January is the time when we receive proposals for the programs for the upcoming year. All four of our existing Saturday Children’s Programs are continuing. We receive a full year plan for each of the four, submitted jointly by the scholarship recipients who are responsible for the weekly session and by Carmen, our Chiapas’ coordinator. They are impressive in their detail and scope.
The best news is that a fifth program has been proposed in a community in the Huixtan municipality. This will be a bit different from the existing programs as it will focus on pre-school children, ages 3 to 5. The mothers want their children to be better prepared for school. The program will start with colors and letters of the alphabet, and as the year goes on, it will work with numbers. As with all the children’s programs, each child will receive a meal. We are delighted to fund this new endeavor.
The adult literacy program is still on hold. The professor was involved in the widespread strikes last year as part of a protest against the new Mexican educational reforms and things came to a halt last May. Our coordinator is meeting with again as to the possibility of starting the program again. The adults who participated are anxious to continue, and we should have news on that soon.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Judith