LogoChild in Family Aid ProgramEl Baranco Preschool
 
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In This Issue
New Preschool in El Barranco
Cristobalina Adjusting to Life Without Hands
Formula and Fortified Milk
Donate Your Vehicle, Help Mayan Families
donate car
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Volunteer of the Month!

June with laptop
Jun is a volunteer visiting us from Korea.  He has been traveling in the US and Mexico for the last year, and we're lucky that he has decided to spend some time with us!  He is studying computer engineering, and has already gotten several donated computers up and running, including this laptop.  Thanks Jun!
Mayan Families Connections
is an online community for our supporters!  To participate, visit the MFC Blog, or join the Yahoo! mailing group to keep up with the latest news.
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Mayan Families

P.O. Box 52

Claremont, NC 28610

 

About Us
Mayan Families is a small non-profit group working in the Highlands of Guatemala. We are a registered 501(c)(3) Non Profit Charity of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Your donation is tax deductible. 

 

 

 

Monthly e-Newsletter
May to June 2011

Greetings!


Story1New Preschool in El Barranco  
El Barranco Preschool 
On April-28-2011, we opened our 6th Pre-school Nutritional Center in the rural town of El Barranco. The community in El Barranco has been hoping for us to open a preschool there for years, and the town is very excited that we were finally able to do it.
The first class has 29 students between the ages of 3 and 5, who were selected to enroll because they are malnourished or at risk of becoming malnourished.  Just as in our other 5 pre-schools, each one of them will receive a daily breakfast as well as a healthy snack, a multi-vitamin, and instructions on basic hygiene. The children in this village all speak Kakchiquel and the pre-school will give them a chance to learn Spanish, the national language of Guatemala. This will give them a head start when they go to elementary school and hopefully, ensure a successful and happy school experience.
Story2Cristobalina Adjusting to Life Without Hands

Cristobalina Cristobalina is 15 years old, and last year she was horribly burned when she accidentally touched a live high-voltage wire that was not properly covered.  Both of her hands and part of one foot had to be amputated as a result of her injuries, but, after months and months in the hospital, she has finally returned home.  Despite all the efforts Cristobalina's family is making to help her with her healing process, they do not have the resources to help her heal and also support themselves.  

 

She needs physical therapy, but they live too far from a health center to be able to take her regularly.  We would like to send her for a consultation, in order to explore different options for her--perhaps her parents can be taught how to help her with exercises, so that they don't have go travel as often.  A visit to the specialist, including special transportation for Cristobalina, will cost $73.

 

Cristobalina lives with her parents and 4 of her brothers and sisters, and the family of 7 shares 3 beds.  Her siblings take turns sleeping on the floor so that Cristobalina can have a bed, since she cannot share with anyone who might touch her burns during the night.  A new bed and mattress for Cristobalina would cost $170, and would greatly help her and her family as they cope with the costsof this tragedy.  Furthermore, any help with living expenses would be invaluable to them as they fight to care forCristobalina and still keep food on the table.  To read more about Cristobalina, please read her story on the Family Aid Blog.  To help her, please go to Donate Now, and enter your donation in the "Other" box, with FA81 in the 'Details'.  Thank you!

 

Story3Formula and Fortified Milk Distribution 
 

This Monday, June 13th, was an important
day for many of the mothers in the Lake Atitlan region. 9:00 AM found our waiting area full of women carrying babies on their backs and watching older children playing in the yard.
Our shipment of formula and fortified milk
came in on Monday- a monthly occurrence
that draws women from towns all around
the lake.
We were able to distribute this crucial source
of nourishment to approximately 80 infants and children today, giving the families a type of milk specific to their children's age.

 

    While breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for infants, many mothers here in the Lake Atitlan region of Guatemala are malnourished and unable to produce enough milk for their babies. Other women need to go back to work shortly after giving birth, decreasing their availability to breastfeed, and thus decreasing their overall production of milk.

 

    Traditionally, mothers who are unable to breastfeed have used rice water, sugar water,
or coffee to fill their baby's bottle. Baby
formula is too expensive for the average family's budget. The fortified milk we were able to distribute today could be what's standing between these children and malnourishment. Whether it's for the 15 day-old baby who has yet to be named, or the 3 year-old girl who is struggling to maintain a healthy weight due to lack of food, the donations that allow us to provide for these families are greatly appreciated.  

The Mayan Families staff, volunteers and Interns Thank you!!

Sincerely,
Sharon Smart-Poage
Mayan Families
www.mayanfamilies.org
Tel: 619-550-2608
 
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