I have been remiss in keeping up this blog, for a variety of reasons, including power outages, too much rain, sickness and a bit of fatigue at the end of the day. But, enough excuses!
While in Santiago, I conducted interviews with parents of new applicants to our Scholarship Program, including meeting with the families of our existing scholarship students. I will do home visits with the families in early January before the start of the school year. I was disappointed to learn we had another drop out, a young girl, whose family needs her at home to work in order to help the family. We arranged meetings with the father, twice, but he didn't show up either time. That is the tragic reality here and a difficult problem to suitably address. I think if all goes as planned we will have 17 students in our scholarship program come January, the start of the new school year.
I have been fortunate to have the assistance of Juanita Tacaxoy. She was our first scholarship student and works in a variety of jobs in Santiago. When I am working in there I hire her to work full time with me, doing all the Tzu T'juil translation with our families. She is more than willing to do anything that is needed. She is invaluable in getting things organized and working with the families. We have a great friendship and a strong working relationship.
I moved my office from one space to another in the school, which worked out better for the school. We had a new permanent sign painted for the office, by Juan Sisay, a great grandson of the famous artist, who is an artist in his own right. I have included the pictures here. As part of our infrastructure program, we have committed to building a music room for the budding music program in the school and will look to fundraising to purchase instruments that are needed.
I also met with Francisco Sojuel who has a community work program where children donate one day a month, during the school year in order to aid the community. It is a program that develops leadership in children, a sense of responsibility to the community and a co-operative spirit. He will accept all of our scholarship students into this program, so that they can 'pay it forward' to the community. All the families agreed to this condition.
