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| Play area behind Lesbi's Home |
Los Ninos con Bendicion - by Nancy Hoffmann
We currently have 17 children ranging in age from 6-13 years old. Three of our children are in “Basico”, comparable to middle or junior high school in the U.S. Two more children have now graduated "Primaria" and will start "Basico" in the upcoming 2012 school year.
As Basico is more costly than Primaria, our original idea was to offer the children the opportunity to have their Primaria or first 6 years of school paid for with sponsorship. We did not anticipate the motivation of the children to continue their education. The older children are already talking about going to university (which is subsidized in Guatemala).
This year we involved the children’s families in the program to a greater extent, as we have come to learn that the children’s success depends on support from their families. We have extended the types of support the children and families receive. We now meet quarterly with the parents to discuss the children's progress in school and whether there is anything going on at home that may affect their studies. For a child to continue in our program for the 2012 school year, the parents are required to participate in three out of the four quarterly meetings, as well as to touch base periodically with their child’s teacher(s). In addition, the children need to have an average of 70 points or more in each class at the end of the school year.
The family also receives support. We have assumed the provision of ancillary services for the children (taking them for medical appointments and purchasing medicines, buying clothing and the many school supplies constantly requested), as well as purchasing thread for the mothers' weavings (which are for purchase upon request). We also donate extra items to the families and their other children when we have extra donations. As in the past, Lesbi continues to cook and serve a hot meal for the children every day after school so at minimum, they receive a hot meal and some nutrition.
