DATES TO SAVE

Xela AID Summer Trips Information Session, Catalina Island

Saturday, November 2nd at 1:30pm

Metropole Meeting Room.

info@xelaaid.org

Sociodrama

Leadership
Training

January 24-26, 2014 Catalina Island

Cost: $280*

RSVP here!

For more information, contact:

leslie@xelaaid.org

*10 person minimum. Boat transportation ($65 RT) and lodging not included; Shared lodging will be available.

BE THE CHANGE on an upcoming Xela AID service trip to Guatemala

Application for volunteer trips now available here!

2014 Trip Schedule*

March 14-23

(late-night departure)

"10-Days, 3-Volcanos"

CLIMB the progressively tougher volcanoes of Antigua, Xela, and Lago de Attitlan to benefit Xela AID. This trip is for the especially fit and their cheering section!

Contact trip leader Cliff Hague cliffrider@mac.com

June 13-22

(late-night departure)

"Dignified Housing & Other Projects TBD with Intensive Spanish Study Option." Includes Attitlan, Antigua and Tikal option. Contact leslie@xelaaid.org

June 27-July 6

(late-night departure)

"Education Programs with Intensive Spanish Study Option." Includes Attitlan and Antigua. Contact trip leader Sue Rikalo at:

sue@rikalo.com

July 31-August 9

(late-night departure)

"Literacy, Art Therapy, & Special Projects at Las Nubes." Contact

sherryrobin@cox.net

*A 12-person minimum applies to all trips which otherwise may be canceled or combined. Thank you for your understanding.

Remember to LIKE Xela AID on Facebook so you'll get updates from our travels in Guatemala and other messages from the field! If you haven't already, it's easy. Do it NOW!

LIVE.LEARN.THRIVE!

Dear Friends,

There's so much happening, you're getting a second newsletter in the same month. Please read on and click through to our Facebook photo albums to see all the good work that's been happening in just the past few weeks. (If you can't click through, click here to like Xela AID)

We also would like to thank the following people for their recent support which makes Xela AID's work possible:

* Maddy, Duke, Kathy and David Nicolson for their support of Sophia Everilda Gomez Perez through our Work Study Scholarship Program

* The SG Foundation for their support of women's empowerment and education through a generous grant

* The Craig and Susan McCaw Family Foundation for a generous grant funding Xela AID's education programs

We are deeply grateful for your support. Thank you!

Xela AID Sponsors Area's Second Annual Scholastic Olympics

More than 450 of the top students from the San Mart�n Sacatapequez region gathered to compete for recognition and prizes in the area's Second Annual Scholastic Olympics. For the second year in a row, Xela AID's Director Luis Enrique de Le�n has organized and Xela AID has sponsored the event to help "motivate and recognize the children of the area," says Luis.

Thirty nine schools participated, with the following six young students from the schools noted having winning scores:

1. Dulce Maria Lopez, Las Nubes School: 100 Points

2. Sergio Alberto Similan, Santo Domingo School: 100 Points

3. Gabriel Perez, El Carmen School: 98 Points

4. Delsi Lopez, La Cumbre School: 97 Points

5. Yoselin Sales, La Loma School: 95 Points

6. Luz Elvira Ortiz, San Jose Mas Alla School: 95 Points

All children received medallians, and the two top winners received bicycles, courtesy of Xela AID.

"All of the children study very hard to be able to compete and to win in the name of their school, and also, were personally motivated by the special prizes," said Luis. "There are so many children that are very good students despite the obstacles that they have to overcome. Here, their intelligence and persistence have been recognized."

Check out all the photos from the Olympics here!

New Classroom for Las Nubes!

The very small school at Las Nubes, near Xela AID's headquarters in San Mart�n Chiquito, will get a desperately needed new classroom, thanks to the generosity of Xela AID volunteer and Education Committee Member Sherry Robin. Construction began this month!

Xela Aid Celebrates Day of the Child

October 1st is "The Day of the Child" in Guatemala. At Xela AID's San Mart�n Tots Preschool, which serves more than 35 children each week, Xela AID's celebration of this special day included pi�atas, toys and music. "All the children were very, very happy and grateful to Xela AID," said Luis Enrique de Le�n who planned the festivities with Xela AID staff.

Xela AID's preschool is a joint project with the First Lady of Guatemala, and provides a head start and two hot meals each day for all children participating. The program also gives the busy mothers time to weave, take care of household chores and have some needed personal time.

Check out more photos from Day of the Child here!

Most sincerely yours,

Leslie Baer Dinkel

Executive Director

"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples."

--Mother Teresa

Seeking...

COSTUMES STILL NEEDED

As part of their Alquifiestas microbusiness, Xela AID's Leaders in Action group is appearing in costume and being photographed with party goers. Donations of costumes in adult sizes would be greatly appreciated (used are fine), including princesses, superheros, vampires and other recognizable characters. Donate a costume and receive a gift-in-kind receipt for your tax deductible donation. To donate, contact Sue Rikalo at sue@xelaaid.org.

GOT STUFF?

Are you upgrading your technology? Cleaning out drawers? laptop Or just want to go out and buy a little something to help someone meet their needs? Consider a tax deductible gift-in-kind that we can put to extremely good use in the highlands of Guatemala this summer. Needed are: