Flor's Letter

We at Open Windows are very proud of our high achieving scholarship students.  One particular standout of our program is Flor Cabrera.  She wrote a letter to Open Windows and we wanted to share it with you.

Greetings,

My name is Flor de Maria Monroy Cabrera.  I’m 17 years old. I’m taking marketing and advertising at school, and next year will be my last year.

My short term goals are: to finish marketing and advertising, and work to help my parents.

Long term goals are: to continue studying in the university's social science communication degree. This is one of the degrees that I like to study. Also I would like to start my own foundation where I can help teenagers like me with financial problems. Day by day I’m getting closer to my dreams and towards doing what I want to accomplish.

My life has not been easy.  When I was 12 my dad died and I did not have his support any more.  I  only had my mom, who has to work very hard to support the family. My mom told me that she could only send me to primary school.  Because of economic problems I could not continue high school.  I decided to go to Open Windows to apply for a scholarship. After applying and taking some exams, I got the scholarship.  Thanks to Open Windows, I’m going to finish my degree.

Currently I have a sister and a brother. My mother married a man whom he supports me in what he can.

Thanks to Open Windows for being part of my present and future.

Developing World Connections at Open Windows

We had a fantastic recent visit from volunteers at Developing World Connections, a volunteer organization from Canada.  Students who visited Open Windows made an impact by building a home for one of the Open Windows families.  We share with you here a video of the shared experience:

Open Windows with Developing World Connections 

Students from Sahali Secondary School had a life-changing experience with Open Windows Foundation in Guatemala.  Their volunteer trip was organized by Developing World Connections. The volunteers spent nearly two weeks helping in San Miguel Dueñas, including building a home for a family in need. 

We welcome volunteers to our educational NGO and we invite you make a difference.  If you are interested in volunteering with Open Windows Foundation, please email openwindowsteresa@gmail.com.

Open Windows Scholarship student, Byron

This is the story of one of our Open Windows scholarship students who will complete his studies in accounting this year. 

All final year students have to work in a company for six months as volunteers.  In this apprentice or internship type of arrangement, students usually work from eight to noon, and at one in the afternoon they go to school to study. 

Byron is interning in the Hermano Pedro Hospital in Antigua, which is where people from all over Guatemala come to see the doctors and get surgery.  This team of doctors is from USA, Spain and Italy.

The hospital opens its doors at 6:00 AM.  When Byron began his work there, he started working at six, the same time as all the employees, even though he didn't have to.  Everyone in his department is very happy with his work and they recommended him for a job opening in one of the departments in the hospital.  Byron and his family are very happy about this great news.

Kids like Byron are finishing school and this is thanks to you, volunteers, donors, and supporters of our organization.  Without your help, these kids wouldn't have the opportunity to make a difference in their lives and the lives of those in their community. 

Again, we all thank you for making a positive impact on their lifes of all these kids.

To learn more about Open Windows and to make a difference, please visit www.openwindowsfoundation.com

Volunteers bring hope and smiles to Open Windows

We have had a great start to 2014 here at Open Windows!  Many volunteers have already given their time, strength, and resources to help enhance the lives of the families that utilize our learning center.  

We were fortunate to have visits from volunteers from different nationalities who were of great assistance to the staff.  Our volunteers helped with the educational activities and English classes for the children.

We also had the first group of volunteers from an organization call Village Experience.  The group from Village Experience did a great deal for the families in our community.

The group from Village Experience spent a lot of time building at Open Windows.  They built two kitchens and a room during their stay.  

 In addition, they donated three eco-stoves for each of the families they built dwelling for.  One eco-stove for each family will not only reduce the time each family spends gathering wood, the family will also benefit from cleaner air in the home, and fewer health problems for the children in the household.

As if all this wasn't enough, the group from Village Experience also made a generous In Kind donation for Open Windows.

All of us at Open Windows are grateful for the time and support of our volunteers.  However, the families that are the beneficiaries of this effort are even more thankful.  

We salute and thank you, volunteers!

Patrick's Fundraising Campaign

Greetings All,
It's been a busy autumn and winter for us thus far at Open Windows.  One of our great volunteers Patrick, is having a fundraising campaign to raise money for Open Windows Foundation.  His goal is to raise $20,000 for our student scholarship program.  The campaign started with $1,000 of his own money - now we need your help!

Visit:  http://www.crowdrise.com/helppatriciohelpkids and contribute to Patrick's campaign to donate to our scholarship program!

Happy Holidays,
Your friends at Open Windows

Summer volunteers make a difference

It was a busy and exciting summer at Open Windows Foundation.  With the help of generous and enthusiastic volunteers, we have many successes to report.

A group from Bob, North Dakota came and assisted Open Windows by building sheet metal houses for four Open Windows families.  They also painted a school in San José Calderas, which is a village about 10 kilometers away from the heart of the city.  

Volunteers Susan and Nikki shared two weeks with the children at our learning center.  They did fun activities to learn math, English, and geography.  In addition, the children expressed themselves through art.  Thanks for the techniques you provided to our teachers.

From England, Volunteers Frida and Anjelica did great work with the kids despite not speaking much Spanish.  It was a great experience and a big help for all.

Volunteer Sarka who was here for a week, helped register the children each time they came into the learning center and did activities with the children as well.

Volunteer Lisa helped with various groups of children, assisted with math homework, English, and other activities.

A group of volunteers from Inlex/CA came to Open Windows Foundation for a week to help out in the computer lab.  They taught different work tools for Microsoft Office and Word and Excel, taught English, and provided a host of different interactive programs that facilitate the children's learning.

Many thanks to everyone for their time, help, and commitment to helping our community in San Miguel Dueñas, Guatemala!

Father's Day at Open Windows

This past Friday, we celebrated Father's Day at Open Windows Foundation. The official day is June 17th but we wanted to do it early because the schools also have a celebration for fathers.

We invited two people to give a talk at our learning center, one on AIDS and the other one on dengue fever, a disease caused by mosquito bites.  The celebration was attended by 50 fathers.

A grandfather asked permission to sing to the fathers that night to celebrate their special day.  Inspired by that performance, a volunteer from Peru also decided to take the guitar and sing a song from his country. Both of them had a great time singing, and the audience enjoyed the entertainment.

At the end of the Father's Day event, Open Windows founder Teresa Quiñonez oversaw the distribution a total of over 100 condoms to attendees.

This year the fathers were participating more than ever before - they were notably more relaxed.  The event was a success.