|
 | |
One enthusiastic participant in the World Book Day activities.
|
Celebrating World Book Day |
The Antigua library held a number of special activities during the week of World Book Day in late April. It all started on April 21 with a festival for the youth group, where the kids participated in a variety of games. These included reading a giant picture book while jumping rope, playing a life-size game of "hangman" with words that were famous characters from books, a tongue twister challenge, and many more puzzles and games in the library.
One special challenge at the festival was to investigate why World Book Day is held on April 23. Two kids discovered that the date was chosen by UNESCO because it is the anniversary of the birth or death of a number of literary figures, including William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and Manuel Mejía Vallejo. The two winners of this investigation won their own copy of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis.
Another special activity later that week was a presentation of Cinderella, put on by a group of high school seniors majoring in education. The girls created an impressive life-size illustration of the characters from Cinderella and took turns reading the story to a group of children.
Perhaps the most enthusiastic celebrator of World Book Day was a member of the youth group who is big fan of the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. When the library opened on the Saturday of the festival, she immediately grabbed the book off the shelf and sat down to read. She didn't participate in any of the activities that morning because she was too busy reading. Seems like a fitting way to celebrate World Book Day!
View many more pictures of the World Book Day celebrations here!
|
|
 | |
Debra with one of her new friends.
|
Short-term volunteers share photos via Twitter
|
Volunteers Debra Des Vignes and Andrew Hayenga shared a lot of great photos of their experience in near real-time, uploading a few highlights to Twitter each day of their trip. We've collected the photos into a slideshow, which you can view here.
|
|
 Join us at the Stone Arch Bridge Festival in June | Join us at the Stone Arch Bridge Festival in Minneapolis this summer on June 17 and 18. We will have a tent near the family activities area displaying beautiful photos by Buck Holzemer of children who need sponsors. Sponsor a child and take home a beautiful portrait of your sponsored student. We will also have Guatemala-themed art activities for children.
Volunteers are needed to help staff the tent and help out with the children's activities. If you can donate a couple of hours on Saturday or Sunday, June 17/18, please contact Louise LeGrand at louiselg@us.commonhope.org or call (651) 917-0243. More info about the festival on their website. More info about the photography of Buck Holzemer at buckh.com. |
 | |
Fernando (left) with his mother and brother.
|
Fernando, scholar of dinosaurs, needs a sponsor
| by Mariah Quinn-Duffy, long-term volunteer
Fernando, a kindergartener, lives with his parents and younger brother Edwin in San Pedro las Huertas. He especially enjoys coloring and playing with his new friends at recess. After school, Fernando likes to play soccer with his brother and cousins that live nearby.
Fernando's mother, Doņa Amabilia, is thrilled that her son shows such enthusiasm for school and his homework. Amabilia's dream for Fernando is that he will continue to enjoy and excel in school so that he may one day graduate from high school.
New home soon
Later this month, Fernando's family will receive a Common Hope house. Amabilia has been working sweat-equity hours since last year to earn the house, mostly tending the gardens at Common Hope's Antigua site. The family's new home will have two rooms with a concrete floor. Fernando and his brother are already looking forward to their own room and especially the concrete floor. Toy cars can go much faster over concrete than the dirt where they currently play!
Reading books together as a family
Fernando and his mother participate in our Early Exposure to Reading program. Each week, they receive a visit from Jacqueline, Common Hope's Literacy and Creativity Promoter. Jacqueline practices strategies with Amabilia that she can use when reading books with her children and then leaves behind a different bag of books after each visit. Amabilia says she is proud of how her family has shifted from spending most evenings watching TV to instead reading books together as a family. The boys like to ask a lot of questions of their parents as they read. Fernando's favorite books are about dinosaurs.
If you can help Fernando attend school this year and beyond, please contact Jessie Szopinski via email, call (651) 917-0917, or sponsor him online. |
|
 More news: Notes from the field | | New stories include a youth group art project and reflections and photos from short-term volunteers Debra Des Vignes and Andrew Hayenga. Check out these stories and more on our blog, Notes from the field. |
 Openings for Vision Teams | Interested in planning a vacation with a vision? In 2012, we have the following openings:
- Aug 18-25
- Sep 1-8
- Sep 22-29 (team of individuals)
- NEW! Oct 20-27
- NEW! Dec 1-8
You can check out the trip calendar on our website. Talk to your friends, family, and co-workers, and start planning your trip of a lifetime. |
 Want to learn Spanish from home? | Speak Spanish Live is a Spanish language school that offers opportunities for studying from the comfort of your home through audio/video conferencing. Enjoy one-on-one sessions tailored to your schedule with an experienced instructor from Guatemala.
Speak Spanish Live is offering a discount to Common Hope supporters. Enter the coupon code "COMMON" to receive $50 off. Learn more on their website. |
|
