School Visit and Dinner Party

On Friday, July 16th, there were 2 special events in addition to family visits. In the afternoon I visited the school most of the Beca students attend (Instituto Mixto Educación Basica Por Cooperativa Luisa y Benjamin Paul) with Mynor, pictured above with students in their school uniforms.

Later, the staff at the Cooperativa Spanish School helped me put on a dinner for the Beca families. All the families attended, the food was delicious, and if it meant even half as much to the families as it did to me, it was a huge success.

The kitchen crewLorenzo, the director of the Cooperativa Spanish School, speaking to the families

The servers
Some of the guests
The set-up and clean-up crew

Grateful me with the students for a final picture until I visit again next year

Family Visits

The week of July 11th through 17th I had the intense and emotional pleasure of meeting with all of our Beca students in San Pedro La Laguna. I gave them each a small blank book in which to draw and write about their dreams, and talked to them about my life and the inception of the Beca Project. I got to see 2nd term grades for most of the students - proof of their hard work! - and had the opportunity to encourage them and ask them about their favorite courses and their plans for the future. To many I was able to deliver messages, letters, and photos from their sponsors. The students speak Spanish so I was able to communicate directly with them, but most of the parents speak only Tzutujil, the local Maya dialect, so my friend Mynor translated our messages to each other. I've posted a few of the photos below and more can be found by clicking the 2010 blog link.

Josefa Angelina
Miguel
Maria Elena
Josefa
Maria Cecilia
José Antonio
Luis
Juan Carlos
AndreaRosa
Rosemary

These final 2 photos were taken of Florinda and the 4 youngest of her 6 kids. This is not currently a Beca family but the Cooperativa School is raising funds to build them a new home; they've raised about 65% of the $9000 cost as of July, 2010. I'm hoping the Beca Project will be able to help this family - and other marginalized families - realize their dream of a safe and secure home for their children.