Monday, November 10, 2008

Report From Our Guatemalan Scholarship Coordinator

A Letter From Carmela Paz Bal
I hope that your activities go well and that God blesses you always. I bring news that here in Guatemala the natural setting is changing significantly because we are in the winter season. The best part is that the plants are growing and will soon produce fruit. The bad news is that in some areas, there have been floods and landslides that are affecting various families.

On our part, we ask God for the well being of all the people, especially those most affected by the natural disasters. On the other hand, we are continuing with various activities here in the Fund in order to expand the knowledge of the scholarship holders, and share our happiness because four of the students finish their high school career training this year. The rest of the group will continue in the next grade up.

Everyone likes to participate in the activities we program for our monthly meetings, because it helps them to better their lives and understand other people. The themes have included medicinal plants- their uses for first aid and curing headaches; how to be aware of conserving natural resources; how to be an effective person and achieve their goals; and the culinary art of Guatemala where they showed each other the food of their own village. It was interesting that each region has its own traditional dishes.

As for their studies, the girls are working hard to end this year with success. Each person proposes a yearly goal and the good news is that the majority achieve it through their efforts. They all show responsibility when they assist at the programs and this gives us insight into what excellent students they are; also, we have a better understanding of them outside of their grades.

Lastly, the help of their families is fundamental for the students because it is with them they live daily, or communicate with frequently if they study outside their village. The difficulties that the majority of the families face are economical, such as unemployment, and some have poor health.
-Carmela Paz Bal, Scholarship Coordinator

No comments: