WFM Team Member Volunteer Program Guatemala

WFM TEAM MEMBERS SAY GOODBYE

2011-07-30T14:35:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, the Team Members said their farewells to the children in an emotional ceremony. The children gave the TMs a despedida (farewell) card and a hug. Each TM received an honorary diploma from Bartolo, the school principal, for their work and participation in the school. It was a great send-off to a fantastic group that overcame many obstacles during their time in Guatemala.

On their last night in Guatemala, TMs had dinner at the famous La Fonda de la Calle Real (Inn of the Royal Road) Country Director Alton Germain expessed his gratitude and appreciation for all their efforts this past month. "There were many unique experiences and challenges during the program and this group met them head-on and made their mark on the project. The persistence of this group was evident and the TMs have been rewarded for ther hard work and dedication."

This has been an amazing trip for me!- Zachary Brown

This trip has been life-changing for me.- Elissa Surabian

I feel privileged to have worked with the community and be immersed in the culture.- Justine Brown

TEAM MEMBERS OVERCOME CHALLENGING CONDITIONS

2011-07-27T17:45:00.000-07:00

Despite drenching downpours, mudslides, and the possibility of a teacher's strike,the TMs have persisted to make their mark on the project. Illness has also struck TMs and GVI staff as well. The persistence of this group is impressive and they are truly benefitting the community and have met challenges head-on and we are seeing the rewards. Since the program began, TMs have built 10 stoves and we hope to have enough extra materials for 2 more. Team Members and GVI staff have covered 235 hours of classroom instruction and supervision. This group also is well traveled. Tikal, Antigua, volcano & nautre hikes, Grameen, Santiago Atitlan are just some of the adventures the group has been having. This group has really gotten along well with each other. Their pesistence with their work in the school and stoves is remarkable and they have been fantastic in interacting with the community even with their hectic and unpredictable schedule (due to heavy rains and the possibility of road closures) Mara, Megan, Zack, Elissa and Justine are a tough and strong group that have perservered and gained a great experience and the community is grateful for their hard work.

WELCOME BACK TEAM MEMBERS!

2011-07-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

The Whole Foods Market Team Member Volunteer Program is underway in Guatemala for the 2011 season. Fourteen TMs from various regions have visited the Allegro Coffee plantation as well as the Grameen borrower's meeting. The group is now working in the community school and stove-building. We are looking forward to the next set of activities before the group's departure at the end of the month. For now we are all enjoying our Guatemalan adventure!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

2010-10-05T09:50:00.001-07:00

Whole Foods Market and GVI have reached their goal of installing a stove in the homes of every student that attends the school based in Buena Vista, Guatemala.WFM and Global Vision International have worked together for three years to complete this tremendous accomplishment. Not only have the TMs built these stoves for our students, they also have built stoves for the relatives and grandparents of the students. In this last phase of August-October 2010,we built 24 stoves, reaching our goal of having an energy-efficient stove in every home in the community. All of these families have children that will now grow up in a smoke-free environment thanks to the hard work of WFM, GVI and the Town Council of Buena Vista. It is an accomplishment that we are proud of and are now poised to expand our stove program throughout the region of Peña Blanca. Since 2007 WFM has worked out of the Lake Atitlan Region of Guatemala sending over 70 volunteers to participate in this program. Each of these TMs have bulit a stove and has contibuted to the effort. In total, TMs have built over 70 stoves. The change in the region is monumental. Deforetstation has been drastically reduced and respiratory illness is less prevalent . The introduction of these stoves into the community exponentially increases the longevity of the lives of these people as well.

Being amongst others who are dedicated and passionate about changing the world is truly an awesome experience
- Carey Atwater

The GVI-WFM stove project has changed those conditions for SO many families in the Peña Blanca community, directly affecting nutritional well-being and overall quality of life. By helping construct a stove for one of these families, I have played a small part in this change. I´ve never helped do something so valuable my life -Molly O ’Grady

I am absolutely amazed by this place and its people - Anna Bourland

The people and those kids have left a beautiful mark on my heart that will last forever- Robert Carlson

INDEPENDENCE DAY!

2010-09-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

Independence Day Celebrations

Every year schools across Latin America celebrate one of the biggest holidays on their calendar. In Guatemala all the schools have competitions with each grade competing in different categories. The TMs helped with the costumes, decorations and
rehearsed with the children. The children, TMs and teachers worked together all week preparing and it was a fantastic day with some great performances.

Three New Team Members!

Our new group of TMs have arrived! We welcome Crystal, Julie and Nora to our crew in Panajachel. We climbed up Volcano Atitlan to visit a coffee plantation where Allegro sources their coffee. The skies were clear and the TMs were able to see the complete beauty of the lake and the volcanoes. Martin gave us a great tour and we stopped at the farmers co-op to pick up some of the finished product from the finca.

TMs Enjoy their First Week with the Children!

2010-09-09T17:49:00.000-07:00

TM Robert Carlson from Boston skips rope with the children

Despite the rough weather, Team Members were still able to engage the children with games and arts and craft projects. At the moment TMs are assisting the local teachers and students with the Independence Day celebrations for this coming week. We had a beautiful day today and hope it continues for Wednesday's parade.

Community Capacity Building in Guatemala

2010-08-27T16:37:00.000-07:00

One of GVI's goals in its educational program is to empower young indigenous women and give them the opportunity to advance their educational achievements as well as pursue their career goals . Whole Foods Team Members work alongside these indigenous women in the community projects to develop lesson plans, arts and crafts activtities for the children as well as having the extraordinary experience of developing a meaningful , authentic relationship with native citizens in a unique and vibrant culture in Latin America.

Diana, Michel and Rubi all speak Qui'che' as thier first language,(there are 24 languages spoken here in Guatemala)

Kakchikel, Spanish and they also speak some English as well. They are enthusiastic and hard-working. Their job is to assist the Team Members with lesson preparation, translation, material sourcing and classroom management. The TMs are doing well instructing the children and a fantastic job of collaborating with these indigenous women and truly enjoying this inimitable cultural exchange.

Much like Grameen, this program focuses exclusively on young women. In many third-world countries, women constitute the population most disenfranchised and most likey to be living below the poverty line. In our project here in Guatemala, we hope to contiune their educational development and their desire to benefit their communites through education and how this combined with the Grameen micro-credit can exponentially increase the statndard of living for these impoverished people.

Organic Farming on a Volcano

2010-08-24T15:02:00.000-07:00

Hiking through the slopes of Volcano Atitlan (11,598ft.), TMs were able to see an organic coffee plantation where Allegro sources their coffee. Our guide Martin has over 40 years experience working these lands. Martin was able to explain the organic growing process and the hard work it takes to produce the coffee. It was a difficult but rewarding hike as the TMs got see the beautiful views from the plantation while Volcano Fuego erupted in the distance.Besides the organic coffee, TMs were able to see avocados, chirimoyas, chiles, pomegranates, squash and all the beautiful plants and flowers that thrive in this volcanic soil.

Great First Week!

2010-08-15T22:01:00.000-07:00

We got off to a great start with our group of 8 TMs from all across the country. This first week was dedicated to Grameen, Allegro and a tour of Lake Atitlan. All of the trips were fantastic and the TMs enjoyed seeing the micro-lending, coffee production and the beauty of Lake Atitlan. After Borhan gave a brief history of Grameen, the TMs were able to purchase some of the products. We were also able to hike Volcano Atitlan to see an Allegro coffee sourcing plantation. On Friday we finished the week off with visits to the spiritual centers of the lake, San Marcos and Santiago Atitlan. To make the day even better we enjoyed a swim in a beautiful pool overlooking the lake building up our appetite for a traditional Guatemalan meal.

Whole Foods Team Members Coming to Guatemala!

2010-08-05T19:46:00.000-07:00

Over the next two months a group of Whole Foods Team Members from all over North America will be particpating in the WFM Team Member Volunteer Program based in Panajachel, Guatemala and beautiful Lake Atitlan. Team Members will meet with Grameen borrowers, tour an Allegro Coffee Plantation and study Spanish all while living with local families and experiencing ancient indigenous culture and Maya traditions through tours and workshops organized by GVI staff and indigenous Maya guides.

Team Members will also be building eco-friendly stoves in the mountain villages outside of Panajacel. By participating in this program Team Members will supply the local school with 1,800 pieces of fruit a week. Team Members will also spend 75 hours each working in the school acting as assistants and instructors. We are all excited about our new arrivals and are looking forward to an exciting experience and reaching our goal of building 35 stoves over the next couple months.

Stoving at the Lake - Guatemala

2010-05-24T05:24:00.000-07:00

As the reforestation rates continue to be alarming in Guatemala, and the numbers of cases of illnesses from indoor smoke inhilation and burns are on the increase, the stoves we build are becoming even more important.

They can save up to 75% of firewood usage, reduce smoke in the home completely and due to their design, cut down potential burn accidents to a minimum. With volunteers working side-by-side with the local mason, the difference is visible in a few short days.

Fruit time at the Lake

2010-05-24T05:14:00.000-07:00

This year has seen great strides with the children in Peña Blanca, with the numbers rising to around 200. We have continued to give fruit, thanks to Global Giving donations and we look forward to more volunteers coming out later this year.

2009-08-06T17:20:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, the children held their annual mercado tipico. All the girls from the different grades set up stands to sell tipical Guatemalan anotojitos (snacks). The girls served dobladas, chocofresas, tostadas, gelatina and tacos. Everyone had a blast and Ventura and the teachers got into it as well. The food was awesome! The girls did a great job setting up their little stalls and everything was sold out within half an hour!
The men of the commuity got together this weeked to finish off the painting that the the Canadians had already made a great contribution to. We continued with the very noticeable color of mandarina. You can now see the school from Panajachel! The men finished the sides of the school and bathroom as well as the border at the bottom. The kids also had a great meal of chinese noodles, squash, carrots and green beans prepared by our new cook, Marta. She has 3 children attending the school and did a fantastic job her first day.

They also have re-surfaced parts of the road due to the heavy rains. We have been getting some great views of the lake in the morning and it has stayed clear until around midday.

2009-07-28T08:24:00.000-07:00

We finished up a great week at the project with some help from our neighbors to the North. A group of 7 Canandians, led by Leanne, did some fantastic work in the community. With their hard work and contributions we were able to complete 7 new stoves in 1 week (I think a new record!) as well as paint the school and office. It was a huge contribution to the community and a feather in our cap to be able to complete that much work in such a short period of time. Not only that, we trained up 2 more masons, enabling us to complete 3 stoves in 1 week with 1volunteer. We started the week off with the stoves and the community showed their appreciation by putting on a folkloric dance show at the school as well as serving lunch to the volunteers with a traditional Maya dish called pulique. The food program was also supported by the efforts of this group and their donations will go a long way in provding the children with a nutritious, balanced diet. The work was hard but rewarding and the community was ecstatic about the new stoves and I kept getting compliments from all the families and the communitiy leaders. The real compliments go to the volunteers. Without their participation and sacrifice these improvements to the project would not be possible and 7 families now have new, eco-friendly stoves that will last a lifetime. Many of these families that we built the stoves for also had infants which is rewarding to know that these babies will grow up in a healthy, smoke-free environment. We also had the opportunity to do a little trip around the lake to the indigenous villages of San Juan and Santa Cruz. Miguel, our guide, started the morning in his traje museum where we learned about traditional clothing and the marimba, a xylophone type instrument that originated in Guatemala. During the trip we visited a historic church and even got a chance to make tortillas! The boat ride was fun and we all had a great time. Thanks again to Leanne, Rhonda, Veronica, Camden, Mithchell, Cindy and Hellen. Also thanks to the donors from Knox Presbyterian Church for the support given to the food program.

2009-07-11T11:57:00.000-07:00

July should turn out to be a busy month. Maybe even more than June when we were working with the Town Council and Teachers. We are planning to have some volunteers working on stoves and painting this month. The enitre outside of the school is our main objective and we are hoping to get everyone invovled in the short time we will have. We will have the paint though! We are hoping to complete it in a day or a day and a half working almost non-stop. We also plan to build some new stoves this month and have trainied up 2 more tenders to help the the volunteers and transport the materials. We have the ability to start up 3 stoves in one day. Ventura and I put in a little extra time to maximize the presence of the volunteers and their stove-building tasks. Therefore, we are able to complete one stove in 2 days. After the initial foundations are formed, the volunteers will be busy preparing cement and laying block and bricks. With this month's group we will add 7 more energy-efficient stoves to the community.

Back in Class!

2009-07-03T15:33:00.000-07:00

After a two week hiatus imposed by the government last month, all schools were shut due to the H1N1 virus. There have been no cases at the school or in the community. The children returned Wednesday and I think they were actually getting bored of playing around the campo and doing chores. Now they can wreak their havoc on each other at the school. It actually turned out well as I believe that at least the department of Solola would have shut down the schools anyways due to the heavy rains and cold temperatures. The oranges are back and we picked up 500 at the market where we also bought some squash and tomotoes. The students are due for another round of standardized testing coming up and the teachers are preparing them. Plans are also already underway forIndependence Day celebrations!

Mother's Day!

2009-05-13T12:01:00.001-07:00

We had a great day on Monday. A special day with clear skies and about 200 mothers and grandmothers came along for the celebrations. We brought in a folkloric group led by Miguel. His group has been operating in Panajachel for about 2 years now and have added a lot to their repetoire. Along with the traditional marimba, this year Miguel added some folkloric dances and Maya myths to be presented to the kids. It was very exciting as Miguel had the children participate in all the activites. Little Erika and Diana performed on the maracas and some of the older students were all fitted out in different trajes (traditional dress) from all over the country. It was a fantastic experience for all as Miguel spoke about the history of the designs and their origins. He is very passionate about preserving the ancient Maya traditions and is a huge advocate of a cultural-educational experience. He gave a great motivational speech that really struck a cord with everyone. It was very emotional and such a treat to watch these youngters experiencing a bit of culture outside their regions and it was an introduction to ancient weaving techniques and design origination. Miguel finished his presentation by speaking of the hardships of the indigenous for centuries going back to the Spanish Conquistadors. The last part of the speech was incredibly moving and he spoke of the importance of family remarking that, "the women of Guatemala are the heart and soul of this land", it was very emotional and his main goal is to preserve ancient traditons, language, cuisine and manner of dress as well as the ceremonial religious aspects of their traditional faiths.
Miguel is a descendant of the Maya and speaks 3 indigenous languages as well as English, Spanish, German and a little Hebrew. He praised the efforts of GVI to have such an ambitious vision on education while at the same time helping to preserve and expose this next generation of Maya to the ancient traditions of their ancestors.
Everyone was entertained by the marimba and the folkloric dancing. It is an honor for us to promote the cultural heritage of this remarkable little community in the rural mountains of Guatemala.

What would a Mother's Day celebration be without food and entertainment. The mother's received a special meal of
sweet bread, a beef vegetable stew, rice, and a huge amount of tortillas and hot chiles! The children also had their favorite chow mein with plenty of vegetables, a banana and their atol drink. At the conclusion of the day the children all passed out presents to the mothers that had been hand-crafted by the students.

Happy Birthday!!!

2009-05-04T11:03:00.000-07:00

On Thursday we celebrated the birthdays of the children. In total we had 23 birthday boys and girls. The kids were excited as we pulled up with the piñatas and it was difficult getting everything out of the van with the curious children blocking everything. The Kindergarten kids were the most excited and it is still a new experience for them. The other grades and the teachers were enthusiastic about the birthday celebrations and also it was a holiday on Friday so it was a little chaotic at the school. Adding to all that we also had the end of semester report cards being handed out to the mothers and grandmothers of the children. Seno Marta and Profe Gregorio helped me set everything up while the other teachers attended to the mothers. After our fruit break we set the piñatas up and seated the birthday children.
There were a lot and they were excited about receiving their presents. We had 8 from the 2nd grade; that was the biggest group and also 6 birthday boys and girls for the 5th and 6th graders. The gifts for the older kids were a type of change purse and a card playing game along with a new notebook and pen. For the little guys I purchased some marbles and little “superballs”. Each of the children was given a new notebook and pen or pencil as well.

They also had a great lunch that day with a healthy portion of rice and beans and a good serving of vegetables (carrots, onions, squash and tomatoes). We are seeing a lot of different types of squash at the market right now. One is called guicoy and it looks like a pumpkin though it is a lime-green color. I have also been seeing zucchini (calabacin), however, they do not differentiate the naming of the two vegetables here and that is called guicoy as well. There also are huge gourd-like pumpkins that are called ayote during this time of the year. These pumpkins are also green when ripe.
Next week we will be celebrating Mother’s Day at the school. It is a very popular holiday here and all the schools hold a special event for the mothers that day.

2009-04-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

This past week has been a lot of fun. Ross, our "tecnico" from Antigua has come to find out a little more of the GVICA in Lake Atitlan and we have had a busy week. We started off with a visit to the headquarters of the Grameen Bank here in Latin America based in Panajachel. Following a meeting with Borhan (Bank Manager) Ross and I went to a Grameen center in Santa Catarina Palopo which has 35 women borrowers. It was the first Grameen center set up here in Guatemala. On Tuesday Ross and I made a trip to the market to pick up the products for the food/fruit program in the community. We then made an excursion across the lake to San Lucas Toliman on Wednesday where we met up with Guillermo, the President of the co-op of farmers where Allegro sources their coffee. Guillermo gave us a tour of their coffee processing facilities and spoke about the different projects the co-op is working on. Ross has enjoyed seeing the project and will be working with us in the coming year to handle the bookings for the next phase of the WFM Volunteer Program.The school year is going well. We are into the second semester of the year and plans are being discussed for the upcoming Mother's Day celebraions next month. Mother's Day in Guatemala is a huge celebration and schools all around the country will be holding special events and activities. We are planning to hire a folkloric group to come to the community and perform. Their performance will include traditional marimba music, folkloric dances and ancient Maya myths that will be presented in the children's native language of Kakchiquel. It will be a community event and the mothers will be at the heart of the celebrations. They will be competing in carnival-like games and raffles and we also will be preparing a special meal for this day.

2009-04-14T15:06:00.001-07:00

The students are back in school this week after the Easter Week celebrations. The kids were excited to be back and the teachers had a well deserved rest. The whole department of Sololá is very much involved in traditional Easter Week celebrations. Santiago Atitlan being the biggest around the lake. Panajachel is more of a getaway for many Guatemalans from all over the country. They spend a week in a beautiful location and enjoy the festive atmosphere. It is also a time when you see many indigenous families visiting Lake Atitlan. The Maya believe it is a sacred lake. Indigenous and Ladinos alike make a pilgrimage here. It can get loud with fireworks, processions and concerts but everyone enjoyed themselves. It is back to work for the students and they will be starting the 2nd term of the 2009 school year.

Parade Day!

2009-04-05T13:34:00.000-07:00

The next two weeks in Guatemala are the most festive of the year. Semana Santa (Holy Week) is a huge celebration for Guatemalans. Cities all across the country organize unique celebrations. Families are traveling and enjoying the holidays together and each city has its own brand of celebration for Holy Week. Probably the biggest celebration in all of Latin America takes place in Antigua. Panajachel also has its share of processions and is full of tourists during this time of the year. The children will not be in class this week. However, they did participate in a parade that is held every year the Friday before Semana Santa in Solola. It is a great time for students and teachers alike and all the schools in the department participate. The children have a marching procession that ends up in the municipal stadium. Many students were dressed in typical Carnival/Folkloric dress. At the end of the parade all the children meet with their families and teachers for a picnic on the stadium grounds.
A new term will begin again after the Easter festivities are over. The children will return back to class on the 13th.

!MERCADO TIPICO!

2009-03-23T12:32:00.000-07:00

The traditional market is an event celebrated every year at the school. Students and teachers put together a traditional Indian market in the schoolyard. It is an incredible activity and a fantastic learning experience for the kids as they act as 'caseros’, (vendors and customers). A variety of ‘antojos’ (snacks) are offered. In one picture you can see Gloria and Jayrita preparing ‘tostados’, (fried tortillas) with salsa and goat cheese. You will also see Estela and Juanita prepare a dish of saucy ‘recado’ which is like pinto beans in a special sauce of tomatoes and spices. It was a real carnival-like atmosphere and many of the mothers stopped by with their little ones to see the market in action!
This week was also cause for a great celebration at the project.

We initiated our"PlanCapacitacion" (Empowerment Pan). The first week resulted with a huge success. I collaborated with the teachers and we developed 2 different proposals. The most exciting one was for sports equipment to form a football team. It has been something the school has wanted for years. Due to lack of funding they were never able to support and maintain the equipment necessary to establish a formal club. It was a great moment to see the equipment arrive and the excitement of the children (you will see some pictured in their new uniforms). Thanks so much to the GVI Corporate Alliance and The Whole Foods Team Members' tremendous efforts with their donations for making this possible. It is a monumental step for this community. They now are able to join the local football league and really give a boost to the school spirit and sporting events to be enjoyed by all the members of the community. Football, of course, is huge in Guatemala! I think the teachers are just as excited as the children! They have formed a staff to work with the club complete with trainers, statisticians, coaches and timekeepers. They are extremely proud of this new initiative and its possibilities and brainstormed a real winner for the first phase of the plan. The other advantage is the rest of the funding will be used to facilitate school projects in each classroom (K-6). This initiative goes a long way in empowering the teachers and developing their creativity as well as developing a great collaborative effort between the community and the GVI Corporate Alliance and of course a well-rounded educational experience for the students.

March Madness!

2009-03-10T10:15:00.001-07:00

We are settling in for the exams this month and the teachers have been working hard in preparing their students. This week also started our collaborative effort with the teachers. I am working with each teacher to develop lessons and projects to present to the kids each month. We are focusing on cultural heritage and physical education. The kids love it and we have had a great response from the community. The fruit program has been extremely popular this week as I have been purchasing a lot of pineapples which the kids love! This week we added a support wall to stop the football from rolling down into the cornfields. The children also spent the last week cleaning the desks and chairs and mopping the classrooms. Next week we will continue our studies for the exams and are confident the children will do well.

Carnaval!

2009-03-03T10:08:00.000-08:00

This past week the children celebrated Carnaval and "Dia de Tecun Uman". Here in Guatemala the children love to throw the cascarones (egg-shells filled with confetti). This week also marked the celebration of the national hero Tecun Uman. The national hero was a warrior that rallied the indigenous against Spanish rule. Each year schools across the country tell his story and the children have a drawing competition. The food and fruit program are in full swing and I have been purchasing a lot of pineapples which the kids love! The new kitchen is a success and we are talking about adding a third stove to prepare the "atol' drink for the kids. Our cook prepared a great meal for the holiday and the children loved the soup filled with vegetables including pumpkins! At the moment the students are preparing for their exam week. March will be a busy month of studying with no holidays and we will work straight through until Easter Week.

Birthday Celebrations!

2009-02-19T10:10:00.000-08:00

This past Friday the school celebrated the children's birthdays. We had 32 birthday boys and girls for the months of January and February! It was also Dia del Amor, the Latin American version of Valentine's Day. The schools celebrate this special day with the teachers bringing in treats for their students and decorating the classrooms. Many of the teachers brought in traditional Guatemalan fare. Chicharras, chuchitos, tamales and tostadas were all part of the snacks. We combined this with a couple bananas for each child from our fruit program and atol. After the snack time festivities we lined up the birthday children and the teachers handed out presents. It was especially nice to see the Kindergarten children's excitement who participated in the party for the first time. The piñatas were next on the agenda and we split the children up according to grades. The Kindergarten and 1st Grade, 2nd and 3rd and finally the 4th, 5th and 6th graders got their opportunity to break the piñata. They were loaded with all kinds of sweets and trinkets and all students were able to come away with some prizes as we threw them from the balcony to the play court where the piñatas were located. The piñatas were a hit and the birthday boys and girls got first crack at them before they finally came apart. The children built up quite an appetite and the mothers had prepared for them a lunch of pasta and vegetables including carrots, potatoes and squash. Next week the teachers and students will be busy again as the children will be working on their dance routines for the civics festival at the start of the month.

The New School Year

2009-02-03T05:23:00.000-08:00

Children across Guatemala started the new school year this past week. Ventura and Bartolo gave speeches talking about the hopes for the coming the year and the continuation of the project. I also spoke giving recognition to our new staff members and gratitude for the support of the families and community council. We are fortunate to be able to provide the children with fruit this year. At the moment the government has suspended funding of the snack program and the children were not receiving their atol drink giving the fruit program even more significance. We had a lot of fun this first week back. Some of the students saw an iguana on the trail in the cornfield. The children were excited to see this animal and many thought it was dangerous. They are more frequently spotted in the lowlands here in Guatemala, it was rare to see this animal at such a high altitude. It provided a great teaching moment to talk a little about the iguana and the other animals that populate the region. The lunch program for the children has started and we made our weekly trip to the market to stock up on rice, beans, eggs and fresh produce. Everyone has pitched in and helped in the food distribution and supervising the lunch line. We still had new students arriving this week and are expecting around 200 students to attend the school this year.

Gearing Up!

2009-01-23T06:41:00.000-08:00

The school and community are busy preparing for the new school year. The teachers have been receiving new enrollments daily and will continue the enrollment until the school year officially begins next week. Ventura and Alejandro (Community Leaders) were busy putting the finishing touches on the new kitchen. There are two new effiicient stoves in the kitchen that will be used in preparing the children's snack drink of atol and the food for the lunch program.
The Kindergarten and 1st Grade children have been attending our program in the morning with Katie and Megan and we have seen a lot of new faces. Celestina (Kindergarten Teacher) has been helpful with the children in the classroom and it has benefitted these little ones to have this type of assimilation into the educational experience.
On Monday the school year begins. We plan to start up our lunch program and begin working with the teachers in the morning to support them in their classrooms. Katie and Megan will continue

the extra classes for the Kindergarten and 1st Grade in the afternoons.

First Week Back

2009-01-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

We started work on the project for the new school year this past Wednesday. The government has set the official start date for the new school year to be on the 26th of January. Being anxious to get to work on the project I met with community leaders and parents and requested the use of the school to offer a program for the Kindergarten and 1st grade. Katie and Megan are presenting lessons in arts and crafts and physical education for the children. The program runs from 9am to 12pm and we are distributing fruit and spring water to the students. We have had an excellent response from the community and have received between 21-24 children each day this past week. The teachers are also there to organize the enrollment of the students for the new school year and it has been great being able to meet with them and discuss their goals for the coming school year.
I have spoken with a lot of the mothers that have dropped off their little ones at the school and they have expressed gratitude for offering this program. They also spoke of the work we have completed the previous year and look forward to the development and advancement of the project in 2009. We plan to run this program until the official school year starts when we will be working with the local teachers to support them in their classrooms.
The fathers of the community have also completed work on the new kitchen that we will be using to facilitate the lunch program. It is a huge improvement of the previous building and the men of the community are proud to be able to introduce this addition to the community project effort. We look forward to continued construction projects involving the support wall, play court and stoves this year as well as the continuation of the food program and classroom support. We are off to a great start and Katie and Megan have brought in creative,active lessons for the children. We have developed a comprehensive curriculum for the new school year and plan to emphasize the themes and lessons of nutrition and physical education as part of the program in the coming year as well as the essentials of numeracy and literacy at the elementary level.

School Year 2009

2009-01-09T10:33:00.000-08:00

We will resume work on the project next week with the addition of two new staff members. Katie and Megan will be joining the staff here in Panajachel. We plan to begin classes on the 14th of January. At the moment we are busy preparing lessons and a curriculum for the new school year. It looks like we will have an increased enrollment of students, numbering around 200. Everyone is anxious to get going and start the New Year. The local teachers will all be returing and it will be great to be able to work with them again. The kids are excited as well and I have seen some of them during the break and they are anxious to see the new staff members and their classmates.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND FELIZ NAVIDAD!

2008-12-29T06:13:00.000-08:00

!!Feliz Navidad and Happy New Year!!We wish you best wishes in this festive time and hope everyone is enjoying the holidays. Christmas and New Years are big holidays in Guatemala. It is very festive here in Panajachel and throughout Guatemala. The town is decorated with Christmas trees and the market is full of all kinds of holiday specials. Tamales are popular as well as fruit punch and of course Christmas cookies. The biggest night here at Lake Atitlan is New Year's Eve. The Lake will light up at midnight with all the fireworks displays from the towns around the lake. It is a very special time to be here and I can hear the "bombas" going off right now as they are gearing up for the big night!

January will also see the arrival of two new staff members here at the project. Katie and Megan will be joining our team and are anxious to meet the children and the community.

Season's Greetings from Guatemala, hoping Santa made all your Christmas Day wishes come true and Happy New Year!

Gearing up for 2009

2008-12-09T13:55:00.000-08:00

The children are on their vacation for the holidays and we will resume the project work In January. We are keeping busy here with the arrival of two new staff members for 2009. Katie Monaghan will be our new project Manager and Megan Huckins will be the new project leader. Both Katie and Megan have worked o the projects in Antigua and Honduras. They will be playing a vital role here with their work in the classroom and with the food program.

In other news, we have received a donation from the WFM South Region from Bridgette Thurston. This money will be used to help fund the fruit and lunch program at the school. We are planning a special celebration for the first day of classes in January and will be preparing a special meal for the children and the community. Thanks to Bridgette for all her efforts back home. We will be able to supplement the food program for the beginning of the school year with Bridgette’s donation.

This coming year will see an influx of new students. We are expecting 190 students to be attending the school, an increase of 25. This increase is due to the popularity of the food and fruit program at the school and the desire of the families to become involved with our stove program and the extra education that their children are receiving. The increase in students will mean more support is needed in the classroom. Katie and Megan will be providing support in the Kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms when we begin in January.

We are excited about the coming year and the community is in full support of our efforts here. The work of the TMs back home has been tremendous and we appreciate their dedication and commitment.

Farewells to the final group of the year

2008-10-10T16:37:00.000-07:00

We have reached the last week in the project. The school year is wrapping up and the children will be on vacation in two weeks. The TMs were looking forward to this week. On Wednesday we celebrated Dia del Nino, (Day of the Child) before saying our farewells.

We finished our last stove on Tuesday. This group completed 3 in total. Overall, it was a fantastic experience for everyone involved. The families were so gracious and welcoming to the TMs and I believe the TMs received a lot from their interactions with the families.

Day of the Child was also celebrated on Wednesday and the TMs took part in a little dance number. After the festivities, the mothers who had received stoves prepared a special meal for the TMs.

We ended the year with a great group and I know they came away from the program with a fantastic experience. This group is energized about the activities of the WPF and WFM and is anxious to return to the US to speak about their experiences.

We were impressed by the energy of this group and the optimistic attitude. They were also healthy! We had very little trouble with TM illness. They truly got the most out of this program in many regards and their feedback proves it.

We have made strides in the classroom, the food program and have done exceptionally well with the stove project. All TMs combined this past year have improved and advanced this project and we are excited to see what the next year will bring.

Stoves and exploring Guatemala

2008-09-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

The TMs began their third week in schools with a better understanding of lesson planning and the school in general. The TMs are starting to become attached to the kids and were participating in gym class and playing with the kids during break time.

It’s great to see this interaction with the children and we are all pleased with the progress of this group.

The third week marked the start of the stove-building. Mark and Alexa built the first stove at the beginning of the week and Billy and Sarah finished the second stove on Thursday. We will build 3 stoves in total.

Alexa and Erin went to Tikal and the rest of the group went to San Marcos this past weekend. It is nice to see them enjoying Guatemala and all it has to offer. Their curiosity about the country has been a strong point with this group.

They know Panajachel and the area of Lake Atitlan very well and have developed relationships here with their Spanish teachers, home stay families and local shopkeepers.

They are always walking around town, having coffee and discussing the project. They are a close-knit group and are looking forward to the festival this week in Panajachel, their stay in Antigua and the final celebrations at the school.

Independence Day in Guatemala

2008-09-21T15:39:00.000-07:00

The TMs were able to enjoy the Independence Day celebrations this past week. It is a big holiday here and the children put on a special show at the school. We also had our lesson planning seminar on Tuesday and our first full days at the project.

The TMs were working with the children to rehearse their dances for Independence Day. All the classes had a different dance routine and performed them on Monday.

We began classes on Wednesday and the TMs were teaching in the afternoon session. This group has put a lot of work into their lesson planning as well as getting their Spanish studying in, which shows that it is possible to work, study and play!

It’s a very sociable group and they are always doing things together, which is excellent for the dynamic and working together as a team. An excellent bunch of TMs.

Settling in and excursions in Guatemala

2008-09-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

We started the week off with Grameen and Allegro. We visited a Grameen Center in Santa Catarina. The TMs had lots of questions for the borrowers during the meeting and were able to purchase some of the products afterwards.

The Allegro trip on Tuesday started with the TMs first trip on the lake. We traveled through rural countryside to reach the foot of the volcano Atitlan.

After the trip the TMs were able to buy some organic coffee produced at the local co-op. On Saturday the TMs made a tour around the lake visiting Santiago and San Marcos.

We have had a lot of fun this past week and are looking forward to the Independence Day celebrations at the project next week.

This group is getting to know Panajachel and is developing great relationships with their home stay families and Spanish school teachers.

I always see them walking around together and they have taken advantage of the great atmosphere of Lake Atitlan during this festive time of year.

Farewells to a great group in Guatemala

2008-09-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

The Team Members spent the last four days on the project completing the final stove and working in the classrooms. The school is preparing for the Independence Day celebrations as well and the classes have been working on projects that they will present to be judged next week.

The last stove was completed on Tuesday and this group finished 3 stoves in total. The Team all worked hard during the stove-building and the families were appreciative of the new stoves.

The final day is also birthday celebrations and the TMs said their farewells to the kids and the community. The last night in Panajachel was Thursday and we had the final barbecue at the GVI Staff House before heading to Antigua Friday morning.

This group was able to make a real contribution on the project. They had a great relationship with the children and their classroom teachers. We had fun with this group and they were able to enjoy Antigua before they headed back to the US.

We also have a lot of material and resources that were left by this group that will go a long way in helping us finish off the school year successfully with our last group of Team Members.

Into the swing of things in Peña Blanca

2008-08-31T11:13:00.000-07:00

We completed two stoves this week and have one more to go before the TMs depart on Thursday. We also attended a cultural exhibition with our indigenous guide Miguel Tuesday night with Joy and Genie. This is also the free weekend for the TMs and they will be able to explore a little more of the region and some villages around the lake.

Nikki has been very engaged with the children and affectionate. She is dedicated and has really enjoyed her work on the stove as well.

Nicole did well this week. She and Nikki teamed up to build a stove and she really enjoyed it. The family where she built it also invited her for a traditional meal for lunch. She worked hard on the stove and has also improved her performance with her 1st grade class this past week.

Nicole had a couple of potentially tough days in her 4th grade class and came through with flying colors. The classroom teacher she works with is also the Principal and was called away for meetings. Therefore, she took on a lot of extra duties and lessons.

Michelle has been very dedicated to her morning class and has put a real effort in the afternoon as well. She is always well-prepared and has a fantastic work ethic. We are extremely pleased with her work on the project here.

Renee has been a real asset to her kids and her classroom teacher in kindergarten and Marina has a great relationship with her 5th and 6th grade classroom teacher Vilma. She is very engaged in the morning classes and it has been very helpful having her work with our largest class (fotos to come next week, I promise - Dom).

Joy and Genie get stuck in and the TMs live the culture

2008-08-28T14:18:00.000-07:00

The TMs started work on the project this week. We began with a teaching seminar and discussed lessons and the overall make-up of the classrooms they will be working in.

Wednesday was the first full day of the TMs at the project. They were well-prepared and eager to get started. The week was successful and the TMs were able to bring in some great lessons and give a lot of support to the local teachers.

We made a trip around the lake on Saturday and visited San Marcos and Santiago Atitlan. The sky was clear and it was great day to be on the Lake.

The group was very engaged throughout the whole trip as Miguel, our guide, showed the TMs a little more about the people and culture of Guatemala.

We also started the stove-building this week and Joy and Genie were able to work with Michelle and Nikki.

This group has been a lot of fun and we have been having a great time. The TMs will have a much deserved rest this weekend and are looking forward to doing a little traveling and seeing more of the country.

New phase, new faces...same goal for the August TMs

2008-08-19T16:50:00.000-07:00

On Sunday the TMs arrived in Panajachel to begin the program in Peña Blanca, nestled high above Lake Atitlán. We have six TMs on the project for the first time and will be teaming them up in the classrooms.

We started the training this week at the GVI Staff House and the TMs were inquisitive and attentive during the presentations. We finished it off this past Saturday with the CPR and First Aid training.

We started the week off with the Grameen trip. Alomgir and Borhan gave an excellent description of the bank here in Guatemala. We visited a Grameen center in Santa Catarina Palopo on the northern side of the lake.

Daniel, Alomgir’s assistant, accompanied us to the center and explained more about Grameen’s activities. The TMs participated in the meeting and were able to ask the women some questions. After the meeting, the women set up a makeshift market and exhibited their products.

On Tuesday we visited the Allegro coffee plantation. It was the first time the TMs went out on the lake and we had a beautiful day. The hike was tough and it was hot, but the TMs did well to make it up the side on the Volcano Atitlan where the plantation was located.

When we arrived, Martin, the owner of the plot and our guide, explained organic farming techniques and the process of coffee production. The TMs enjoyed it and it was a real taste of Guatemala. There is almost no tourism in this area and it is very rural. Martin is also 67 years old and has been through the Civil War here. The TMs were able to hear some of his stories and came away with better understanding of the history and lives of the Guatemalan people.

We have a good mix of personalities and skill sets here and we think this group will come up some interesting lessons for the kids. They are enjoying Panajachel and the festive atmosphere here. The first week has gone well and the TMs were great with the kids and the teachers during their observation days at the project. These are all good signs going into the second week where we will be doing the teaching workshop and spending our first full day on the project.

The Community

2008-07-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

We work with the small mountain community of Pena Blanca perched 2200 meters above Lake Atitlan. The people in the community are all descended from the Maya and speak Kaqchiquel. There are 175 children in the school that come from 55 different families. The community is a half-hour drive from of our base town of Panajachel.

TMs visit Whole Planet Foundation microfinancing site and Allegro Coffee Company

2008-07-10T14:30:00.000-07:00

Throughout each program, WFM Team Members have the opportunity to visit the Whole Planet Foundation microfinancing site here in Panajachel and also attend a borrower's meeting.

Allegro Coffee Company sources their coffee from the region and Team Members are able to take a tour of one of their plantations and learn about local organic farming techniques and the process of coffee production. Over 40Team Members have been part of the program and we are looking forward to the next group of TMs arriving in August.

The School

2008-06-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

The school is comprised of Kindergarten to 6th grade. There are 6 teachers in the school and TMs are placed with these local teachers to aid in the development of the student's education. The children take classes in Spanish, social studies, mathematics and reading. Team Members hold their own classes in the afternoon and all classes are taught in Spanish.

Welcome to the WFM TMVP Guatemala blog

2008-06-05T02:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome from Panajachel, Guatemala and to the new WFM Team Member Volunteer Program Guatemala blog. The aims of program are to engage Team Members in education and other locally led sustainable initiatives, as well as learn about and engage with local micro-financing through the Whole Planet Foundation and its micro-financing site, the Grameen Trust.

For the last year, the WFM Guatemala program has gone from strength to strength. Currently, Team Members are active in one of the several indigenous communities around Panajachel, Guatemala, where we have had an active presence for the last year and continue to encourage and strengthen our relationship with the community. Team Members support long-term locally led capacity building initiatives which include education programs and other local initiatives. Team Members are directly involved in each of the student classrooms, giving lessons and engaging with the students, teaching numeracy, literacy, and helping to further their studies.

The program is complemented with visits to the local Whole Planet Foundation micro-financing site, meeting local borrowers, Spanish lessons, and cultural visits through the surrounding areas to strengthen Team Members knowledge and overall experience in rural Guatemala.
We aim to create a very dynamic and interactive blog, so you can keep up to date with the latest happenings, news, excursions, and read what each month’s Team Members are getting up to!

This is a blog for all Team Members past and present, so please post comments and suggestions, or send photos and entries you would like to see up here. We hope you find this new blog useful and interesting, but most importantly, we hope it reminds you of your time in Guatemala and helps you keep in touch with the program!