Las Olimpiadas! Olympics at the Family Support Center

Text and Photos by Travis McMullen, Pop Wuj Student

Laughter filled the air. Language was no longer an issue – it’s a universal code. Even though our Spanish may be limited, or difficult to converse and understand at times, the simple sound of laughter let us all know that the Olympics were a major success and a day of much joy for all of the children at the Family Support Center.

Quite a few students from the Pop Wuj Spanish School came out to enjoy the day, so four teams were able to be pitted against each other in the race for the gold: Blue, Red, Yellow, Green.
 

Breaking up into teams

Explanation of the rules

The morning was split into several activities, with the winning team being awarded one point. It was a tight competition and after many different challenges, the final score was:

Blue – 3
Yellow – 2
Green – 2
Red – 0

The activities themselves were a lot of fun, requiring a mixture of team work, communication, and above all, a sense of fun. The activities included:

• Sack race
• Catching water balloons in a sack
• Throwing water balloons to a partner, taking a step back each catch
• A water balloon fight, firing squad style
• A relay race

The relay race proved to be a lot of fun and quickly bought out the adventurous nature of the kids – many of them trying to cheat by not running around the poles, which were the student volunteers from the school. This quickly led to the volunteers grabbing and picking up the kids, spinning them around so they were placed behind them, so they could continue on the race. 

One of the craftier kids took a few wider steps just before they got to me, outsmarting me! Suddenly, they were gone, gaining valuable ground before I had the chance to grab them and spin them around! Luckily, the ground gained didn’t result in any major shift in the results of the race. 

Relay Race

The most entertaining activities were definitely the catch game with the water balloons, with a few rounds being played out.  The other volunteers and I were able to partake in the event and it became extremely competitive. Many different strategies were employed to ensure they had the perfect unbreakable water balloon, such as carefully inspecting the balloons before deciding, through to covering them in dirt to try and add an extra layer or two of protection. 

Slowly but surely, the amount of competitors decreased as the distance increased. New strategies were employed, such as moving from using your hands to catch the balloons, to using your shirt. Some of the balloons were perfectly protected – even though the kids might not be able to throw the distance, they could throw the balloon as far as they could and have it roll the rest of the way. Even after a few goes, the balloons were more than capable of continuing to roll along and not break. 

As the playing field decreased to the last remaining handful, I got cocky and made an error. The catch was a perfect ten – the feet moved a few feet while the right hand reached out, catching the balloon perfectly in the centre. I threw the balloon up in the air in celebration of what I had just accomplished. However, tragedy struck and I failed to catch the water balloon, watching in horror, almost from a third person perspective, as it slipped through my hands and landed on the ground below, breaking, water pouring out. We were eliminated. The other children cried out in laughter as we were eliminated, while I look across with a mixture of sorrow and mischief at my partner, who was just standing there, arms raised, the question being heard without it being asked.

These kinds of random, entertaining events filled the morning, as both kids and volunteers alike reveled in the act of playing games, having special moments, and enjoying the uniqueness of the Pop Wuj Family Support Center Olympics.

Happy Halloween!

Although Halloween is not a widely-celebrated holiday in Guatemala, the children and youth of the Family Support Center love our annual joint celebration of Halloween and the Day of the Dead.

Jenny and Gabi, working on the apple crisp.

Adding the crisp to the apple crisp

.

On the morning of October 31st, fourteen of the older kids came to Xela for a cooking activity.  We split them youth into two groups.  One group made apple crisp and designed their jack-o-'lantern while the second group made pumpkin cake and also worked on their jack-o-'lantern.  We baked our desserts and toasted pumpkin seeds.

Jacqueline, shredding pumpkin.

Mixing the pumpkin cake batter

The kids traveled back to Llanos and joined their younger compañeros for fiambre.  Heavy on vegetables, cheese, and lunch meat, fiambre is the traditional meal on the Day of the Dead in Guatemala.

Some problems with a jack-o-'lantern

The children finished lunch and began their preparations for the Halloween party.  With the help of Carmen Maria, the kids (and volunteers) dressed up as vampires, witches, scarecrows, pirates, and cats. 

Las Gatitas:  Ingrid, Evelyn, Amy, and Brenda

Witches: Ilcy and Lety

Scarecrows: Melissa and Jonathan

We lit the candles in the jack-o-'lanterns, turned off the lights, and invited folks to tell scary stories.  We finished the party with fried plantains, pumpkin cake, and apple crisp.

Vampires: Anibal, Ismael, and Marcelo

Piratas!

Oscar, the lion

Unfortunately we didn't have time to fly the kites that the kiddos made during the week.  October and November is kite-flying season in Guatemala and the kids have been hard at work, creating their own kites for the contest.  Kite flying had to be postponed until the following week.

Elotada 2013 - Crazy for Corn!

On September 12, Pop Wuj students, teachers, coordinators, and directors visited the community of Chirijkiak to celebrate with an Elotada, also known as the corn harvest.  Elote means corn on the cob in Spanish. 

Pop Wuj has worked with this community for over 18 years, providing scholarships to students, participating in reforestation projects during the rainy season, and in previous years also building latrines and safe stoves. 

At the Elotada, Pop Wuj students were introduced to family members of the scholarship recipients (becados), learned about the community, and then began the feast on elotes.

Everyone from Pop Wuj was given at least two or three!  We dressed the elotes ourselves with a range of toppings including lime, salt, mustard, ketchup, mayonaise and hot sauce.  All dressed, an elote transforms into an elote loco, ‘crazy corn’.

Full of corn, and grinning from ear to ear, the Pop Wuj group returned back to Xela for the afternoon.

Gina, looking very impressed at Caroline's elote loco

Fredy halfway through his third elote!

Aleya with one of the becadas from Chirijkiak

Carmen and Roney

Amy, Carmelina and Lesley having a good laugh at.... they still won't tell us at what!

Doña Aniceta, one of the mothers of the becados

Pop Wuj Nutrition Meetings in August and September

On August 8 and September 14 Pop Wuj held nutrition meetings in the communities of Llanos del Pinal, Buena Vista, and La Victoria.  

• August ended our third and final month of expansion, and in addition to our continuing participants, we had approximately ten infants entering the program, and two new graduates as well.  
• September was not an official expansion month, but we had five new entrants.

According to statistics from the Guatemalan government, in 2012, 48% of children under the age of five are chronically malnourished, and within the indigenous population, the percentage increases to 80%.

The Nutrition Program, with the funding support from the Pop Wuj Spanish School, individual donations, and in large part from Timmy Global Health, provides well needed supplements such as Nutributter and Pumply'Nut to infants and children between the ages of six and twenty-four months to assist in growth and development during this critical period.  

Enjoying Nutributter!

At each monthly clinic, Pop Wuj students from the Medical Spanish Program and the Social Work Spanish Program prepare a short educational presentation for the mothers in the program.

• The August Nutrition Meeting included a presentation on healthy eating behavior for babies: what to do if your baby is sick, as well as the type and quantity of food and drinks your baby should be eating at various age groups.
• The September Nutrition Meeting offered a presentation on family planning - types of contraception available, a quick comparison of the uses and risks of each, as well as a discussion on the optimal time period to wait in between pregnancies, for both the mother and her baby.

 Jeff, Joanne, Liz, and Anna (left to right) offering an educational session on infants' diets

Left to Right: Ali, Myriah and Jenny sharing a presentation on family planning and contraceptive methods

Dr. Carmen Rosa, Tina, and Jeff discuss the Nutrition Program

After our presentation to the moms, volunteers from the Pop Wuj Medical and Social Work Spanish Programs measured the height, weight and head circumference of each baby.  While seemingly easy during our nutrition program training, this proved to be the most difficult part!

Baby Ashley being very cooperative

Medical Spanish Program students, Anna, Jack and Ariela measuring height

Medical Spanish Program students Theresa and Pascual carefully prepping one of our participants to be weighed

After being measured and weighted, mom and baby moved on to visit one of our local doctors on site, an evaluation of the infant’s progress was made, and depending on the outcome, Nutributter or Pumply'Nut was given.  In addition to the supplements for the babies, we offered children multi-vitamins for siblings, prenatal vitamins for the mothers and Incaparina, a fortified soy and corn-based protein powder, to be shared by the whole family.

Post and Photo Credit:  Caroline Yung

Two of Doña Luisa's children at the meeting in Buena Vista

Three generations of participants in the Pop Wuj Nutrition Program (going right to left) Grandma, daughters, and each of their respective babies)

Amy describing information on an upcoming surgical mission by Dr. Ryan Brown

After a long and fun morning - ready to head back to Xela!

Birthday Party at the Family Support Center--Let's Party!

Let's Party!

Photo Credit:  Caroline Yung 

On August 29, Pop Wuj held a huge birthday bash for fifteen of the students at the Family Support Center.  This party celebrated all of our students who will have their birthdays in the months of June, July, August, and September.

There was a festive mood in the air during the entire week leading up to the birthday party.  All of the kids eagerly anticipated the upcoming celebration as the week progressed.  Oscar, who was about to turn five years old, asked each day, "¿Hoy es mi cumpleaños?" or  Is today my birthday?

Oscar getting ready for his turn at the piñata; Photo credit: Caroline Yung

The party included key birthday activities: piñatas, cake and birthday presents.  While the coordinators and Pop Wuj students prepped the piñatas and stuffed them full with candies and peanuts, the kids relentlessly played tug of war - what strength and determination!

Jonathan, Evelyn and Oscar giving it all they've got!

After a lengthly game of tug of war, finally came the piñata.  The little ones were surprisingly good at this, and the piñata broke open after only several hits.  The older ones took a bit longer, but perhaps it was because even after blindfolding and spinning the students around, we also tied the piñata to a wheel, and the kids were faced with a perpetually moving target.  

Finally, the second one fell to the floor and the older kids scrambled to pick up the contents.

Anibal - ready to strike!

With bags full of candies and peanuts, we all returned inside to sing happy birthday, cut cake, and distribute birthday gifts.  Presents had been selected for each of the birthday students, but everyone went home with at least a 'goodie bag'.

After an afternoon full of candy, cake and laughter, the volunteers, coordinators, and Carmen returned to Xela.  

Ingrid, Evelyn and Amy - full of cake and candy; Photo Credit:  Caroline Yung

Welcoming the Latest Participants in our Stove Building Project - Proyecto de Estufas

This August, Pop Wuj launched the latest phase of its stove building project in Llanos del Pinal.  After several weeks of interviews with community members, we welcomed ten new participants into the program.

The latest ten participants in the safe stoves project

Gina, Carmen, Carmelina and Dorlisa in the final stove interview with Doña Teresa 

Orientation Meeting - August 14

On August 14, Pop Wuj held an orientation meeting for the new participants of the stove building project.  Gina from the social work spanish program and Liz from medical spanish school program made presentations on the health benefits of safe stoves, as well as the human and environmental health impacts of burning plastic as a source of fuel and waste management.  Carmen and Mynor then went over the three stages of stove building to take place over the next few months, and the logistics of our supply delivery day.

Gina and Liz making a presentation on the harmful effects of open stoves and burning plastic 

Supply Delivery Day - August 28

Two weeks after our orientation meeting, all of the families arrived at Pop Wuj early on the morning of August 28, to collect the materials.  We walked down to the Ferretería, picked up the first of our materials (aluminum chimney and stove tops), and then piled into the back of the supply truck.  In our subsequent stops we picked up bricks, clay and cement, and slowly made our way up the bumpy road to Llanos del Pinal.

All of the volunteers, coordinators, and participants chipped in to facilitate the transporting of materials.  When wheelbarrows were not available, we formed long lines passing down bricks and cement blocks carrying them from the trucks to individual houses.  

After a long morning, we successfully delivered over 1100 bricks and 300 cement blocks (not including the few that broke along the way).  

Looking forward to the next few months of stove building!  

If you are interested in making a targeted donation to our stove building project, please click here to donate.  More information on the stove building project itself is available on our environmental projects page.

First stop at the Ferretería

Helping Hands - A line of volunteers and participants at work

Post and Photo Credit:  Caroline Yung