December 29, 2023
Dear friends, Greetings from Guatemala where I’ve been checking in on the middle school we are supporting in the community of El Triunfo. Last week, I hosted a pre-Christmas lunch for Gregorio, the school director and several of the teachers. It was a good opportunity to get caught up with them on the past year and to look ahead to the new school year with classes beginning on January 23.
On Wednesday, I visited the school and met with the school’s committee to discuss the budget for 2024. We mutually agreed to increase the pay of the teachers and staff by around 9% for the upcoming year. This is the first increase in a number of years and will help the school retain staff and also help the staff deal with the rising cost of basic necessities in the country.
Registration for the upcoming year has started with new students signing up. The pace of registrations should increase next week once the holidays are over. I was also pleased to see that the painting of the school which I had previously noticed in July had been completed. In addition, improvements were made to both the school’s washrooms and the kitchen including new floors in the washroom stalls and kitchen, a new urinal, new stoves and chimneys as well as a fresh pain job. Other repairs such as fencing around the school’s perimeter were also finished.
And thanks to funds from the municipality, the road in front of the school is being repaired with stonework. All of these works benefit the staff and students of both the primary school (with classes in the morning) as well as the middle school (with classes in the afternoon.)
Thanks to everyone who has supported the school over the past year – both with your financial support as well as the wonderful notes of encouragement I receive from you.
If you would like to make a donation to the school in time to receive a 2023 tax receipt, here’s the link to donate online: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/casa-pueblito/. Please note you also have the option to set up a monthly gift.
(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.” It’s important to indicate this. 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 send to:
.
Casa-Pueblito
2356 Bloor St. W, Toronto, ON
M6S 1P3
ATTN: El Triunfo School Project
Thanks for your continued support.
Ken
PS – I am still planning to purchase food baskets to families in El Triunfo and surrounding villages. Each basket is valued at around $30 and contains basic items such as oatmeal, cooking oil and soap as well as some Christmas treats. If you are in Canada, the best way to support this is to send me an Interac e-transfer.
El Triunfo School Project 