Casa de Sion
Safe Homes For Children is fundamentally an orphan prevention program, trying to provide enough essentials for families so that children are able to stay with their families. Our work is centered amongst the 1.5 million Mayans around Lake Atitlan. We provide the following programs. Feeding and tutorial programs for elementary children. A weekly child development and prenatal class and children’s playgroup for mamas and toddlers. This is followed by a nutritious lunch and distribution of formula and incaparina.
We have a student scholarship program. Our property has a small 4 room clinic that welcomes volunteer medical and dental teams. We also provide emergency help for families dealing with major medical issues. This year we have added emergency relief to our mission and helped install 160 Shelter Box tents as well as provided many tons of emergency food and medical supplies. We have regular clothing and shoe distributions. We are in the process of becoming more sustainable and have a 100 bird chicken house ready to receive chickens and 10 acres of farm land ready to be turned into crops. Our programs need both financial and volunteer help to be able to benefit more communities.
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Our mission is to enhance the lives of Guatemala’s least fortunate children by nourishing their bodies as well as their minds with nutritional, education and medical initiatives. We also provide emergency relief to surrounding communities suffering from natural and man-made disasters. Our vision is to move from community to community, as we gather support, in the pitifully poor Highlands of Central America administering our programs. While creating a minimal amount of dependency, we want to help this next generation become healthier, wiser and more self-reliant. We want them to become better able to care for themselves and their children.
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Our vision is to move from community to community, as we gather support, in the pitifully poor Highlands of Central America administering our programs. While creating a minimal amount of dependency, we want to help this next generation become healthier, wiser and more self-reliant. We want them to become better able to care for themselves and their children.
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School is not mandatory in Guatemala and many children do not attend. There can be a lack of motivation on the child’s or parent’s part usually because the child must work to supplement the family income or there is no value seen in education.
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The public school system in Guatemala leaves much to be desired for several reasons. Teachers, in general, have only the equivalent of a high school degree. There is also a heavy emphasis on crafts and not academic learning. And most public schools are underfunded and understaffed.
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We started our tutorial program where we focus on education, health and hygiene for the elementary age children. We have hired a tutor who meets with the children 5 times a week after school. He explains and augments the lessons from the classroom and goes into more advanced studies. We are hoping this will give these children the desire for learning that will carry them through middle and high school.
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We provide a nutritious lunch, focusing on fresh veggies and protein and always give out a piece of fruit. This is sometimes the only meals the kids will get that day, and almost always the only place they will eat fresh fruit and vegetables because they are so expensive.
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We also teach basic health and hygiene. The children learn to brush their teeth and wash their face and hands. They also learn hair care and other basics in health. We emphasize basic traditional virtues such as the word “gracias.” Cleaning up after themselves, helping with the chores and concern for the peers and others are part of the values underlying our program.
Contact Info
Contact Person: Vicki Dalia
Website: http://www.casadesion.blogspot.com
Email: vnjdalia@yahoo.com
U.S. Tel: 1-276-388-3092
U.S. Tel: 1-888-825-7974
Guatemala Tel: +502-4765-2868
Best Practices in Orphan Care
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