Meet the Open Windows Team

We invite you to meet the team of Open Windows Foundation in Guatemala.  In this video, you will meet the staff that changes the world for children and families in the town of San Miguel Duenas, Guatemala.

Teresa Quinonez is the co-founder of Open Windows.  The building in which the library currently operates is her childhood home.  She donated her home to the foundation, and as the foundation has grown, additional buildings have been added to accommodate the 2000+ children and families that rely on this foundation as an important resource for community development and outreach.

Luisa Wheeler is another amazing force in the community of San Miguel Duenas and greater Antigua.  She is the president of the Guatemalan board of Open Windows and has provided years of guidance and direction to the organization to facilitate growth.  Luisa's visionary abilities have helped Open Windows enhance its core mission of serving the community's educational needs.

Nilda Giron is the head accountant for Open Windows Foundation.  In addition to managing the foundation's finances, she also serves as the director of the Open Windows Scholarship.  The Open Windows Scholarship is a life-changing resource for children in the community who wish to continue their studies beyond the middle school level, yet do not have the resources to do so.  The Open Windows Scholarship is currently enabling four hard-working children to complete their high school education.

Dalia Quinonez is the librarian at Open Windows.  She is in charge of a growing library with over 10,000 books in Spanish and English.  Dalia maintains the library database, teaches children how to do research, and helps students complete projects.  The Open Windows library is an important resource for the community of San Miguel Duenas, and children enjoy the opportunity to learn, develop, and foster a love of reading in this facility.

Monica Fuentes is a teacher at Open Windows Foundation.  With three children of her own, she understands how important it is for children in the San Miguel Duenas community to supplement their schoolwork with meaningful homework help and additional opportunities to learn.  She also teaches children skills such as English.  Monica serves as a teacher, mentor and aid to the children in the Open Widows Foundation program.

Hector Ramirez is the manager of the Open Windows computer lab.  He teaches children from six years and above in small groups based on age and experience.  Hector instructs children in how to use software packages such as the Microsoft Office Suite, that enable children to excel in their schoolwork and enhance their knowledge about technology.  Hector also teaches a host of adult classes to parents of Open Windows children who wish to develop their own skills and gain marketable experience.

Roxana Ramos serves as a teacher and homework tutor to the children at Open Windows.  By reinforcing required coursework and homework the children have in school, Roxana helps children at Open Windows develop a love for learning.  One of the most important tools Roxana and her team utilize are educational games which serve as a reward upon the completion of homework and assignments.

Visit Open Windows Foundation today, and meet this dynamic staff.
  

Eco-Stoves in Guatemala

Open Windows is making a difference in the lives of Guatemalan families with Eco-Stoves.

Families in San Miguel Duenas search hours for wood every day just to cook food in traditional stoves. Eco-stoves reduce a family's wood fuel consumption by over 60%.  Typical Guatemalan stoves don't have ventilation and produce lots of smoke.  The kitchen is a family gathering place, exposing kids to harmful smoke, causing respiratory problems.  

One $125 donation busy an Eco-stove for one family in San Miguel Duenas.  By donating an Eco-stove, you are contributing to a healthier environment in these families' homes.  An Eco-stove's lower wood fuel consumption means less smoke inhalation for families.  Many Open Windows children spend much of the school day coughing because of smoke inhalation from traditional stoves at home.  

Open Windows children deserve clean air at home.  Together, let's provide Eco-stoves to every family in San Miguel Duenas to make clean air at home a reality.  Email:  openwindowsteresa@gmail.com for for more information and to donate today.

Hilda Veronica Gomez and her daughter with an Eco-Stove donated by Open Windows.

Eulalia Agreda and her young son, after cooking a meal on their Eco-stove. 

The Lopez family with their new Eco-stove. 

The Morales children, participants in Open Windows, and recipients of a new Eco-stove. 

 Teodoro Ajin and his wife Cirila received this Eco-stove, donated by the Open Windows Foundation.

Participants in the Open Windows Foundation literacy programs.

Children at Open Windows

Children at Open Windows:  getting ready to start the afternoon with educational activities.

"Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow."
Anthony J. D'Angelo

Eco-Stoves for Open Windows families in Guatemala

How Eco-Stoves are changing the lives of Open Windows families

Open Windows Library in Guatemala

Young students in the Open Windows computer lab, enjoying the free time to play computer games after having finished their homework

Learning new skills, such as how to use a computer, increases each child's self confidence and excitement about learning

Children love learning.  Having the opportunity to learn how to use computers at the Open Windows computer lab is a valuable asset to their development.  Open Windows Foundation offers computer classes for children as well as adults that seek to better themselves by learning how to utilize technology and software programs.  If not for these classes offered by Open Windows, these children might never have access to computers.  Open Windows Foundation is passionate about enabling these children to have opportunities to learn.

About Us

Open Windows Foundation

Open Windows Foundation is a learning center located in San Miguel Dueñas, near Antigua, Guatemala. Co-founded by native Teresa Quiñonez, Jean Uelman, and Ericka Kaplan to supplement and encourage the education of the local children, the center provides an extensive library and a computer center, neither of which are available at the four local schools. The center serves school-aged children and their families, while salaried teachers as well as visiting volunteers assist the kids with reading, homework, research, computer skills, and numerous other activities.

Many children of San Miguel Dueñas lose the opportunity to receive a full education and remain captive in the cycle of poverty with little or no chance for economic advancement. The goal of Open Windows Foundation is to help these children to obtain opportunities to escape poverty and work toward reaching their full potential.

Open Windows Foundation is a US-registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in San Miguel Dueñas, Guatemala. The center was founded in 2001 by Ericka Kaplan, Jean Uelmen, and Teresa Quiñonez and now serves over 2000 members of the Dueñas community.