I had a good visit with Anacleto and family in Patzun, Guatemala. Fred took these 3 photos. One is Anacleto's adorable kids. His daughter has been terrified of me, but when I put together the little Winnie the Pooh airplane that my neighbor Rod gave me, she is now coming around to kind-of liking me. I got a big hug when I left.
The two photos on the bottom are a building and large piece of land that may be available to create a vocational school/workshops. It was built for that purpose but never finished.
It is 1 km from the center of Patzun. The building belongs to the Muni. Anacleto will do more research to find out about turning it in to a vocational center.
Our Naples teachers had the idea of creating a teacher resource center in Patzun so teachers can borrow teaching materials, equipment, CDs and books. It fits so well as part of a Riecken library, which is more a community learning center than a book lending library.
Fred too had a great idea about starting an "adopt a pre-school" program. As many as 40% of 1st graders either fail or drop out of 1st grade. Many schools do not offer kindergarden, and the children enter school without even speaking Spanish.
He suggests using an existing building, and hiring new grad teachers who can not get jobs, plus volunteer teachers, and then offering educational activities, books and toys at pre-school... then you will have a greater chance of a 1st grader being successful in primary school. He is developing a package on how someone can adopt a preschool, and what that would include. Cool idea.
Take care, Penny
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