustworthy. I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's
not pretty everyday, and if you can source your life from ITS
presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and
still stand on the edge of a lake and shout "YES!"
to the silver of the full moon.
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money
you have. I want to know if you can get up after a night of
grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what
needs to be done for our children.
It doesn't interest me who you are, how you came to be here. I
want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me
and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have
studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when
all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with
yourself, and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty
moments."
Niños del Lago coming alive
So much better than pictures! This is from a regular camera so the pictures in the slideshow on the right might still be a good complement.
I mention in the video that we lost a tree to disease - actually we lost 8 trees. Otherwise, we move trees and keep as much of the natural forest as possible. In fact, the clearing that you see in the very beginning is a clearing of brush along with replanting some smaller trees. No large trees were removed from the area.
The cabin's are duplex housing a total of 12 children and 2 counselors. There is a common entrance and shared bath for the counselors. Each side has an open space for the children to have quiet time with their counselor, sleeping room for six and an adjoined counselor's room with a large window to see the children.
I hope you enjoy this and have an even better sense of the work that we're doing here for Guatemala's children.
En Español:
Mucho mejor que las fotos!! Este video se ha realizado desde una cámara normal, así que las fotos en el slideshow de la derecha pueden todavía ser un buen complemento.
Menciono en el vídeo que hemos perdido un árbol debido a una enfermedad… De hecho, hemos perdido ocho. Estamos moviendo los árboles siempre que es posible, para preservar al máximo el entorno natural. El claro que se observa al principio, es un claro realizado moviendo arbustos y replantando árboles pequeños. No se ha movido ningún árbol grande de la zona.
Las cabinas son dúplex, y albergarán un total de 12 niños y 2 consejeros. Hay una entrada común y un baño compartido para los consejeros. Cada uno de los lados tiene un área separada para que los niños puedan disfrutar de privacidad con sus consejeros, una habitación para seis y una habitación para el consejero, la cual estará dotada de una ventana para que éstos puedan ver a los niños.
Espero que disfrutéis el video y os proporcione una idea más completa del trabajo que estamos llevando a cabo aquí para los niños de Guatemala.
What's on your list?
I moved to Chicago in 1991 and my two sisters, Rhoda and Joanna, drove with me from Pennsylvania to help me move. On our way, we created lists of what we wanted to do in our lives - you know, jump out of an airplane, learn to play saxaphone and find my soulmate.
One of the things on my list was to get involved in a cause and make a commitment to it. Within the first year of living in Chicago, I became involved as a volunteer in the children's group for Sarah's Inn, an organization that serves families with domestic violence. I volunteered off and on with them for more than 10 years - a year or two at a time depending on my work/travel schedule. I realize now that my cause is 'çhildren' and I wanted a much larger commitment than showing up once a week to talk to the kids for an hour and a half. I wanted to make something happen.
I had forgotten about this and it hit me recently when Arlaine and I exchanged lists. It was amazing that we had so many similar items and even more amazing that I was doing something on my list without even realizing it. What's on your list? Vote to the right or send me an email. (Poll closes and disappears July 5th)
En Español:
¿Que hay en tu lista?
Me mudé a Chicago en 1991, y mis dos hermanas, Rhoda y Joanna me llevaron en coche desde Pennsylvania para ayudarme con la mudanza. De camino, creamos una serie de listas con aquellas cosas que nos gustaría hacer en la vida, ya sabéis, saltar desde un avión, aprender a tocar el saxofón y encontrar a mi alma gemela.
Una de las cosas que había en mi lista era participar en una buena causa y comprometerme con ella. Durante el primer año de mi estancia en Chicago, comencé a colaborar con el grupo para niños de Sarah´s Inn, una organización que ayuda a familias víctimas de la violencia doméstica. Colaboré como voluntaria con ellos durante más de 10 años. Ahora me doy cuenta de que la causa que me atrae, son los niños, y siempre quise un compromiso mucho más grande que aparecer una vez a la semana y hablar con los niños una hora y media. Quería hacer que algo ocurriera.
Había olvidado todo esto cuando recientemente Arlaine y yo intercambiamos listas. Fue apasionante ver como teníamos tantos elementos similares, así como ver que estaba haciendo algo en mi lista sin ni siquiera ser consciente de ello.
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