Here is a report from Casey Weimer who implemented the adolescent girls project in Xela, Guatemala:
Dear Penny and "Miracles",
I wanted to send you a quick update on the progress of the project Lauren and I worked on this summer in Guatemala. We ended up with a group of 19 girls, ages 13-19, that attend the courses three times a week for 2 hours in the afternoon. These are girls that, for the most part, don't have the opportunity to study (very few have even completed 6th grade - and none have gone on past 6th grade).
We focused a lot of our time on establishing a safe space where the girls feel comfortable opening up in front of their peers. We opened with a self-portrait project (now and in ten years) and followed up with a day-in-my-life photography project. We were especially able to see a growth in their self-confidence when the girls shared their favorite photographs.
Lessons that followed included self-esteem, gender roles, nutrition, hygiene, and "our bodies". The group has continued meeting since our departures and classes have included family planning, abortion, sexually transmitted infections, and more.
A highlight of our time there was a field trip with all of the girls, Armida (the health promotor -who has been extremely helpful), Alirio and Alexa. We had a conference with a doctor who works mostly with indigenous people and then did some touristy activities at Lake Atitlan. The girls also painted a mural in the Puesto de Salud.
As far as sustainability is concerned, we have 3 peer leaders selected who are supposed to be leading the courses (although it sounds like Armida has mostly taken over) and 2 members of a junta directiva. All 5 of these girls will be meeting weekly in Xela with volunteers to learn about computers and establish communication between us and them.
An additional objective of the meetings will be to become more familiar with the course material so they feel comfortable facilitating the courses. Their next task will be tackling how they would like to pass on the information (community fair, new group, nearby communities, etc.) and how they can raise funding themselves to sustain the program.
We are very excited about the progress made and anxious to see where the program goes.
I am required to do a research project for school so my plan is to head back to Guatemala next summer to continue working with the project - if I don't make it out sooner.
Thank you so much for your support.
Regards, Casey
I wanted to send you a quick update on the progress of the project Lauren and I worked on this summer in Guatemala. We ended up with a group of 19 girls, ages 13-19, that attend the courses three times a week for 2 hours in the afternoon. These are girls that, for the most part, don't have the opportunity to study (very few have even completed 6th grade - and none have gone on past 6th grade).
We focused a lot of our time on establishing a safe space where the girls feel comfortable opening up in front of their peers. We opened with a self-portrait project (now and in ten years) and followed up with a day-in-my-life photography project. We were especially able to see a growth in their self-confidence when the girls shared their favorite photographs.
Lessons that followed included self-esteem, gender roles, nutrition, hygiene, and "our bodies". The group has continued meeting since our departures and classes have included family planning, abortion, sexually transmitted infections, and more.
A highlight of our time there was a field trip with all of the girls, Armida (the health promotor -who has been extremely helpful), Alirio and Alexa. We had a conference with a doctor who works mostly with indigenous people and then did some touristy activities at Lake Atitlan. The girls also painted a mural in the Puesto de Salud.
As far as sustainability is concerned, we have 3 peer leaders selected who are supposed to be leading the courses (although it sounds like Armida has mostly taken over) and 2 members of a junta directiva. All 5 of these girls will be meeting weekly in Xela with volunteers to learn about computers and establish communication between us and them.
An additional objective of the meetings will be to become more familiar with the course material so they feel comfortable facilitating the courses. Their next task will be tackling how they would like to pass on the information (community fair, new group, nearby communities, etc.) and how they can raise funding themselves to sustain the program.
We are very excited about the progress made and anxious to see where the program goes.
I am required to do a research project for school so my plan is to head back to Guatemala next summer to continue working with the project - if I don't make it out sooner.
Thank you so much for your support.
Regards, Casey
girls enrolled in the Xela Project
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