Join me for this semi-annual sale featuring Guatemalan weaving from Asociación Maya de Desarrollo, Solola, Guatemala; Fair trade coffee from the Campesino Committee of the Highlands (CCDA), Guatemala; and jewelry from Casa Milagro, Guatemala. See some of the available products online.
Featuring weaving demonstrations by Maria Xoch Ajacalon from Asociación Maya.
Saturday, September 17
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
772 Coxwell Avenue (north of Danforth Avenue and Coxwell subway station)
Toronto
For more information: Ken McGuffin, mcguffin@rotman.utoronto.ca
Donations will also be accepted for the El Triunfo Education Project, which provides an affordable education for the sons and daughters of weavers from Asociacion Maya through the establishment of a middle school in the village of El Triunfo, Guatemala. Donations are also accepted for the purchase of food baskets which have been distributed to families in El Triunfo and near-by communities since the first year of the pandemic.
Hello from Guatemala where I’ve been visiting the school we are supporting in the community of El Triunfo. As our students in Ontario look forward to returning to class next week, students in El Triunfo are entering into the last two months of the school year. Unlike my previous visit where I missed meeting the school director, teachers and students, I was able to connect with some of them. The community continues in the red level of the Guatemalan COVID-19 traffic light system which limits in-person school activities. A third of each class attends classes one day per week on either Monday, Wednesday or Thursday. While it’s not an idea situation, the learning continues as the teachers are in contact with the students on a daily basis to assist with projects and homework.
Visit to the School
It’s also the last weeks for their term for the community members with the economic develop council who I work with on the school. Victor and his colleagues want to thank you for your support of the school over the past two years, especially your support of the washroom project last year. A new council will be in place in October and I’m delighted there will be some familiar faces on the new team.
(If you are donating online, please indicate the amount, then under “Apply your donation to a specific fund set up by this charity” select the second option which is “El Triunfo School.” You may also wish to indicate that your donation is for Ken’s School in the note.)
For those who prefer to send in a cheque payable to Casa-Pueblito, please note that they have a new address.
Casa-Pueblito
2356 Bloor St. W, Toronto, ON
M6S 1P3
ATTN: El Triunfo School Project
Thanks for your continued support.
Ken
PS – We also continue to provide families in El Triunfo and surrounding communities with food baskets. This morning baskets were delivered to 45 women in El Triunfo and surrounding villages. Baskets contained staples such as rice, pasta, oatmeal, coffee, cooking oil, and soap. As in Canada, food prices continue to rise in Guatemala. Thanks for your donations in recent weeks, which has made this possible. Donations for the baskets should be made to me directly.
In the pick-up truck, getting ready for the next drop-off.
Recently I was in Guatemala to visit the school we are supporting in the community of El Triunfo in Guatemala.
Unfortunately, the community continues in the red level of the Guatemalan COVID-19 traffic light system which limits in-person school activities. As a result I missed meeting any students as well as the teachers. But it was still a good opportunity to receive updates on the school as well as the paperwork for the first months of the school year.
El Triunfo, June 3, 2022
I’d like to extend thanks on behalf of Gregorio, the school director, as he is greatly enjoying working on his new laptop which was purchased with your donations. We also decided to defer the painting of the school and other minor repairs until later in the year or the next calendar year.
(If you are donating online, please indicate the amount, then under “Apply your donation to a specific fund set up by this charity” select the second option which is “El Triunfo School.” You may also wish to indicate that your donation is for Ken’s School in the note.)
For those who prefer to send in a cheque payable to Casa-Pueblito, please note that they have a new address.
Casa-Pueblito
2356 Bloor St. W, Toronto, ON
M6S 1P3
ATTN: El Triunfo School Project
Thanks for your continued support.
Ken
PS – We also continue to provide families in El Triunfo and surrounding communities with food baskets. At the start of this month, baskets were delivered to 45 women in different villages. Baskets contained staples such as rice, pasta, oatmeal, coffee, cooking oil, and soap. As in Canada, food prices continue to rise in Guatemala. Thanks for your donations in recent weeks, which has made this possible. Donations for the baskets should be made to me directly.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, a new school year began in January in the middle school we are supporting in the community of El Triunfo in Guatemala.
Visit to the school, January 2022
During a visit to the community, I was able to spend some time with the teachers, in advance of the first day of school, as well as visiting the school during a class day in late January. Unfortunately the COVID traffic light system had moved to red which limits in-person school activities. But fortunately over the past two years the teachers and students have adapted to hybrid learning. During one of the visits, the teachers summarized some of the school’s activities from the past two years. In addition to completing assignments at home to be brought into the school for grading, students also had “video” homework assigned. The students filmed their activities ranging from conducting experiments for science class to preforming soccer drills for phys ed and sent the videos via Whatsapp to their teachers. The presentation was fascinating to watch and showed the passion and creativity the teachers are bringing to their work.
Around 50 students enrolled in the school in January with additional students continuing to register throughout February.
In addition to helping to pay the monthly salaries of the teachers and staff, I received two additional requests for funding. First, the laptop used by Gregorio, the school’s director, needs to be replaced. This is one of the laptops you donated to the school several years ago. It is now at the end of its useful life. Second, there is a request for paint and other supplies to refresh the look of the building and to repair an issue with the roof before the rainy season starts in a few months. Some paint has been donated by a local credit union but another $1500 in materials is needed.
If you would like to make a donation to the school to help pay the monthly salaries of the teachers or to help cover the costs of the laptop or paint, here’s the link to donate online: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/casa-pueblito/
(If you are donating online, please indicate the amount, then under “Apply your donation to a specific fund set up by this charity” select the second option which is “El Triunfo School.” You may also wish to indicate that your donation is for Ken’s School in the note.)
For those who prefer to send in a cheque payable to Casa-Pueblito, please note that they have a new address.
Casa-Pueblito
2356 Bloor St. W, Toronto, ON
M6S 1P3
ATTN: El Triunfo School Project
Thanks for your continued support.
Ken
PS – We also continue to provide families in El Triunfo and surrounding communities with food baskets.
Distribution of food baskets in March, 2022
Last week baskets were delivered to 45 women in different villages. Baskets contained staples such as rice, pasta, oatmeal, coffee, cooking oil, eggs, and soap. As in Canada, food prices continue to rise in Guatemala. Thanks for your donations in recent weeks, which has made this possible. Donations for the baskets should be made to me directly.
Another year is ending but a new school year will hopefully begin shortly in the community of El Triunfo in Guatemala. Since 2005 we have helped students pursue an education at first through scholarships and later with the establishment of a middle school in the community.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to have lunch (outside) with Gregorio, the school director, and three of the teachers. Unfortunately, the other teachers had to decline due to prior commitments. But it was still a wonderful opportunity to speak with those who could come and hear about their plans for the new year. The school year is scheduled to begin in person during the week of January 16. This will depend on what the status of the Guatemala traffic light system for COVID is in the region at that time. The region is currently in orange, which would permit some in-class instruction.
Post-lunch walk on December 29
It’s still not too late to make a tax-deductible donation for the 2021 tax year to the school to help pay the monthly salaries of the teachers. Here’s the link to donate online: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/casa-pueblito/
(If you are donating online, please indicate the amount, then under “Apply your donation to a specific fund set up by this charity” select the second option which is “El Triunfo School.” You may also wish to indicate that your donation is for Ken’s School in the note.)
For those who prefer to send in a cheque payable to Casa-Pueblito, please note that they have a new address.
Casa-Pueblito
2356 Bloor St. W, Toronto, ON
M6S 1P3
ATTN: El Triunfo School Project
Happy New Year and thanks for the support!
Ken
PS – We also continue to support families in El Triunfo and surrounding communities with food baskets. Last week “Santa Ken” made an appearance to help deliver baskets to 50 women in different villages along with Christmas cheer and goodies.
Baskets contained staples such as rice, pasta, oatmeal, coffee, sugar, cooking oil, and soap along with some Christmas items. Thanks for your donations in recent weeks, which has made this possible. Donations for the baskets should be made to me directly.
As another year comes to a close, I’d like to thank you for your support over the past twelve months. Despite the ongoing pandemic, a successful year was completed in the middle school we are funding in the community of El Triunfo in Guatemala albeit without some of the regular activities. For a second year, students missed out on events ranging from the Mothers Day lunch to participating in Guatemala independence day activities as well as the three-day celebration to mark the anniversary of the school. But academic goals were reached allowing students to advance to the next grade.
A Visit by Santa Ken on December 22
We also continue to support families in El Triunfo and surrounding communities with food baskets. Yesterday “Santa Ken” made an appearance to help deliver baskets to 50 women in different villages along with Christmas cheer and goodies. Baskets contained staples such as rice, pasta, oatmeal, coffee, sugar, cooking oil, and soap along with some Christmas items. Thanks for your donations in recent weeks, which has made this possible. Further photos from the day are online.
For the school, I have received a budget request for next year as a new school year will start in January. If you would like make a donation to the school to help pay the monthly salaries of the teachers, here’s the link to donate online: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/casa-pueblito/
(If you are donating online, please indicate the amount, then under “Apply your donation to a specific fund set up by this charity” select the second option which is “El Triunfo School.” You may also wish to indicate that your donation is for Ken’s School in the note.)
For those who prefer to send in a cheque payable to Casa-Pueblito, please note that they have a new address.
The school year has ended for students in the school we are supporting in the community of El Triunfo in Guatemala. When the pandemic first started, I could not envision that the school would be able to complete one year successfully, let alone two. It’s a great tribute to the work of the school’s leadership, including community members, teachers, parents who sent their children to the school in large numbers this year, students for their commitment to learning as well as all of the supporters who provided financial support to keep it all going.
With a decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases locally in late September, health restrictions eased allowing three days per week of in-school activities for the final month of school. Gregorio, the school director, was also able to attend a game of the local soccer team for the first time in two years, which was a wonderful treat for him.
Students in July 2021
For the first part of November, Gregorio continued to work with a number of students who hadn’t quite yet met the minimum requirements to advance to the next grade to help them finish their work. And last week a small ceremony was held for the graduating students in the grade nine class. I hope all of them will be off to high school next year.
I’d like to thank all of you for your continuing support of the project. If you would like donate to the school to help pay the monthly salaries of the teachers, here’s the link to give online: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/casa-pueblito/
(If you are donating online, please indicate the amount, then under “Apply your donation to a specific fund set up by this charity” select the second option which is “El Triunfo School.” You may also wish to indicate that your donation is for Ken’s School in the note.)
For those who prefer to send in a cheque payable to Casa-Pueblito, please note that they have a new address.
Casa-Pueblito
2356 Bloor St. W, Toronto, ON
M6S 1P3
ATTN: El Triunfo School Project
Thanks for your continuing support.
Ken
PS – I am back selling the beautiful products from Asociacion Maya including scarves, purses and more on most Saturdays in front of my residence in the Danforth/Coxwell area of Toronto. Fairly traded coffee from Guatemala is also available. Check out the products here. If there is something you don’t see which you think I might have (ie – placemat sets), please ask!
Dear friends, Please join me for an early holiday sale featuring Guatemalan weaving from Asociación Maya de Desarrollo, Solola, Guatemala; Fair trade coffee from the Campesino Committee of the Highlands (CCDA), Guatemala; and jewelry from Casa Milagro, Guatemala.
Almost every item I have available from scarves to ponchos to placemat sets and more will be on display. You can see a selection of the products here.
Saturday, October 23
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
772 Coxwell Avenue (north of Danforth Avenue and Coxwell subway station)
Toronto
(Rain date: Sunday, October 24)
See you then.
Ken
PS – Donations accepted for the El Triunfo School Project and the purchase of food baskets for women in El Triunfo, Guatemala and surrounding villages.
I have a short update for you from the school we are supporting in the community of El Triunfo in Guatemala.
As you may recall from my previous update, the teachers had received their first shot of Moderna in July. Today I’m pleased to let you know that the teachers are fully vaccinated and vaccination levels in El Triunfo and the surrounding communities are slowly rising. For example, everyone who comes into the office of Asociacion Maya, the women’s weaving cooperative that I’ve had a long relationship, has had at least one shot of a vaccine. Gregorio, the school director tells me that the teachers, while vaccinated, are still taking precautions to stay safe. Unfortunately there is also now widespread transmission of the virus in the area. Yesterday in Guatemala there were over 4200 new cases announced with a test positivity rate of 27% as well as 70 new deaths.
Ken with Gregorio, the now fully vaccinated school director, in July 2021
I’d like to thank all of you for your tremendous support of the project in recent months. If you would like make a donation to the school to help pay the monthly salaries of the teachers, here’s the link to donate online: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/casa-pueblito/
(If you are donating online, please indicate the amount, then under “Apply your donation to a specific fund set up by this charity” select the second option which is “El Triunfo School.” You may also wish to indicate that your donation is for Ken’s School in the note.)
For those who prefer to send in a cheque payable to Casa-Pueblito, please note that they have a new address.
Casa-Pueblito
2356 Bloor St. W, Toronto, ON
M6S 1P3
ATTN: El Triunfo School Project
We are also continuing to support families in El Triunfo and surrounding communities with food baskets. Yesterday baskets were delivered to 45 women in different villages. Some of the recipients include women with disabilities, mothers and grandmothers raising children on their own, and those recently affected by the virus. Baskets contain staples such as rice, pasta, beans, oatmeal, coffee, sugar, cooking oil, eggs and soap. Please note, I am accepting these donations directly and tax receipts are not available.
Food basket deliveries in June 2021
Thanks for your continuing support.
Ken
PS – I am back selling the beautiful products from Asociacion Maya including scarves, purses and more on most Saturdays in front of my residence in the Danforth/Coxwell area of Toronto. Fairly traded coffee from Guatemala is also available. Check out the products here. If there is something you don’t see which you think I might have (ie – placemat sets), please ask!
I recently returned from a visit to Guatemala, which included visits to the school we are supporting in the community of El Triunfo.
As you may remember, classes are continuing in the school with students coming to the school on Monday and Thursday and teachers following up with the students throughout the week by phone. On my initial visits to the school, I would bring PPE for the use of the teachers. One day I found face shields in a store, which I quickly purchased for the teachers. Later I bought KN-95 masks, surgical masks made by 3M, and hand sanitizer to drop off.
On my final visit during the last week of July, the teachers had a surprise for me. During the previous week, all of the staff at the school had received their first shot of the Moderna vaccine. As with many countries in the global south, the vaccination campaign in Guatemala had gotten off to a slow start. The unequal distribution of vaccines globally definitely played a role in this but the ineptness and corruption of the Guatemalan government also contributed. Fortunately, vaccines primarily donated by the United States, as well as Mexico, started to arrive last month in large numbers. I am currently waiting to hear if the second shot for the teachers has been scheduled.
Ken with Gregorio, the newly vaccinated school director.
The project to improve the washrooms, which benefits the staff and students of both the middle and primary schools, was completed. The new septic system, combined with running water, improves the sanitary conditions of the washrooms, which is important during these times. The project did unfortunately run over budget so donations are welcome.
July 2021 visit to the school.
If you would like make a donation to the school to help pay the monthly salaries of the teachers or to support the washroom project , here’s the link to donate online: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/casa-pueblito/
(If you are donating online, please indicate the amount, then under “Apply your donation to a specific fund set up by this charity” select the second option which is “El Triunfo School.” You may also wish to indicate that your donation is for Ken’s School in the note.)
For those who prefer to send in a cheque payable to Casa-Pueblito, please note that they have a new address.
Casa-Pueblito
2356 Bloor St. W, Toronto, ON
M6S 1P3
ATTN: El Triunfo School Project
We are also continuing to support families in El Triunfo and surrounding communities with food baskets. Thank you to those who have donated. In July, baskets were delivered to 48 women in five different villages. Some of the recipients include women with disabilities and mothers and grandmothers raising children on their own. Baskets contain staples such as rice, pasta, beans, oatmeal, coffee, sugar, cooking oil, eggs and soap. Please note, I am accepting these donations directly and tax receipts are not available.
Food baskets in the community.
Thanks for your continuing support and I hope to see at least some of you soon.
El Triunfo School Project 