The 6th Edmonton Scouts will host a bake sale at the intermission and there will be coffee (from our Peru Project area) for sale. Proceeds will support
Sombrilla’s projects in Peru and Guatemala

The concert will be on
Friday June 10th doors opening at 7:30 and music at 8:00 p.m.
Holy Trinity Anglican Church
10037-84 Ave.
Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door and $10 for children under 16

Tickets are available at
Earth’s General Store, 9605-82 Ave.
Tix on the Square, 9930-102 Ave
Acajutla Restaurant, 11302-107 Ave
Latin Bakery, 5716-19A Ave

or you can contact us at
sombrillahome@gmail.com
demenoramayor@shaw.ca
Flavio 780-953-3023
Sarah 780-988-2976

De+Menor+a+Mayor+concert+poster

After just a few weeks here, I now know everyone’s favorite puzzle, which students can write ‘big’ and ‘little’ As, and who can be counted on to cause mischief. I was lucky to arrive as the school’s attendance is growing. Welcoming new kids means both an increased demand for the teacher’s time and attention, as well as a need to develop lesson plans geared towards different age levels. Together, Berta and I are able to divide the children into two groups and target our teaching towards skills that are specific to discrete age groups.

Thus far some of the things I have enjoyed are reading my favorite children stories to the class in Spanish and the enthusiastic hugs that the kids give everyday. Some of the challenges include explaining algebra in a foreign language and adapting to the different cultural educational expectations and norms in Peru. As I continue to work here, I am sure that both rewards and challenges will continue to abound!

Another big thank you goes to Katy Cox for the the donation of books and puzzels.

Thanks a lot!

First just a few kids started coming to the classes, but after the first two weeks the number of children began to increase, so that we had more than 30 children in the afternoon and until 15 in the early childhood program, which takes place in the morning. Fortunately two young women from the area showed interest in helping with the afternoon classes and became assistant “teachers”, which was a gain to everybody. It was not easy to come up to all the different levels of abilities , but still we were able to give a possibility to practice and strengthen the skills of those kids, who attended the classes regularly. And there are already news of success reaching us: one little girl has passed the grading test in her school and can attend the next grade now, because her reading skills have improved. Now we hope, that news like these will spread and children as well as parents will more and more realize, that studying and education can be fun, but also brings improvements.

For the afternoon classes we have to wait and observe now, what the attendance will be like after public schools have started again. In the early childhood program we already could develop a stable group of eight children. A parents meeting is the next step to organize a parents association, which is necessary to arrange different activities, like health days, and built up a formal and more binding base for this group. Some mothers yet came up with the idea to cook for and with the kids. Through more personally involved parents, we also hope to attract other families to send their children.

Mothers decorating playing houses, the morning class kids have painted before.

Kids with their mothers decorating christmas cookies

Local youth helping with the preparations for the Chocolatada.

Jhofan and Berta, the education volunteer.

Lizeth playing.

Kids waiting to get their presents.

Mothers preparing hot chocolate.

Kids playing and drinking hot chocolate after receiving their gifts.

Inauguration of Yurac Yacu Center

The inauguration of the 1st module of the Yurac Yacu Center took place on December 4, 2010 and it was a HUGE success.

Guests from the Inn and local women cooking

The community association cooked for over 150 people and there were “perols” huge pots, boiling over a wood fire, preparing potatoes, wheat (llunca), vegetable and sheep (carnero) soup and of course the famous guinea pig ( cuy ). There were 3 local young men playing music, representatives from the local municipality and communities, local teachers, volunteers and guests from the Inn and the kids and neighbors themselves.

Musicians

The outhouse was finished at the last minute and after hours of food, speeches, dancing, pop and beer it was well used. (However the footprints on top, by the seat made me think that maybe not everyone knows how to use it?).

Children dancing at the inauguration of the center

Berta, the Educational Volunteer from Germany wore a lovely skirt ( pollera ) and shawl ( manta ) lent to her by one of the mothers and bashfully danced with the kids, giving them courage and more reasons to smile.

Berta, the education volunteer with her students

The rain came by 2 pm and everyone crammed into the room and waited under the outside overhang. Dogs were everywhere, hoping for a bone, an unattended plate forgotten by someone. The music, the people, the mud and rain, the food, the speeches, the kids, the laughs, it was all so great and to see people enjoying the fruits of their labor, to be doing something positive was worth every second.

Local girls at the event

Classes will now take place there and we have moved from the small red building which was kindly lent to us for the last 2 years. We at Andean Alliance and on behalf of the people here cannot thank you all enough who, over the years, have believed in them, have believed in opportunity, have given a donation of time, of money, of materials, of yourselves. Please, follow our journey as the Yurac Yacu Project develops and as we continue with our other initiatives.

Saludas y Abrazos, Diana

More photos from the inauguration: