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Banner Photo - Rosario Ordoñez (far left) assists Xela AID in-country director Luis Enrique de León with lesson planning for "Los Lideres del Futuro" (pictured), a group of top local students who meet weekly to develop leadership skills. Watch for a story about them in an upcoming issue.
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CALENDAR October 29, 2011 "Thrill the World" Benefit - Dance for Xela AID!
For information contact Janet Reineck, World Dance Instructor*
805/966-5439
June 2-June 14, 2012
July 29-August 9, 2012
20th Anniversary Volunteer Vacations
Lend your time and talents to participating in the development of the community of San Martín Chiquito and surrounding communities. See related story and links to additional information and to RSVP, this issue.
June, July, August 2012
Celebrate Claremont Family Festival
Benefits Xela AID. For more information, click HERE.
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Volunteer Justin Flint and friends, summer, 2011.
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WE'RE PROUD OF OUR NUMBERS
Many charitable organizations spend 30% and more of contributions on office space and administrative overhead. We are proud that Xela AID is able to apply 98% of your valued contributions directly to funding projects in Guatemala!
Of Each $1 You Contribute:
90 Cents · Goes directly to health, education and the other projects you've elected to support that directly benefit underserved children and families.
8 Cents · Augments other donations to pay our doctor, medical director and caretaker at Xela AID's June Russel-Glennon Clinic and Community Center in San Martín Chiquito. These professionals are there weekdays serving the ne eds of the community. 2 Cents · Covers the minimal costs of staying in touch with you and our other supporters (largely, without cutting down trees) including costs of our website, email, newsletters, and postage.
ZERO! · What we spend on employees in the U.S., expense accounts, office space, or telephones. This is possible because our Xela AID USA Board is 100% volunteer and our office is efficiently virtual! Thank you for your support!
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ABOUT US
Xela AID recognizes that education is key to overcoming poverty and to creating abundance. We aspire to ensure that every child in our current area of focus is safe, healthy, well-nourished, educated and equipped to be self-reliant. Xela AID partners to address the health, socio-economic and environmental challenges that threaten well-being and pose obstacles to learning. We pursue an integrated model of community development, and solutions that are comprehensive, sustainable, scaleable and transferable.
The important work of Xela AID is made possible by the generous gifts of ordinary people who wish to do extraordinary good for others - people just like you! Learn how to get involved, or donate now.
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Xela AID Partnerships for Self Reliance 3571 Windspun Dr. Huntington Beach, CA 92649 http://www.xelaaid.org xela_aid@earthlink.net
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Dear ,
Daily, our "village" of staff and volunteers address the obstacles that, unchecked, keep children from being in school and from learning. Our programs and services span educational scholarships, a study center, and leadership training; health care, a clean water initiative, and micro-business projects. Our integrated approach to community development makes it possible for children and families to take advantage of educational opportunities so that they may make their own abundance and so that positive change is sustainable. We are pleased to bring to you this Xela AID update for October 2011, and appreciate your ongoing interest and support. Most sincerely yours, The Xela AID DirectorsCarlos de la Rosa · Mel Dinkel · Sheryl Fontaine · Patricia Maxwell · Frank Long · Luis Enrique de León · Leslie Baer DinkelKnow someone special who wants to make a positive difference through humanitarian service, or who might wish to otherwise support the work of Xela Aid? |
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Women pictured are among the 29 now being tutored weekly by Alicia Lopez (far right).
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XELA AID LITERACY PROGRAM
EMPOWERING WOMEN
Alicia Lopez began working with Xela AID earlier this year. In her short tenure, she has already began to greatly enhance the quality of life for 29 women who, before meeting Alicia, could neither read nor write.
Alicia began work with Xela AID due to the generosity of Marisa Grimes of Santa Barbara who sponsors her. She worked for a short time with pre-school children as part of a joint project between Xela AID the Guatemalan government, then moved to Xela AID's Study Center where in-country Director Luis Enrique de Leon worked with her to assemble women who wished to learn to read and write. It wasn't long before Alicia had 14 students at the Study Center.
"Most of the women will be reading and writing, simply, in about six months," Alicia says of her dedicated group, whose learning is supported by workbooks, refreshments and the odd need for bus fare by the Karen Edwards Women's Empowerment Project.
So popular were Alicia's classes, that word spread and another 15 women in an adjacent village signed on, bringing her weekly pupils to 29, to date. And Alicia doesn't want the project to stop there.
"I can imagine having 50 students each week," Alicia said as Xela AID directors spoke with her over the summer at Lake Atitlan. "It is very fulfilling doing this work, and I hope the project will continue to grow until it needs two of me!"
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 XELA AID MARKETPLACE
SOON TO BE LAUNCHED If you haven't had a chance to visit Xela AID's new website launched earlier this year, have a look at http://www.xelaaid.org. There, you can read about Xela AID's many projects, link through to our Facebook page, check out upcoming trips, donate, and more. But the excitement isn't over... watch, soon, for the launch of Xela AID's new marketplace.
The marketplace is another labor of love of Gary Richmond and Michelle Anne Richmond, who, earlier this year, launched Xela AID's updated website. For many months, they've been hard at work on the new marketplace which will feature a wide selection of fair trade items sourced in Guatemala - many of which are made from the finely crafted, hand-loomed weavings of the Xela AID cooperative "Tesoros del Corazón" (Treasures from the Heart). Featured, too, will be books and CDs - all just in time for the holidays!
All items sold in the marketplace will help fund the important work of Xela AID, so get your list together and get ready to shop! Watch for the new marketplace launch later this fall.
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Xela AID Advisor Cliff Hague (at left) with helper Giovani during this past summer's Volunteer Vacation.
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XELA AID BEHIND THE SCENES: IT TAKES A VILLAGE
How many people does it take to run an international humanitarian organization? Lots... And with Xela AID, the secret ingredient is heart.
Xela AID will celebrate 20 years of service next year, and its success is owed to those who share their time and talents to serve Xela AID's mission:
* One of its first volunteers, Kathryn Tuma, began with Xela AID a full 20 years ago and keeps the organization's books even today.
* Earlier this year, Xela AID advisors Cliff Hague, Abdi Sami and Karen Yoshino worked to help pen a plan for Xela AID's next evolution...we're on the move!
* Laura Bokesch who created Xela AID's first professionally done website and the related Family Festival website (a Xela AID fundraising event) will undertake fulfillment of orders placed in Xela AID's new marketplace.
* Welcome this month to Mandy Bennett who will be helping Xela AID stay in touch by producing Xela AID's newsletter on a monthly basis.
You can meet these and some of the other people who work behind the scenes to make it possible for Xela AID to continue its work by clicking HERE.
It does take a village to make Xela AID's work possible, and the project Directors wish to thank everyone who supports Xela AID's sustainable community development work in Guatemala all year long by lending their time, talents and financial support.
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Volunteers from Xela AID's summer 2011 trip ended their adventure zip lining at an eco-park on the edge of Lake Atitlan.
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XELA AID 20TH ANNIVERSARY:
TWO TRIPS ANNOUNCED
Volunteer Vacations for Xela AID's anniversary year have been announced for June 2-14, and July 29-August 9 (with optional add-on, to be announced), 2012.
The June 2012 trip will be led by Xela AID Director Sheryl Fontaine, with additional trip leaders and details yet to be announced. Sheryl heads Xela AID's Study Center project. Watch for additional information about this trip in upcoming editions of the newsletter, or contact Sheryl.
The July/August 2012 trip will be led by Directors Leslie Baer Dinkel and Mel Dinkel, with additional trip leaders to be announced. Volunteer skills will be matched with need, and preliminarily, will include mentoring projects with pre-school and school-aged children, construction projects, health care and water quality assessments and other elements. There will be a Spanish study option, R&R at Lake Atitlan, and a Tikal trip option to be announced (later return, likely August 12). To inquire, or to hold space for this trip, please contact Leslie.
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Volunteers this past summer shared R&R at beautiful Lake Atitlan.
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Cost for each trip will be $1750, including airfare, ground transportation, in-country accommodations, many meals and some extras, to be announced. Check upcoming newsletters for links to official applications, or contact trip leaders to hold space today. Please note that space confirmation requires a $500 deposit which can be mailed to Xela AID at 3571 Windspun Dr., Huntington Beach, CA 92649. Please specify trip dates.
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We look forward to staying in touch! Learn more about Xela AID in our November newsletter.
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