Linda just wrapped up her last month in May working in Reformiento,the tutoring program. She enjoyed that Reforz provides a more relaxed environment– working in Spanish, not having to give grades, and most of all, focusing on working directly with the children of the community and building relationships.
Earlier this spring, we gave UPAVIM supporters the opportunity to send Mother’s Day Cards in honor of the women at UPAVIM. We thought you might like to see how the mothers of UPAVIM celebrated their special day!
by Caitie Lezell (editors note: the following blog post was shared with us by a former volunteer, reflecting on her time at UPAVIM. Thank you Caitie for sharing your experiences with us!) [blockquote cite=”Josh Garrels”] So much more to life than we’ve been told; It’s full of beauty that will unfold [/blockquote] I’ve been home from […]
At UPAVIM, we strongly support the use of volunteers in the non-profit industry. We never support the exploitation of workers (paid or unpaid.) Ideally, as our business grows, we will be able to continue to hire more employees and help contribute to the local economy, as well as that of La Esperanza. As members of the Fair Trade Federation, we are vigorously screened for our commitments to Fair Trade.
As you make your way through the school every day, you can hear the sounds of learning and fun reverberating throughout: laughter, singing, kids answering questions, counting in both English and Spanish, the chants of the alphabet in English. Classes resumed in mid-January after a week and a half of teacher training and a lot of […]
UPAVIM’s success is in large part due to our dedicated volunteers. Our volunteers work hard and form lasting friendships while experiencing as much as they can of what Guatemala has to offer.
If I have at all lost track of just why I am here working in Reforzamiento, living in La Esperanza, David has reminded me.
by Linda Billotti Isai is a 14 year old boy that I give English classes to twice a week. He is in the 6th grade, with his brother Rudy, because he repeated a grade when he was younger. Isai is one of the sweetest and most talkative kids I have the pleasure of working with. […]
I think what it is that most strikes me about these rights is that, though they may all be formally acknowledged in this international convention ratified years ago by the Guatemalan government, they still are not actually the reality of so many of the children in this country.
by Linda Billotti November will be a very busy month for Reforzameinto! The kids just all finished their exams and are done with school for the year! (In Guatemala the school vacation is November and December rather than the summer months that I am accustomed to in the US) To keep the kids entertained, off […]