This
past summer was a busy one for Xela Aid, which, for the
first time in its history, hosted TWO summer trips to
Guatemala. The first trip, held in June, focused on
education; while the August trip combined medical, and
construction and maintenance projects with assessment, a
distribution of scholarship funds, horticulature and
wonderful photography that chronicled the various efforts.
Read more and see beautiful images below.
Additionally, Xela Aid wishes to welcome
Susan Lominska, volunteer who has joined our Board of
Directors. Susan, a well-experienced and dedicated health
practicioner who was deployed to New York in response to the
Twin Towers disaster, during Katrina, and more recently in
response to the various hurricanes, will partner with Clinic
Director
Luis Enrique de León to fortify and expand clinic
operations.
In Guatemala, Midwifery and Weaving
Coordinator
Amalia Vasquez is joined by
Esperanza Ordoñez as we seek to expand our midwifery
program (details to come in a future newsletter). And a new
board has been formed to oversee selection of candidates for
our PEX program (see image ending our PEX report below).
If you are a current supporter of Xela Aid programs, we
thank you for that support which, during these difficult
economic times, the people of Guatemala need more than ever.
If you are a supporter in spirit and have been considering
your priorities for charitable support, we invite you to
join our Xela Aid family where your contribution will make
a tremendous difference and in fact, might save a
life.
We hope you enjoy this issue of our
newsletter.
The Directors
Carlos de la Rosa, Luis Enrique de León, Mel Dinkel, Colleen
Dodds, Karen Edwards, Debi Esquivel, Patricia Florez, Sheryl
Fontaine, Susan Lominska, Leslie Baer
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SUCCESSFUL PEX DISTRIBUTION, NEW SPONSORS, AND TWO BIG
SURPRISES IN GUATEMALA
During the August Trip to Guatemala,
Xela Aid distributed more than $6,000 in scholarship funds
through its PEX program to needy children who are dedicated
to their school work and determined to continue to study.
In addition, 20 new
children have been sponsored or are in the process of
being sponsored! Some are being sponsored by volunteers who
met a special, needy child during a recent trip; others are
being sponsored by those who've heard about the program from
volunteers including
Martha Saatjan and
Susan Lominska. Thank you volunteers!
Welcome to these new sponsors and their sponsored children:
Alejandro Nguyen Ruiz
has sponsored
Mario Rene Gomez Gomez
Carol Choate
has sponsored
Maria Isabel Garcia Ramirez
Eleanor Linder Scott
has sponsored
Dulce Maria Santos Lopez
Gabriella Escobar-Ulloa
has sponsored
Yesica Exofilia Molina Sanchez
Jo Foley has
sponsored
Maria Rebecca Juarez Vasquez
Joanna Nguyen
has sponsored
Henry Eduardo Guzman
John and Bonnie Switack
have sponsored
German Daniel Vasquez Guix
Kathy Thompson
has sponsored
Nicolas Martin Orozco Lopez
Leslie Baer
has sponsored
Linda Gabriela Garcia Alvarado
Linda Weidert
has sponsored
Andrea Yesica Gomez Ramirez
Lions Club of Avalon
has sponsored
Maynor Andrez Garcia Garcia
Nina May
has sponsored
Rosa Maria Guzman Vasquez
Toby Guebert
has sponsored
Diego Santiago Gomez Sanchez
Vera M. Looker
has sponsored
Juana Esperanza Vasquez Guzman
In the process of selecting children, are
Alicia Stout
Austin and Sally Cappon
Bob Lominska
Dr. Kathy Pezdek
Jean Lominska
Dr. Steven Ernst
Thank you new sponsors!
As a wonderful
surprise, volunteers on the August trip ran into
Rosa Simon Hernandez. Rosa and her brother
Adelberto were two of the first three children ever
sponsored through the PEX Program! Rosa's sponsors,
Colleen Dodds
and
Karen Edwards were extremely proud to learn that Rosa
now works for a doctor in the town of Santa Cruz, Lake
Attitlan, inputting data. This is a fine job which she says
she now has because Colleen and Karen made the difference in
her life through their caring sponsorship.
SEE a message from Rosa to Karen and Colleen!
In another unexpected surprize, Rosa let us know that
Gregorio Garcia, another of our first PEX children,
is now MAYOR of Santa Cruz.
Gregorio thanks sponsor
Jim Mramor for the help that propelled him to
becoming Santa Cruz's first educated major.
Next newsletter, look for a MUST SEE message from Gregorio
to Jim!
Many thanks to ALL
PEX Sponsors, and to our PEX Coordinator
Patricia Florez for making these kinds of amazing
successes possible!
Below:
New PEX Board of Coordinators in San Martín who will collect
and assess applications from children who wish to study and
are seeking assistance through a Xela Aid PEX educational
sponsorship.
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JUNE TRIP FOCUSED ON EDUCATION
 The
first volunteer trip focusing on a portion of Xela Aid's
educational mission (Study Center, Preschool, and
support/interface with local schools) took place this June.
(Xela Aid's PEX Scholarships are the other branch of its
educational mission.) It was lead by
Debi Lyn Esquivel and
Sheryl Fontaine with the help of
Luis Enrique de León. Volunteers included
David Booker,
Sommer Costens,
Raquel Caceros,
Doris Hand,
Joanna Matuszewski,
Rachel Murphree,
Katherine Sanchez,
Beth Saur, and
Janet Taylor. Here's a quick run down of our two
weeks:
In El
Centro de Estudios (our Study Center), we
· Set up
two lap tops and two desk top computers
· Delivered and
catalogued over 100 donated books
·
Painted the Studyroom amarillo
del sol (sun yellow)
· Taught English
· Read
stories
· Played baseball, soccer, school yard games, board
games, computer games
· Hosted a monthly birthday party
 ·
Hosted a piñata party
· Purchased and delivered a cabinet,
teacher's desk, lots of school supplies
At
San Martín Tots preschool, we
· Read stories
·
Made puppets.
· Played with bubbles and side walk chalk
· Sang songs.
In the
village secondary school, volunteers
· Taught a
series of health classes to the students in the village
secondary school
· Taught a photography course and
provided the children with cameras
· Worked with the children to build tables for the school
And as
R & R for our ourselves we
· Lounged at the hot
springs in Zunil
· Took a walking tour of Xela
· Took
salsa dancing lessons
· Attended a concert at Le Fonda de
Che
· Participated in a Mayan ceremony
· Took a
shopping trip to Chichicastenango
· Spent two days
swimming, hiking, shopping and eating in Santiago Attitlan
We ended our journey in Antigua where we celebrated our work,
our adventures, and our new and old friends. Special thanks to
all our volunteers for making this trip a wonderful success.
Debi Lyn Esquivel and Sheryl Fontaine
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WHAT DO 620 PATIENTS, 40 FRUIT TREES, A NEW GARDEN, ROOF
REPAIRS AND $6K IN SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE IN COMMON?
They all "happened" during the
August volunteer trip to Guatemela staffed by volunteers
Alejandro Ruiz,
Camilla Ruiz,
Daniel Barclay, Diep Nguyen,
Carol Choate,
Jack Mills,
Jo Foley,
Joanna Nguyen,
Juan Ruiz,
Katherine Sanchez,
Kathy Thompson,
Kelly Thompson,
Linda Weidert,
Nina May,
Toby Guebert, and led by
Susan Lominska,
Mel Dinkel and
Leslie Baer. Here's what the team accomplished during
two weeks, and some wonderful photos, (courtesy of Katherine
Sanchez):
· Volunteers worked with local children
to plant 40 fruit trees made possible by the generous
donation of
Edward Glennon
· Volunteer (and former Xela Aid
Board Member)
Carol Choate, a horticulturalist, directed (and
funded!) the planting of our remaining open field with
vegetables by a group of students Luis has organized to help
at the clinic
· We saw more than 620 patients over the
five days of clinic, and even slipped in some reading
glasses fittings for weavers and others with close-vision
issues.
· Because of the amazing organizational skills
of
Patricia Florez, the educational scholarhip (PEX)
distribution went incredibly smoothly
 ·
Many fine repairs were completed, including: the roof at the
Preschool (clear panel replacements added light), repairs to
our water well, repairs to the greenhouse (irrigation
installed), and to the clinic building in general by the
team of
Mel Dinkel and
Daniel Barclay with assistance by team members
Carol Choate,
Linda Weidert, and
Alejandro Ruiz who apparently didn't mind getting
FILTHY!
 A
powerful teaching microscope was put to use immediately by
lab staff. Xela Aid gives special thanks to
Dr. Howard Charman and
San Antonio Hospital in Upland for the generous
contribution, and to
Susan Lominska for putting out the word that the
device was needed.
Many thanks to these
volunteers who gave their all to serve the people of San
Martín and surrounding villages.
Mel Dinkel, Susan Lominska, Leslie Bear
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UPCOMING IN FUTURE ISSUES...
· Midwifery program revised
· Another special message
from a PEX graduate
· Trip planned for next year
·
Answers to most frequently asked questions
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ONGOING PROJECTS
June Russel-Glennon
Clinic & Community Center
The June Russel-Glennon Clinic and Community Center is open weekdays
from 8 AM - 2 PM. During 2007, Clinic staff served more than 2400
people -- most of whom otherwise would not have been able to see a
doctor. An ultrasound kindly provided through
Direct Relief International (DRI)
was delivered mid-2007 and is now serving patients weekly. We
welcome your support as a KCO Club member (for "Keep the Clinic
Open") to help us continue to provide health services to those who
need them most. All contributions are wisely administered and
greatly appreciated. Learn more
about the Clinic and KCO
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Sponsor Children & Young Adults
in School (PEX)
Nearly 80 children and young adults are currently sponsored for
school through Xela Aid's PEX program (Proyecto Educativo de Xela
Aid, PEX). Sponsor support makes it possible for these students to
register in school and to buy books, supplies and clothing required
to attend. Those sponsored also received a yearly medical exam and
parasite treatment paid for with sponsor contributions. Learn more
about the PEX Program,
or email PEX Director Patricia Florez for additional information or
to sponsor a child: pat.florez@theecomonkey.com
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San Martín Tots Preschool
The preschool, or "guardaria," opened in 2007 serving an average of
34 children aged 3 to 6 each school day. The facility was built
through the generosity of June Russel-Glennon, and the kitchen
facilities built with contributions by Mel Dinkel. A teacher and
several assistants tutor the mostly mám- speaking children in
Spanish, reading, writing and local history, and serve breakfast
foods and a hot meal for lunch. The preschool is a joint effort with
the Guatemalan government.
Thanks to several generous
donors, Xela Aid has been able to augment the salaries of teachers
and provide for hot meals, learning materials, and repairs to keep
the facility safe and comfortable. For additional information, see
San Martín Tots or write us at
xela_aid@earthlink.net
Photo by
Katherine Sanchez
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San Martín CLEAN!
The program to install 30 permanent trash cans around town got off
to a great start with the first one being cemented in front of Xela
Aid's clinic to much fanfare. Many thanks to those who have
sponsored trash cans so far. San
Martin CLEAN!
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"El Centro de Estudios"
(Xela Aid Study Center)
The new "Centro de Estudios" welcomes children from the PEX program
and all others who wish to participate in peer tutoring and
afterschool activities. Xela Aid is proud that the tutor employed is
a graduate of our own PEX program. To learn more, visit
Centro de Estudios, or
email Sheryl Fontaine or Debi Esquivel:
sfontaine@Exchange.FULLERTON.EDU or
desquivel@fullerton.edu
Volunteer Paints, 2008
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Support one
of these
Projects Now
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