It's just three months into 2008, and already we have
lots of good news to report. But first, as we say
goodbye to winter, the Directors of Xela Aid wish to
thank all those who contributed during our winter fund
drive which is critical to the operation of our
year-round clinic. Each person who contributed to the
clinic and other important programs November-February
has been listed here, and will soon be recognized on the
website pages of the projects he or she supports. (Learn
more about our various projects at right, and visit our
website for additional
information.)
Thank you:
· Barbara Andryjowicz · Leslie Baer · Jack Baldelli ·
Gloria Baldwin
· Helen and Maury Basile · Beth
Boardman · Roger & Sandra Case
· Ellen Caldwell ·
Margaret Carlberg · Elena de la Cruz
· Carlos de la
Rosa · Helen & Milton Dinkel · Mel Dinkel
· Colleen
Dodds · Ronald & Barbara Doutt · Karen Edwards
· RJ
& JK Ehmsen · Peter and Cami Elbow · Cora G. Elliott
· Gabriella Escobar-Uolla · Steve Escoto ·
Debi Esquivel
· Elizabeth Fontaine · Richard
Fontaine · Sheryl Fontaine
· Edward V. Glennon ·
Christine Green · Marisa Grimes
· Mary E. Marvin &
Paul Gronseth · Toby Guebert · Diana Guerin
·
Clifford Hague · William & Joan Herdrich · Alana Jolley
· Judi Jorge
· Don Kiger · Mike and Jamie Kiger
· Jordan, Justin, Val Klarenbeck · Constance Lambert ·
Frank Long · Judy Miles · Mayne Cole Miller
· Mila
Moraga-Holz · Kathy Morales · Ann Muscat · Claudia Nocke
· Daniel & Lissa Petersen · Sandra Peterson · Jean Platt
· John & Sue Prange · George Prior · Kathleen A.Pryor
· Peter Reeve-Newson · Susan Rikalo · June
Russel-Glennon
· Martha Saatjian · Katherine & David
Sanchez · Glenn Stewart
· Margaret Struzzi · Janet
Taylor · Arnold Tchira · Gail Warner
· Carolyn
Winters-Hazelton · Margaret Wixted
· Where There Be Dragons/Liz, Ellie, Chris Yager
·
Barnes & Noble · GoodSearch · Lion's Club of Avalon
· Mills-Lominska Family Trust (Jack & Susan)
· Third World Hand Crafts
Xela Aid USA is staffed entirely by volunteers. It
receives no government funding, but is able to carry out
its work due to the generosity of supporters like you.
Many thanks to these and others who will contribute this
year for making it possible for Xela Aid to operate for
the benefit of the underserved people of San Martín
Chiquito, Quetzaltenango, and the many communities
beyond.
With most sincere appreciation,
The Directors
Carlos de la Rosa, Luis Enrique de León, Mel Dinkel,
Colleen Dodds, Karen Edwards, Debi Esquivel, Patricia
Florez, Sheryl Fontaine, Amalia Vasquez, Leslie Baer | | |
A Mid-Year Trip to San Martín
By Sheryl I. Fontaine With the open arms
of Amalia
Vasquez, San Martín welcomed
Debi Lyn Esquivel,
Katherine Sanchez, and me when we traveled to
Guatemala in January. Debi and I wanted to visit the
newly-minted El Centro de Estudios (Study Center),
and Katherine joined us to make the bi-annual
distribution of PEX funds to sponsored students.
With the gracious help and undying good humor of
Luis Enrique de Léon, Director of Xela Aid's
Clinic and Community Center and administrative
supervisor of El Centro de Estudios, we rode daily
to and from Hotel Modelo and the village, bought
supplies, saw parts of San Martin that were new to
us, and enjoyed good conversation and good company.
In June, using funds awarded to us by California
State University, Fullerton, Debi and I had
purchased a bookcase and storage cabinet for the
Study Center and had begun to stock it with books,
paper, pens, and pencils and other supplies that we
often take for granted in the U.S. but that are
sorely needed in San Martin. Thanks to donations
from generous Xela Aid supporters (named above and
on the
El Centro de Estudios page
of the Xela
Aid website), in October we hired
Juana Gomez Lopez to work as the instructor
for the Center. Juana recently completed her
teaching preparation with tuition assistance from
Sandra Petersen and the PEX program. A dedicated and
gifted teacher, Juana has established a rich
curriculum for the 30-plus youngsters whom she has
tutored.
Even though January is still
the official school break, 10-15 children from San
Martin who had been identified by their  teachers
as being in great academic need, eagerly joined
Juana each morning to work on their math and writing
skills. Debi and I had the pleasure of
watching the children work and interact with Juana
and one another. Juana worked individually with each
child and also with the group as a whole.
Of
course, the real fun happened during the mid-morning
break when Juana pulled out the educational games
that we had purchased for the Center. Little did the
children know that while playing these games, they
were building cognitive skills that can be applied
to their school learning. Each time they beat me at
the matching game (though I lost count of my losses,
Debi captured most of them on camera!) the children
were also honing skills that help in the processes
of critical thinking and reading.
 During
our visit, we were able to take inventory of the
supplies that had been used since our summer visit.
We then purchased an array of needed items,
including kid-sized stools, notebooks, pencils,
pens, paper, markers, crayons, erasers, small paint
sets, and scissors. These supplies, added to the
textbooks and story books that we had carried down
with us (several of which were purchased thanks to
the Barnes and Noble fund raiser
Pat Florez and Katherine hosted in the fall),
left Juana and the children with renewed resources.
We also worked with Juana to make a list of
additional books and supplies that the children
need, much of which we will bring with us this
summer when we return in June with the first Xela
Aid volunteer trip to focus solely on children's
education. We are also excited to announce that we
will be bringing with us two lap top computers from
the One Laptop Per Child Foundation (OLPC). Xela Aid
Directors
Colleen Dodds and
Karen Edwards found this wonderful
organization and graciously donated the first
computer to the Center.
We loved the
idea of OLPC so much that we used our grant funds to
purchase a second laptop for the children. With the
Center established, Debi, Juana, Luis, and I would
like, once again, to thank the donors who continue
to help us to pay Juana's salary, supply the Center
with school supplies, and add to the (growing)
library of text and reference books.
| |
Maria Joins Xela Aid Team
Maria Jose Reyna began work as the
resident nurse at Xela Aid's June Russel-Glennon
Clinic and Community Center in February.
During her first few weeks at the clinic, she
saw 56 patients. In her first monthly report,
she noted that she "takes vital signs prior to
the doctors visit." Afterwards, she "fills
perscriptions and councils patients on sickness
prevention, hygiene, child care, family planning
and other related issues as they arise."  Those
who travel to Guatemala on either of Xela Aid's
June or August trips this summer will get to see
Maria at work first-hand. Join Xela Aid's
directors and the Community of San Martín in
welcoming Maria to the Clinic team. |
A Facelift for San Martín Tots Preschool
Xela Aid's San Martín Tots Preschool began
welcoming students in January 2007. Since that
time, it has served an average of 34 children
each week--children who enjoyed recess just as
much as kids stateside. The resulting wear and
tear created erosion and low spots that filled
with water and made for a muddy playground. But
that has changed thanks to additional funding
secured for 2008 which augments government
funding and is allowing for needed improvements,
school supplies, a living wage for teachers, and
wholesome, hot meals for children. A
joint project between Xela Aid and the
Guatemalan Government, in its first year, Xela
Aid provided just the facility while the
Government paid teacher salaries and supplies
and snacks for the children. The project was
insufficiently funded, however, and wouldn't
have been able to continue. 
Several Xela Aid donors have made it possible
for the preschool to continue, and to
thrive. With additional funding, teachers
are earning a living wage, children have
appropriate school supplies and are enjoying hot
meals daily, and maintenance and upgrades like
the paving of the playground (above) are being
completed monthly. Heartfelt thanks to
Marisa Grimes,
Roger and Sandra Case,
Christine Green,
Gloria Baldwin and
Martha Saatjian for their generosity
providing the monthly funding for the preschool;
and to June
Russel-Glennon who fund for the
classroom, and
Mel Dinkel, the kitchen facility. | |
Welcoming New PEX Children and Sponsors
In recent months, three children have been sponsored
for school through Proyecto Educativo de Xela Aid (PEX).
Long-time PEX donor
Gabriela Escobar-Ulloa is now sponsoring
Claudia Dionicia Lopez Vasquez.
Chris Yager, Liz and Ellie from
Where There Be Dragons is sponsoring
Santos Rivera Lopez.
Sandra Petersen,
another long-time PEX sponsor, is now
sponsoring
Ingrid Maritza Lopez Son.
These children join the nearly 70 who are currently
sponsored through PEX and can be seen on our
PEX Brag pages. Heartfelt thanks to these
generous sponsors!
To learn more about the
PEX program, visit
PEX on the web. To sponsor a child, or for
additional information, contact PEX Director Pat
Florez at:
pat.florez@theecomonkey.com
| |
____________________________________________________
NEWS AND UPDATES NEXT EDITION
Rotary Club of Avalon will Support Xela Aid
Clean Water Project for San Martín
Ultrasound: 8 Months Later
Fruit Trees for San Martín
Direct Relief International Visits Xela Aid
Clinic as New Shipment Arrives
Summer Trips Update
| | | | | | |
SAVE THE DATE!
"Faces of San Martin"
The Art of Katherine Sanchez
A Benefit for Xela Aid USA/Int'l Year-Round Clinic
Operations
Saturday, May 31, 2008
7 pm -9:30 pm
Silent auction including artist prints, authentic
weavings, Catalina vacation & more
$25/$35 - Single/Couple
Includes host wine/cheese
RSVP - 951-733-2588
The Claremont Forum
586 W. First Street
Claremont, California
North of the 10 fwy/West of Indian Hill Blvd. in the
New Claremont Village Packing House
ONGOING PROJECTS
Xela Aid Summer Trips
June 7-20, 2008 -
"El Centro de Estudios"/Children's Educational
Assistance Program - Volunteer group will
work with children in a preschool, elementary
school, or study center setting developing
children's games, activities, or study programs,
helping with elementary through high school reading,
writing, mathematics work; tutoring students who are
studying English, helping children develop basic
computer skills, organizing sports activities
and participating in construction and repair, and
will have the opportunity to study Spanish
one-on-one.
Day Calendar and
Application
August 3-16, 2008 -
Clinics and Construction - A volunteer group
will travel to Guatemala to conduct an optometry
and/or dental clinic, construction, repairs, deliver
aid to children for educational study, Spanish study
for those who would like to, and other projects
which we will plan as our volunteer group takes
shapes.Day
Calendar and Application
***
June Russel-Glennon
Clinic & Community Center
The June Russel-Glennon Clinic and Community Center is
open weekday mornings and afternoons. 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. (Read about
DRI's most recent generous contributions next issue.)
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
***
Sponsor Children & Young Adults
in School (PEX)
Nearly 70 children are currently sponsored for school
through Xela Aid's PEX program (Proyecto Educativo de
Xela Aid, PEX).
Sponsor support makes it
possible for these children and young adults to register
in school and to buy books, supplies and clothing
required to attend school.
Sponsored children
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
***
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.
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
***
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!
***
"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
***
Support one of these
Projects Now | |
