Orphan’s Hope Project Blog

How was your Christmas? I hope it was peaceful. Christmas is over and the boys are still excited about all the parties, visits and gifts that they have been given. Thanks to many of you, the boys had a better 2007 than they’ve ever had.

New Year’s is just around the corner and that’s an exciting time for the boys as well. Guatemalans love their fireworks. And New Year’s Eve day will be a day of fireworks. Every family tries to buy fireworks to set off throughout the afternoon & evening on New Year’s Eve and early into the morning on January 1st. They’re all hoping for a good year. Hopefully I’ll be able to show you some fireworks pictures soon… from the orphanage.

Happy New Year to all !

Diane

Colegio is the Spanish word for College. When we refer to the Hogar Miguel Magone boys that go to colegio, we’re really talking about the boys that go to private school. Last January, we started 7 boys in colegio in Guatemala City. During the school year, one boy left the orphanage and another older boy decided that colegio was too difficult. And it probably was as he did not have a good educational background and it was too hard to catch up. So 5 boys ended the school year at colegio.

The basic public schools do not give the boys a very good education. It is lacking in so many aspects. High student to teacher ratios, lack of classroom supplies & books, inexperienced or untrained teachers, lack of enrichment programs, lack of computers, no organized sports, no electronic equipment, etc. means that their public schools teach the kids less than ours do here in the US and Canada. And English is not spoken or taught in the public schools. Most of the teachers do not speak any English at all….even the headmasters or principals. If these kids want jobs that deal with tourists or work in business, they need to know English. And English is sorely lacking in their education.

Students have to pass tests to be eligible for colegio. In October, a few more kids took the entrance exams for colegio. We now have 10 kids that are eligible for colegio. At Colegio Americano, the costs are about $500 to $600 a year per child. Some of those estimated costs are for school uniforms, transportation to and from school and food while at school. That’s not $500 or $600 a month. It’s for the entire school year. I know of private schools here that are $1000 to $1500 a month. Such a difference!

Orphan’s Hope Project is making private school possible for the eligible boys. A couple of boys have sponsors and their costs are already budgeted for and paid. This week, Orphan’s Hope Project wired $3,000 US to the orphanage account for private school tuition. Additionally, we are cutting down on their costs by buying the boys their uniform shoes and tennis shoes in January. With our help, these 10 eligible children will now get a better education, have better opportunities and become more productive adults.

Thank you donors. You are giving these students a better education and a better chance at life.

Yes! It was a success. We now have over 300 pairs of new socks to take to the orphanage. Stacey M. came in to see me yesterday and she had collected socks from three sources. Those three sources are Ellerhorst Elementary School in Pinole, Cub Scout Pack 42 in Pinole and Mrs. Lee’s classroom. Thanks to Stacey’s efforts and time, she was able to gather over 200 pairs of socks. Add those 204 pairs to the more than 100 pairs of socks that I had recently been given, we now have over 300 pairs. And that count doesn’t even include the soccer uniform socks that the medianos and grandes will be getting !

Stacey and I spent some time talking about the orphanage and looking at lots of pictures of the orphanage and the boys. She had printed a couple of 8 x 10 pictures and gave them to me… of the kids who collected the socks. Those two pictures were like a Christmas present to me. Cute kids! She also gave me dozens of new pencils for the boys. It’s good for our kids here in the US to hear how others live, others who don’t have so many material possessions, toys or a ‘normal’ family life.

What am I going to do with all these socks? They’re going in a big duffle bag and that bag will be one of my pieces of checked luggage. I’ll just stuff it as full as I can. Socks don’t weigh much, even that many pairs, so it will be an easy piece of luggage to handle. By taking them in a duffle bag, I’ll have one less piece of luggage on my return flight back to the US. That empty duffle bag will go into my other luggage and the return flight will be easier. And that’s a good thing.

Over 300 pairs of socks ! That’s certainly a good thing.

Thanks everyone. Your donations of socks are greatly appreciated.

Diane

What happens when hardworking men and women have big, generous hearts? They raise some $, make some plans and get on an airplane. And we benefit.

Kristen, Roger, Steve and Roger were at the orphanage last week for their 4 day work experience….building fences. They are back in the US now. They think the orphanage is magical and they loved their time at the orphanage. They worked with Brian, our resident carpenter, and with some older boys. They all worked together to build new fences. And they paid for the materials too. The new fences are beautiful and sturdy. The older boys helped by painting, measuring, blocking the pickets and fastening the pickets and the posts with screws. Nails are ok but the screws make the fences even better. The boys have feelings of accomplishment by seeing the final product…. new white picket fences. The boys that helped will see those fences every day and I’ll betcha they’ll take care of them more since they worked so hard, painted and helped build them! They have a feeling of ownership now.

The fence crew got quite involved in the daily lives of the boys. They did a little of everything. After mealtimes, Roger was quite often found in the kitchen, scrubbing pots, dishes, cooking utensils and even mopping the floor. He just rolled up his sleeves and got to work. There are always things to do when you’re staying at the orphanage. You might be playing basketball with the boys, wiping a runny nose, listening to the kids, serving meals, helping the cook carry food, sorting through donations, helping with English skills and just being there. Just being there with the kids is so important…..as are hugs. Getting lots of hugs is good for everyone. Our volunteers find themselves as objects of affection and attention. The boys look up to them and emulate our volunteers. Our volunteers are role models for the boys and all boys need good, hardworking role models.

Goodbyes are always difficult. And they are usually emotional and tearful when volunteers are saying their final goodbyes to the boys. And it was no exception with this group. The kids, teachers, Karen, Monica and Brian gathered in the dining room with the fence crew to celebrate the experience and the work that got done. There were speeches, giving of small gifts, lots of hugs and tears.

The trip was so magical that there are plans being made to come back in February. And that’s a good thing. Roger, Steve, Kristen and Roger are now part of the Hogar Miguel Magone family. Welcome to our family!

We’re looking forward to your return.

Diane

74

Yep! That’s how many pairs of new socks I got today for the boys. Wendy R. collected socks from her friends and other groups. Yep, those socks are going with me in my luggage.

Thanks Wendy and friends. We appreciate it!

Diane

Happy Holidays to all from Hogar Miguel Magone. Orphan’s Hope Project is so thankful that all of you are involved in the lives of the boys.

How’s your Spanish? This is a Christmas card from the orphanage to you.

Yes, I’ve heard from Jessica, the flight attendant that was at the orphanage last week. She LOVED it there… loved it. It was an emotional time for her. She was amazed that these kids were happy and thankful with so little. Jessica plans to stay involved and is already talking about going back in the next couple of months. That’s what we like to hear.

Jessica met an ambassador from Airline Ambassadors International on her return flight home. She and Shannon talked about the orphanage and ways to get involved and stay involved. I’ve now been in phone contact with Shannon and have e-mailed others at AAI. Good things are in the works.

The sock drive at the local school will be concluded this week. I’m curious to see how many socks I might get by the end of the week. Keep your fingers crossed for us! Those boys need those socks!

Take care.

Diane

The boys are getting many visitors during the month of December. There are school groups, clubs, church groups and others from Guatemala who make daytime visits to the orphanage during December. Usually, they bring food for the boys and sometimes play games and leave donations for the boys. People seem to be in and out all the time in the two weeks before Christmas. There is more going on in December than any other month of the year.

But it’s not the same as having parents. The boys get one visit a month from their parents… if they have parents. Some have parents but those parents aren’t interested in visiting. Some parents have transportation problems and don’t have the time or the money to visit their children. And some parents just aren’t there for their children, either mentally or physically.

The difficult time for the kids is right after Christmas. The special treats, games, visits, attention and little gifts come to a stop. The holidays are over. The 3 month school holiday is coming to an end around January 14, 2008. After Christmas and New Year’s, the kids have more anxiety, more doubt, more loneliness and more time to think about their lives and all the things they don’t have.

Sometimes, less is more. Think about it.

I recently heard that a local school is having a sock drive for the boys at the orphanage. And another teacher from another school is having a classroom sock drive. A local Cub Scout Pack is having a sock drive for the boys. Individuals are bringing me new socks as a result of the Marketplace Magazine that was published on December 1st.

It’s working… it’s working.

Go ahead…. keep socking it to me! I love it!

Thanks everyone.

Diane

It’s been a whirlwind for a couple of days. Last week, I got an e-mail from Jessica, a flight attendant. Jessica was on the flight that the fence builders took when they flew to Guatemala on Tuesday, December 4th. They got to talking about their trip to the orphanage and Jessica got very interested. The Boston fence building crew gave Jessica my contact information and hence… the first e-mail. Jessica and I e-mailed back and forth, talked on the phone and a plan was formulated. In less than a week, Jessica went out and bought gifts for the boys, did a little fundraising and flew to Guatemala. She arrives this morning. Whew ! She decided she wanted to help and she just did it…. no hesitation!

One of the best things about her going to the orphanage is that I got to meet her last night at the San Francisco airport. I met her when she got off her flight from Chicago. I had 40 soccer jerseys and 40 shorts packed up in a suitcase. We repacked some of her things….after all, she did have a big, checked bag of toys too. She got on a flight to LA last night, changed planes in LA and arrived in Guatemala, early this morning, Tuesday, December 11th. Jessica is from Puerto Rico and is fluent in Spanish. She’ll be an asset to the orphanage. She is looking forward to being with the boys and being at the orphanage. I am thrilled that 40 soccer uniforms are now in the orphanage, waiting for me and my after Christmas arrival. Because of Jessica’s efforts, I now have more room in my luggage for other things for the boys.

I’m looking forward to hearing her stories about the boys and her experiences. I’m sure she’ll fall in love like we all do when we stay with the boys.

Here’s an example of another person, doing what they can, to help others that are less fortunate. And it was a big help to me too.

Jessica, Thank you so much.

Diane