Who we serve
Where
What we do
When
How
1. ABOUT US (Who's behind this project?)
We are Sheila Silver and Brian Swan - retired Canadian educators who have been working with a Mayan organization, Infantiles SOS for the past 13 years. We got involved with this organization- somewhat by chance while studying Spanish in Panajachel.
HOW WE BECAME INVOLVED?
I met a lady on the street who needed a bag of toys delivered to a small daycare. I agreed to do it without knowing that the daycare was across the lake and up in the mountains. Eager to go, but nervous to go alone, I convinced my Spanish teacher to go with me as part of my Spanish lesson. We crossed the lake by boat and after much searching in the small back streets of San Pablo, we eventually found a daycare with few supplies. Fourteen babies lay lined up on the dirt floor of a small classroom. In a small wooden enclosure out front, a young woman with a baby strapped on her back crouched over a twig fire cooking tortillas. I hardly noticed the woman at first because of all the smoke in the tiny structure.
When we returned to the Spanish school that afternoon my mind was racing with all the things that should be done to help this little daycare and what I could do immediately to help. Brian and I canvassed the other students for donations and bought paper, crayons, some simple games and soft toys. Then we also bought a big sponge mattress, had it covered in denim and carted it back across the lake the next day. Visiting a second time, I found out where to meet with the people in charge of the daycare and arranged a meeting that night. At that meeting, although I understood very little Spanish, I promised additional help the next year. Two days later, Brian and I returned to Canada .From this humble beginning , eleven years later we have been instrumental in opening and assisting 10 daycares.
2. WHO WE SERVE
The Mayans, the indigenous of Guatemala receive no government assistance. These centres desperately need help to operate effectively . The families benefiting from these daycares are predominately low income, rural families many of whom have little or no education. Usually the fathers generate income as farm labourers while the mothers manage the home and children or struggle to work with kids in tow. These families are Maya Tz’ulujil, Quiche or Kachiquel.
Education is key to fighting the cycle of poverty and proper nutrition is needed in order to learn. We work with the umbrella organization, Infantiles SOS which has no governmental, political or religious affiliations. Infantiles SOS accepts up to 4 children, aged one to six, from one family. Communities wishing to participate in the daycare program must provide a space for the daycare, three teachers and a cook. When these things are in place, Infantiles SOS trains the teachers and helps prepare the space for the arrival of the students. All daycare children are registered and monthly health checks allow for early detection of serious problems. Introduction of proper nutrition , dental care, eating habits and physical growth contribute to stronger, healthier children. Shoes and warm clothing are also made available to those in greatest need.
(pictures of daycare children brushing their teeth, eating nutritious meals and being weighed and measured and clothing and shoes being given out)
3. WHERE
All the communities we work in surround the spectacular Lake Atitlan area of central Guatemala. This lake formed 85,000 years ago when a volcano blew its top. It is now over 1000 feet deep, 65 kilometers long by 45 kilometers across and ringed by dormant Toliman, San Pedro and Atitlan volcanoes.
(Show map of Lake Atitlan and daycare center locations.I will need to send you a picture of the lake and its communities.)
4. WHAT WE DO
The local school where I did supply work offered support to involve their students in an outreach program that the elementary students could relate to. Brian and I have returned year after year to stay 3 months in the same Lake Atitlan region of Central Guatemala. Here, we personally deliver our collected items and purchase additional materials required to more and more daycares.
( photos of materials being bought in the local hardware store and transported in packs on the chicken buses or by pickup truck and unpacked and distributed at daycare centers)
As our Spanish improved, so too did our understanding of the way in which these daycares operated. We quickly saw that more funding was necessary to be able to help in a more meaningful way. We needed to look seriously at how to raise more money.
Guatemala is a culturally rich country. More and more we met street vendors needing to sell beautifully handcrafted textiles, jewelry and Christmas ornaments to support their families and pay school fees for their children. We loved the colour blends and craftsmanship and realised that others would too. So, we began bringing home products to sell at craft fairs in order to raise funds. A second way in which we raise money is through personal donations. Money, as opposed to donations of toys and clothes has proven to be the best form of help . We purchase in the local communities on as much as possible thus helping local vendors to support their families. Therefore, the “money” provides a double benefit .
(Show pictures of street vendors we buy from- boys selling keychains /ornaments and girls selling potholders, table runners, and scarves)
5. WHEN
Our involvement in this Project began in 2003 when we partnered with Infantiles SOS. The project continues to grow with the help of your donations. Currently, we help support 10 daycares. This furthers the wellbeing of the whole family for it enables mothers to enter the workforce, thereby supplementing the family income. Mums go off to work secure in the knowledge that their children are in a safe, healthy environment where they receive adequate supervision, good healthy food and have educational opportunities, as well.
( picture of mother working a back strap loom or sewing a huipile, children playing with other kids with puzzles, books, puppets, building toys like lego )
6. HOW
Each year when we return to Lake Atitlan, a visit is made to each existing center to determine their current needs and assess how the previous year’s supplies were used and looked after. Input is sought from the daycare and Infantiles SOS staff to make these determinations.
Construction projects are discussed with community leaders, daycare and SOS staff to provide design details and possible labour requirements. This way each community contributes to a sense of pride and ownership in their daycare facilities.
Building materials are purchased and moved to the site by Brian or Sheila and only after the project has been completed and one of us has visited to photograph the job completion are any funds released for labour costs. This way we can account completely for any funds we give out.
( pictures of new bathrooms at Fe Y Vida, fence along a busy road at Palestina, new cement floors at Fe Y Vida and new stove top at Punyebar or Chacap.)
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