August 9, 2010
Greetings to all of our friends and neighbors from Puerto Aventuras! It's hard to believe that summer is almost over. Before August passes us by, we wanted to update you on some of our recent activities and events, and let you know about a few projects in the works in Puerto Aventuras.
- Camp Corazones, Summer 2010
- Building for the Future: A Community Campaign for a High School in Puerto Aventuras
- ¡Hermanitos! End of School Fiesta
- Middle School Wall Painting Day
- Fall 2010 Women's Leadership Training
|
Camp Corazones, Summer 2010
 For the second summer in a row, Anat Kah and Carrie’s Heart brought children of all ages together in Puerto Aventuras for Camp Corazones.
The campers and counselors came from around the region and around the world, from different culture and backgrounds, and with different needs and abilities. During our two weeks together, we sang, danced, laughed, ran, read, ate, painted, beaded, and sang again. We didn’t let the rain get us down; bubbles and chalk art under the palapas were a hit! We took a field trip on each of the two Fridays: first to Parque la Ceiba and then, for our final day together, to Xcalacoco Beach (thank you, Rosa, for letting us borrow your piece of paradise yet again!).
Special thanks to Doe Stowell, Mike Saenz, Suzana Stojadinovic and Julie Bernard for all of their help and support. Thanks to Gabi Kozelj and Colegio Puerto Aventuras for letting us use the school as our base of operations and playground. And a big thanks to all of the wonderful people who donated art supplies and materials that were used daily, especially to the folks from the Dave Harris Memorial Fishing Tournament who came down with suitcases of paper, crayons, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, popsicle sticks and other goodies that were put to good use in our art projects.
We look forward to next summer, and will continue hosting events for campers and counselors throughout the year. If you are interested in participating, and in getting to spend time with all of these wonderful children, contact us to join the fun!
Building for the Future: A Community Campaign for a High School in Puerto Aventuras
Thanks to donations from generous local supporters, we have raised approximately 40% of the funds needed to build the first phase of a high school in the Poblado of Puerto Aventuras! More information on the project can be found on our webpage.
We still need your help to reach our goal! If you have not yet had the chance to give, consider giving today by clicking here.
|
|
¡Hermanitos! End of School Fiesta
It was a bittersweet end of the school year for a few local, departing high schoolers, who said goodbye to their "Hermanitos" in the Poblado during an end of the school year party at the local daycare center
The young children and their teenaged mentors enjoyed music, art, pizza and cookies for one last time before Hermanitos starts up again in September.
Middle School Wall Painting Day
Local volunteers, together with middle school students, parents and teachers, worked hard one hot July morning to continue the community mural on the wall surrounding the middle school in the Poblado. Drinks and sandwiches were provided to all volunteers, and a good portion of the wall was decorated.
We will be planning another mural painting event in the near future, and will keep you posted.
Fall 2010 Women's Leadership Trainings
Anat Kah is pleased to be sponsoring a series of educational and capacity-building workshops to train local women leaders to be active community educators, advocates and resources for other local women.
The first three months of the program will consist of intensive education and exploration around gender-based issues such as domestic violence, identity, self-esteem and sexuality. Once this phase is complete, participants will be trained in the tools and skills necessary to become group facilitators. The participants will then go into their neighborhoods, churches, workplaces and schools where they will create their own programs with other women that address these same issues.
The workshops will be led by psychologist Elsa Solís Zamudio, who will also guide the women through the creation and execution of their own groups and programs. Participants will be invited from Puerto Aventuras and Akumal, and the workshops will take place in the Poblado of Puerto Aventuras.
This initiative will not only provide participants with an opportunity for personal development and new support networks amongst themselves, but will also create a team of informed and engaged leaders and advocates in Puerto Aventuras and Akumal who can, in turn, reach out to many more women in the community.
|
