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SPANISH
BOOKS for Central
America
Children Without Books
Pine Forge Academy
High School
students at Pine Forge translated over 100 books from English to Spanish as a
part of project "Children Without Books". For over two months, advanced
students in Spanish translated children's books written in English into
Spanish as part of their ongoing school curriculum.
In December 2009 John White, Director of HEART
for the Nations, gave a presentation to the Spanish students on the work that
HEART for the Nations does in Central America. The students were moved
about the situation faced by Mayan children.
Pine Forge Academy believes that the students
should participate in charity and a living out of their Christian faith.
Participating in "CHILDREN without Books" gave the students the opportunity to
do just that. HEART for the Nations took four suitcases full of books into
Guatemala, a gift for the students out of the hearts and minds of Pine Forge
Academy students.
Pictured on left is John White, Heart for the
Nations,
Maria Romero Zapata, Spanish teacher
and
Cynthia Poole-Gibson, Principal.
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Cynthia Poole-Gibson,Principal
About Pine Forge Academy:
Pine Forge Academy, since its inception, has been
determined to offer a Christ-centered curriculum in a safe, caring environment,
lead each student to a saving relationship with Christ and to nurture students
who aspire for greatness to excel in academics. Through interaction with and
observation by dedicated faculty members, we help students develop a lifelong
love of learning. The advantages of a Pine Forge Academy education have no
limit. Lifelong friends and relationships, a country living environment,
leadership opportunities and development, high graduation rates and college
enrollment, an appreciation for our heritage and a profound respect for our
history are just a few of the benchmarks of the Pine Forge experience.
Pine Forge Academy is located in Pine Forge,
Pennsylvania, USA.
International Director, Michelle White, joins the children
during snack time.
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HEART
Ambassadors Jean Schlegel and Joann Rivera traveled with the Whites to Rural
Mixta Xetotoj, a small village on Lake Atitlan to deliver the books and school
materials. This town was recently rebuilt in 2009 for the Maya indigenous
who had lost everything in Hurricane Stan three years ago. The Principal,
David Valescos, and the Education Coordinator, Dora Martinez, gave the group a
tour of his three classroom school. The school teaches students from
Kindergarten to grade five and has about 90 students. Many limitations to
the school facility are apparent. The building is made of corrugated metal
and each room has one window and door. Each room is approximately 20 ft.
square and appointed with desks and one bookshelf of teaching supplies.
The teachers have only a few teacher manuals and the students have paper and
pencils. The room literally had no books. Also there was no blackboard, no
whiteboard, nor anything requiring electricity.
With such
meager tools and supplies it is no wonder that the average reading level for
adults in Guatemala is grade 4. The majority of the parents of these children
speak a local dialect, Quajchecal, and do not have more than a second grade
education. Part of the curriculum in this school is to teach the children
how to speak Spanish, the national language. There are 22 native Mayan dialects
which further complicates the education of this ethnic group; 98% of the Maya
live below the poverty line and earn a meager $2 per day.
Centered
in the above three photos is the water source for the school. It consists
of a spigot which flows into a rusted metal drum. The children wash their hands
in the water and sometimes drink from the barrel. HEART for the Nations learned
that a new "Pilla", concrete wash basin, was on the school's wish list. Learning
this, the Ambassadors from HEART went to the local town and purchased for them a
pilla which has two basins for only$60.
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