Today we began with breakfast and then a short ride to the San Cristobal Municipal Center where children and their parents were assembled to receive the 1000 plus bedkits we were distributing. Our young volunteers and their supervisors from SOS were there earlier and already had many children registered and about 50 changed into their new clothes and ready for the distribution when we arrived.
Our SCAW team of six is supported in San Cristobal by about 20 youth and their supervisors. These amazing young people are mentors and mentees with with the Canadian supported SOS program here, in which high school students support elementary students in their studies and encourage them to continue their education beyond the grade 6 level. The youth ranged in age from 11 to 18 years. They performed various tasks including lifting the heavy bedkits and carrying them to the waiting parents, comforting and supporting children, registering the children and, most importantly, translating for us from English to Spanish and Mayan dialects.
One young man who we both worked with for translation told us he improved his English by watching TV in English and listening to music. He delighted in conversation about his future and his desire to study Tourism next year as he just finished High School. The smooth running of our distribution was made possible because of the bright, smiling cheerful youth and their supervisors who were always supportive to us and respectful of the children.
Team Guatemala, 2025
Seeds of Innovation for Sustainable Development 🇬🇹 and SCAW 🇨🇦