Sewing Machines Given Out - San Jorge la Laguna, Guatemala

I was so happy to hear last week that 10 of the sewing machines were given out to women in the village of San Jorge la Laguna!  These are women that have been taught how to sew by Alberto, the Mayan Families sewing teacher.  With the help of several people - from those that donated the sewing machines, the donor that covered the shipping fees, and the volunteers that helped pack the sewing machines into boxes for shipment – a huge difference was made for 10 women and their families!  Thank you!

I hope you enjoy looking at the photos of the celebration.  I love the fact that Mayan Families celebrates the women’s accomplishments.  The women were treated to lunch and cake (not a normal occurrence as it is here!) and received a framed certificate to honor their achievement.  You can see their smiles as they had the chance to finally receive and begin to open their sewing machines!  Their new skills and sewing machine empowers them to help support their family.  What a great gift – and goes along with the Nuestros Niños motto of Service – Compassion - Hope.

Teresa Cojtin

Maria Concepcion

Alberto, the sewing teacher, travels to Panajachel from Aldea Chaquijyá, a rural area of Solola (similar to a state in the US).  He has nine children, and by working with Mayan Families, he is able to help others – and to make a living (cover his transportation costs, food, electric bills).  They live in a mud brick home with a small outside kitchen where they cook over an open fire.  Many of their children are sponsored for school through Mayan Families – as there is not “extra” money beyond the necessities - and they value education.  Mayan Families as of last summer had 43 employees with all but a few being indigenous Guatemalans.  This is just a glimpse into the life of one of the families that they help – that in turn helps others.  It is an amazing circle of giving…

Enjoy the photos at the below link!

https://picasaweb.google.com/mayanfamilies/Febrero10De2011FortosDeGraduacionDeLaClaseDeCosturaEnSanJorgeLaLaguna?feat=directlink#

Valentine’s Day: The Gift of Health – ONIL Stoves



For some reason in February each year, I always think about the greatest gift you can give yourself is to take care of your heart.  Now, I know certain years I am better than others about taking care of myself, but this year I began thinking about another gift that can be given…an ONIL fuel efficient stove.

This is a traditional fire used to cook on in a home.  We could still feel the heat from the morning fire.  Some of the ash is taken from the old fire and spread on top of the pumice that is put in the ONIL stove.  The ash helps to seal the pumice so it doesn't burn.



Just picture… a room the size of a bedroom with a campfire going in it.  Can you imagine the smoke?  The walls are black from the soot.  The smell of smoke is overwhelming.  Now, add in a couple of young children in the room.  Or imagine always needing to bend over to do your cooking over a campfire with a child strapped on your back – I know it would take a toll on my back after a while. 



Angela, Tara, & Carlos installing an ONIL stove in San Antonio Palopo.  There were two young girls that lived in this home.



The ONIL stove (plancha type) makes an amazing difference to the families that receive them!  First, it cuts down on respiratory issues as the smoke from the stove is directed out of the house through a metal pipe.  The World Health Organization has estimated that 1 in 5 children do not live to see their 5^th birthday in Guatemala.  The number one cause is respiratory issues due to breathing in the heavy smoke!   

One of the young girls that would be benefitting from the ONIL stove.  There was an amazing view of Lake Atitlan and the volcanos from the home.





Two volunteers putting the stove pipe and mesh wire protector together.  This will vent the smoke and dangerous gas out of the house.



Second, burns are reduced as there isn’t an open fire for children and adults to fall into (or have their skirt or hair catch fire…or get popped in the eye with a spark).

Third, as it needs less wood, it cuts down on deforestation by 60-70%, which also results in less cost to families or less time to collect wood.  There are other benefits, such as a larger cooking surface and the decreased need to be continually bent over the fire.  Carbon monoxide emissions are reduced from 160 ppm to 3-5 ppm (in the United States 15ppm is considered “poor” and less than 9ppm is considered “good)).   

Installing the pipe that will vent the smoke to the outside of the home.



The ONIL stoves can be life-savers!  Just think -  11 concrete blocks, 3 precast concrete pieces, several adobe bricks, a metal chamber and stove pipe, a bag of pumice, and a metal top – can increase quality of life, but most importantly save lives!  The cost for 1 ONIL stove is just $160 (and is tax deductible).

Our goal is to install 30 stoves this summer – and change the lives of 150-300 people in the process!  We have already received funding specifically targeted for 6 stoves.  Please consider a gift of a stove in honor of someone you love this year.  Or maybe a Sunday School Class or a Book Club could get together and sponsor a stove. 

We would be more than happy to take a card to the family that receives the stove you donate.  Families enjoy getting a picture of the group that donated the stove to them.  After the trip this summer, we will also provide you pictures and a write-up on the family that receives it.  Even, if you can’t donate an entire stove, think about a “portion” of the stove…



We watched many families carry heavy loads of materials to their homes.  This wasn't an easy climb and the materials were very heavy!



Matt & I have installed these on a past trip to Guatemala. They take about an hour to two hours to bring the materials to the house and install.  It is humbling to go into a person’s home and help them in such a profound way.  It is inspiring to see a woman crouched on the dirt floor scrubbing the metal top with pride for 20-30 minutes with rain water she has collected. It is heartwarming to make a connection with a family across language and cultural barriers…

Please consider making a donation…we would love to have 5 more stoves donated in the month of February!

A woman utilizing an ONIL stove to cook tortillas and beans for the San Antonio Palopo Preschool.

Putting the pumice into the stove.  The adobe brick heat chamber is on the right.

More information can be found at:

http://www.onilstove.com/default.htm

Here is a great video that shows one of the villages that we work in...and installed stoves last summer.  It is a village built on the side of the lake, and it is a workout to just climb up through the village.  It also shows information about weaving, making tortillas, and the ONIL stoves.

Play it Forward Golf Tournament

Save the Date!

Play it Forward 

Golf Tournament

to benefit Nuestros Niños Non-Profit

When:  June 4th, 12pm check-in/lunch, 1pm tee time

Where: Three Ridges Golf Course

Who:  Teams or Individuals

Cost: $250 per team or $65 per individual

Let us know if you would like to participate (team or individual) and

“Save the Date” - by Friday, February 11^th

(More information & registration form to follow in early March.)

Door Prizes, Lunch, Shirt Provided

More Students Wishing to Receive the Gift of Education

Student #1746
Name: Antonio
Status: Needs Sponsor
School Level: Elementary School
Sponsorship Fee: $180

Antonio is 9yrs old. He is in second grade in 2011.
Antonio lives in a small village in Santiago.
He lives with his father, Diego. 33yrs old and his mother, Concepion 23yrs old.
Antonio has two brothers and one sister.
They are:
Jose Carlos (student #1322) was born July 5, 2000.  He passed 2nd grade and will be in 3rd grade in 2011.
Ana is 3yrs old.
Nicolas is 9 months old.

The father works breaking rocks in Santiago Atitlan.
He earns $4 US per day.
The mother stays at home looking after the children.
In early 2010, Jose Carlos had an accident.  They were cooking over a fire and the oil caught on fire and badly burned Jose Carlos.on his neck and shoulder.
They took him to the hospital but he then developed an infection.
Mayan Families supplied him with medical care and medication.
They own the house they live in.
It is made of cement block.
It has one room and a kitchen.
They are cooking over a wood burning stove.
They do not have an onil stove.
They have a water filter.
They have a pila.
They have electricity and pay $8 US per month.
They have water connected and pay a quota when the villages asks for it.
They  have two beds for them all.
They have three chairs and one bed.
They  have a closet.
They do not have sufficient food , They need more medication and medical care for Jose.

Student #1772
Name: Francisca
Status: Needs Sponsor
School Level: High School
Sponsorship Fee: $480

Francisca (b. 4-Jan-1987).  She will be in 11th grade in 2011.  She is studying high school and will have a technical degree in computers when she graduates.
She lives in Santiago Atitlan.
She lives with her family: her father, Cruz (b. 1945), and her mother, Maria (b. 1950).
Cruz is a farmer on other peoples' land, earning $3/day.  He never went to school, and doesn't know how to read and write.  Maria makes a traditional dish of small minnow-fish or crabs that she fishes out of the lake, wrapped in a leaf with a tomato sauce.  She steams the dish, and travels to Panajachel to sell this popular dish on the streets.  She makes about $3/day from her sales.  The cyanobacteria outbreak of 2009, has affected her ability to get fish out of the lake, and been detrimental to her sales.  She also did not go to school and does not know how to read or write. 
Francisca has two brothers and three sisters:
Dolores (b. 4-Feb-1972) is married and has two children. She was only able to study until 3rd grade.
Nicolas (b. 11-Apr-1975) is married and has two children.   He only studied until 2nd grade.
Gaspar (b. 11-Aug-1978) is married and has three children.  He never went to school.
Elena (b. 12-Apr-1984) is married and has one child.  She dropped out of school after 3rd grade.
Dora Concepcion (student # 1516) was born on May 17th, 1990. She will be in 10 grade in 2011.
The family owns a piece of land on the river that was lost in Storm Agatha in 2010.  However on the land where they live, they were secure during the storm.  They had hoped to be able to sell this land to pay for Dora's schooling, but now this land is in the river bed.
The family had already put the title of the land where they are now living in the name of their daughter, Dolores.  Dolores, her husband, and family live together with the rest of Dora's family on this land.
They have 2 rooms, made of stone, with a tin roof, and a cement floor. 
In one room, Dora, Francisca, and Dora's parents live.
In the other room, Dora's sister Dolores, and her husband and children live.
They all share a kitchen.
They have a traditional fire stove, but they would like an onil stove to save firewood.
They do not have a water filter.
They have a pila.
They have electricity connected, and pay $15/mo.
They have water connected, and pay $3/mo.
They pay for trash collection .50/mo.
They have 2 chairs.
They have one table.
They do not have any closets, so they store their clothes in cardboard boxes.
They have 3 beds, but they do not have any mattresses.
They do not have enough blankets.
Dora embroiders on traditional blouses to help the family with food expenses. She can do the embroidery in about 3-8 weeks, and her mother goes out and sells them for about $20 for one blouse.