I am so pleased to provide you with this update about Xela Aid's
educational sponsorship programs, including 12 recent sponsorships
for which we are most grateful! The PEX Program matches Guatemalan
children age 6-17, college- aged, and an occasional returning adult
student, with sponsors. San Martín Tots gives preschoolers a head
start at learning and hot meals. Your gift makes it possible for a
child, young adult, or a classroom of preschoolers to learn to read,
write, and have more independent, fulfilling and productive lives.
Warm regards,
Leslie Baer, Xela Aid Founding Director
P.S. If you know someone who might be interested in sponsoring a
child, you can forward this document intact by using the "FORWARD TO
FAMILY AND FRIENDS" link below, left.
We at Xela Aid would like to thank the following people for enriching
the lives of children and young adults through our educational
sponsorship programs. Sponsorships so far this fall include:
Herbert Escalante (age 8) was sponsored by MILA MORAGA- HOLZ and GEORGE
CARR MICHAEL PRIOR. Thank you so much Mila and George!
Juana Gomez Perez (age 10) was sponsored by JANET TAYLOR of Hawaii. All
our thanks to you Janet!
Maria Perez Gomez Lopez (age 12) has been sponsored by GAIL WARNER of
Lake Elsinore, California. Thank you so much Gail!
Marco de León Xicará (our first young father returning to school) has
been sponsored by Pine Manor in Lake Elsinore (Gail Warner and Friends).
A million thanks
Pine Manor!
Julia Esperanza Lopez de León (age 7) and Isabel de León (age 13) have
been sponsored by CLAUDIA NOCKE and CARLOS DE LA ROSA of Catalina
Island, California. Many thanks to you Claudia and Carlos!
Grisela Gomez Gomez (age 13) has been sponsored by KLAUS and ANNEMARIE
NOCKE of Echte, Germany. Many thanks to these far-away supporters!
LINDA K. WILLIAMS has sponsored Silvia Marina Sajche Miranda (age 6).
Thanks to this caring San Diegan.
STEVE ESCOTO from Catalina Island has sponsored Porfirio Filipe Lopez
Vasquez (age 7). It is so appreciated Captain Escoto!
FLORA JOHNSON of Claremont, a long-time supporter and volunteer doctor
for Xela Aid has sponsored Sandra Isabel Ramirez Salez (age 7). Thank
you Flora!
Maria Yolanda Vasquez Ramirez (age 7) will now be sponsored by LEON
KAPLAN of Los Angeles. Your support is much appreciated Leon.
Yuri Eunice Silva Garcia (age 5) will celebrate COLE MILLER of Los
Angeles as her new "padrino." Cole is padrino to many other children as
founder of an organization to provide medical care to those injured in
war-torn Iraq
No More Victims.
ADELINE MARTINI of Dana Point, California, has sponsored Leslie Dulce
Alejandra de León Rodas (age 12) who is thrilled! Thank you Addie!
Many thanks to these generous sponsors for sharing their blessings this
fall! The children following will be available for sponsorships
beginning January 2007.
Magdalena was born January 15, 1996. Her mother is Maria Perez Vasquez,
a weaver in Xela Aid's New Dawn Cooperative, father, Juan Lopez. She
lives in San Martín Chiquito.
Luis's exact birthdate is being verified. He desperately wishes to stay
in school, but is feeling the pressure to leave because of the cost. His
brother, Pedro, had been sponsored for a number of years, and went to
work this year at age 18 when his father left for the U.S. to work. We
consider Pedro a fabulous success story since the average age at which a
child left school when Xela Aid arrived in San Martín 15 years ago was
age 10. Due to the family situation, Luis will likely stay in school for
a year or two longer, which, in light of village history, we hope a
sponsor would consider worthy of their efforts and a victory. There may
be an intervention that would bridge him into technical school or
college that could be discussed.
The PEX program was begun as part of Xela Aid by volunteer social worker
Ana Maria Flores in the mid-1990s. Thanks to this devoted volunteer,
more than a hundred children have benefited from years of schooling
that, before PEX, would not have been possible.
The program is simple: For children in gradeschool, junior high and high
school, sponsors donate $250 a year to pay tuition and other expenses
that support their success in school (like a yearly medical exams). The
suggested donation for a college-aged youth is $100 each month, or $50 a
month for a returning adult student.
Each year you'll receive grades, letters, drawings and sometimes gifts
from your sponsored child or young adult, and have the chance to write
and send small gifts.
San Martín Tots Preschool
Opened in January, this pre-school and appreciated "guardaria" serves an
average of 34 children aged 3-6 each school day. A teacher and three
assistants tutor the mostly Mám-speaking children in Spanish, reading,
writing and local history, and serve a hot meal for lunch. Through your
support of San Martín Tots, an entire classroom of children can be
sponsored for a week of learning and hot meals for just $125, a whole
month for $500, or a year or more if you'd like...!
You'll receive photos and letters from the teachers, who you can also
correspond with through the program.
