Project Guatemala Blog

January 2012, Greetings from Guatemala and a Kato ‘ki Project update

Thank you to all of you who bought calendars, donated funds and provided moral support for the 2011 Kato ‘ki Project. The funds collected have been distributed to schools in three villages around Patzun: Mocolicxot, Chuaquenum and Chuchuca.

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Mocolicxot

In Mocolicxot, a school and community that we have supported in the past, the Kato ‘ki funds have been used to buy 80 chairs, which will be used for school and community activities, and a fence for one side of the school’s basketball court. On one side of the basketball court there is a 1.5 metre drop and the fence will provide much needed safety for the children while playing a basketball game.

On the way to Mocolicxot

On a sunny Saturday morning, men of Mocolicxot gather and organize to set up the fence for the basketball court. Some dig holes for setting up the posts that will hold the fence, others go off into the forest to find and haul back posts. 

The side of the basketball court that needs a barrier/fence

Digging holes for posts that will hold up the fence

Men carrying posts from about 2 km away are getting close to the school

It’s amazing how a small amount of funds brings people together and leverages so much energy and enthusiasm. Similar to a few years ago, when the soccer field for he school was built, community members are ready to provide the necessary labour to accomplish the project.

Community members taking a break and using the chairs recently acquired

Talking with and informing the community about the support that you all provided to the project

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Chuchuca

In Chuchuca, recent strong winds knocked down the school’s basketball hoops and the funds will be used to build a metal frame that will have both soccer and basketball posts.  Also, the basketball court had been built incrementally and had not been completed, but with the funds it has now been completed.

Chuchuca teacher who we met and informed us of the need to repair the school’s basketball hoops

The basketball hoops before they were knocked down by strong winds

Basketball hoop downed by wind!

Chuchuca kids looking at the knocked down hoops

Chuchuca community members ready to mix cement for the basketball court

Pouring in the cement

With some money and lots of community will and labour, the kids of Chuchuca wil have new hoops and a completed basketball court.