Guatemala is a country with 22 distinct languages. Some think that the Maya languages are closely related and that they share many of the same words. The reality is that there are more Spanish words in common than shared Maya words. Child Aid works in regions where different Maya languages are spoken. In the Lake Atitlán region, several […] Continue Reading
Child Aid News
Las Canoas Benefit Show
Portland people – put Friday, June 19 on your calendars! Portland rockers Pink Widower, Chores and the all new Tine will play a benefit show at The World Famous Kenton Club to help the community of Las Canoas, Guatemala. Local musician/youth development activist, Ivy Ross, organized the event, which promises to be four hours of loud and very danceable rock-and-roll! Proceeds from the […] Continue Reading
Counting in Kaqchikel
Have you ever tried to calm a bunch of kids who just ran into the classroom after recess? This teacher in Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Guatemala, has her 3rd grade students sing a song before they sit down to listen to a story, just to release any extra energy. In this song they are counting to […] Continue Reading
Los mejores días en la escuela (The Best Days in School)
Esta pequeña historia está relacionada con el programa de animación a la lectura. La maestra Magali Castillo es la madre de alumna Andrea Hernández Castillo de 11 años de edad y quien estudia en la escuela cantonal de El Tejar, Chimaltenango, cursando el quinto grado. Hace algunos días tuve la oportunidad de platicar con ella […] Continue Reading
So, how do you like the blog?
OK, we’ve been blogging about Child Aid for about three months now, and I can’t help myself from asking … What do you think about the blog? Is it giving you a better sense of the day-to-day work we’re doing? Is there anything we’re missing, things you’d like us to tell you about that we’re […] Continue Reading
Historia de viaje a Santiago Atitlán
Viajando el día 20 de abril, hacia la biblioteca de Santiago Atitlán en una cantón que le denominan ‘Tzanchaj’. Para llegar tengo que cruzar el Lago Atitlán, tomando la lancha en el Municipio de Panajachel. Durante el día todo fue muy bien en el desarrollo de nuestra actividad, apoyando al bibliotecario del lugar con forma de orientación […] Continue Reading
A Librarian with Passion and a Dream
How does she do it? I am talking about Blanca Esquina, the fiery librarian in Chicacao who works tirelessly to help the children in her community receive an education. The library has more than 1,500 users a month. At times it overflows with students, and many wait outside until there is space available for them […] Continue Reading
Measuring Success: Reading Programs in Guatemala
Kristen Anderson, one of our program coordinators in Guatemala, recently took this photo of a group of elementary school students taking a test. The test was part of a pilot program we’re working on to gauge the success of our reading programs. We see the positive effects of our programs every day, (as do communities […] Continue Reading
The Gift of Reading
Today we were working in the Melotto library in Chimaltenango where we have had a weekly reading program there for about 2 years now. One of the 6th graders, Oxim (o-SHEEM), has been a regular borrower in our lending program. It was no surprise when she walked into the library during the recess period to look […] Continue Reading
Buy Ethical Bean Coffee, Help Send a Child to School
Great news! Ethical Bean coffee is now available to coffee drinkers in the United States! The Vancouver, BC coffee roaster, owned by Lloyd Bernhardt and Kim Schachte, is a longtime supporter of Child Aid. Every December, for several years now, Ethical Bean has donated $1 for every bag of coffee they sell to Child Aid as part […] Continue Reading