Visiting Aldea Rincon Chiquito
On the mountainous road between Zaragoza and Sn. Juan Comalapa, is the school that serves five mountains and the deep valleys in-between them. These children climb up to the highway in the cold, dark valleys where strawberries are grown for export. No machines here, but family groups, complete with machetes and dogs, spend their days [...]
Escuela Rural Mixta Canton Xeabaj
Close to the border with Departamento Solola, Escuela Rural Mixta Canton Xeabaj #1 is a tiny mountain school. It is remote, and far from any conveniences, like electricity and toilets, but the children are happy to be in school. Like most rural schools, it takes most of the early morning to get to the school, [...]
Letter from Sara: A Student Taking Action
The Pencil Project Attn: Douglas Rhodenbaugh Executive Director of The Pencil Project 8300 Minnesota Austin, Texas 78745 Director@thepencilproject.org Re: Take Action Project for Middle School Project Dear Mr. Rhodenbaugh, My name is Sara Torres, I am a thirteen year-old 8th grade student at Pequannock Valley Middle School in Pompton Plains, NJ. A few months ago, missionaries [...]
Folk Art “Tour of Guatemala” Bedspread Raffle ($500 value)
When my godsons in Quiche, Guatemala were both 10 years old, I made the decision to buy them shoes and walk them down the mountain and register them in school for the first time. They were working and living at the time in a three-sided tin shack, much like the cattle feeders I remembered as a child in Texas. Their work included cutting indigenous textiles, and making pillow cases for export to resorts and tourist destinations. One would cut with giant, hand-forged scissors, while the other would treadle the Singer with blocks tied to his feet. This was not an unusual situation for two boys to find themselves in, as the entire region is dedicated to textile weaving and sewing. At least they were boys, and could use the machine…..girls had to rely only on hand embroidering and back-strap looms to earn their daily bread.After their grandmother passed, the boys and I spent some time trying to decide whether they should come to Austin and live, or continue in basically the same situation....
The Quilt Raffle is here again!
Spring is in the air and it is time to start the Pencil Project Quilt Raffle! Our goal this spring is to ship a container of Spanish language textbooks and school supplies to the highlands. To raise the funds, we are offering our supporters and partners a chance to win a beautiful handmade Guatemalan quilt. The quilt is made from handwoven traditional huipiles from all over the various highland villages. This is recycling at its best and most beautiful! Only 100 tickets will be...
