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Pueblo a Pueblo Blog

Right from Santiago Atitlán to your computer. Your window into our world. Thanks for reading and comments are welcome! ​

Vacation in the Gardens: Learning Through Action

11/17/2015

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It’s November, which means school is out here in Guatemala! But that doesn’t mean that the learning stops. Throughout November, Pueblo a Pueblo is hosting a “Vacation in the Gardens” course for 3rd through 5th grade students at four of our partner schools. Last week, we finished the first two-week session of the vacation courses at the Nueva Vida and San Andres Schools!

Each day, the students have participated in fun, educational activities that focus on a different theme related to gardening. So far, they have learned about soil, plant types, seeds, biodiversity, the water cycle, and more--while also learning the importance of personal responsibility and teamwork!
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In one activity, the children were asked to search for forms of life in their gardens other than plants. By digging a little deeper, they found insects in the soils, butterflies and bees pollinating the plants, and much more! After discovering and understanding the important role of each living thing in the small ecosystems in their own gardens, students were able to understand biodiversity with their own eyes.
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The students were also able to conduct experiments on soil types and soil erosion. On one day, they used cut water bottles to see which soils in the gardens absorbed water more quickly and more slowly, allowing them to learn which soils were best for growing different plants!

​In order to understand soil erosion, teams of students made 
volcancitos, or little volcanos, out of dirt. They then covered one with plants and leaves (to represent trees and plant life) and left one without any vegetation, and sprinkled water on both volcancitos. The teams observed that the volcancito without the “trees” on it experienced more runoff and erosion—and were able to see the negative effects of deforestation right in front of them!
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The children have also learned how to use the food from their school gardens to prepare delicious and nutritious recipes for themselves and their classmates. Some of the recipes have included “porcupine” meatballs (made with rice), the traditional Central Guatemalan dish called “iguashte” (a type of vegetable salad with soy protein instead of expensive meat), and spinach. They are very much enjoying learning how to use the foods they have grown—not to mention eating them!

We are excited to be starting the second round of “Vacations in the Garden” this week at our next two partner schools!
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November Highlight: Interview With Our New Executive Director

11/10/2015

 
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We are delighted to introduce our new Executive Director, Andrew Wilson, to the Pueblo a Pueblo community. Andrew brings with him years of experience in nonprofit management, and a passion for social justice and creative, sustainable solutions.

Before joining Pueblo a Pueblo, he worked as Executive Director for COTS, Inc., an organization committed to addressing the needs of the homeless through life skills programs, and as District Executive Director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Appleton, WI. He also founded and leads NPO Together!, a small IT social business providing free and low-cost technology solutions to non-profits.

Prior to these experiences, Andrew served in the United States Peace Corps for two and a half years in rural Huehuetenango, Guatemala.  During his service, he was instrumental in the implementation of over a dozen community-based development projects, and created a system for monitoring project implementation that has been nationally adopted.

We recently sat down with Andrew to get to know him a little better, and hear more about his vision for Pueblo a Pueblo. Check out some of our conversation:


What appealed to you about Pueblo a Pueblo, and what made you want to be the next director?

Many things attracted me to Pueblo a Pueblo.  Ever since I lived in the rural highlands years ago, I have been unable to ignore the yearning to continue to serve the people of Guatemala again.  On top of my love for Guatemala, the opportunity to serve a socially innovative organization that works at the grassroots level to fight poverty and provide opportunity is what I have dedicated my career to.  Being able to do that for Guatemala is a perfect recipe.

I wanted to be the next director because I look at the world through a different lens. I want to be able to use my skills to build upon the previous successes and to continue to grow the achievements of Pueblo a Pueblo.



What is your connection to Latin America and, specifically, Guatemala?

My first experience in Latin America was when I spent a college semester studying in Costa Rica, and then years later when I lived in Todos Santos Cuchumatan as a Peace Corps volunteer.  I was first attracted to the region in high school, when I ran a free mobile clinic that provided services to migrant farm workers from Central America.

The stories and experiences moved me, and inspired me to study Spanish in college. Through my studies, my semester abroad, and my experience living in Huehuetenango,I knew that I would forever be connected to Central America. Then in 2008, as fate would have it, I sealed my connection with Guatemala when I married my Guatemalan wife in Guatemala City.


Now, my connection is family.  My wife’s family, who I call my own, remains in the capital, and I am extremely close with them.  They were always there for the good and bad times in my experiences.  After moving back to the US we still spend a considerable amount of time in Guate when possible, and most of our closest friends and relatives are there - including our padrinos, ahijados, and my godchildren - whose mother was my neighbor in Todos Santos.


What do you most look forward to in your new role with Pueblo a Pueblo, and what are your immediate goals in your first year as executive director?

I most look forward to two things: the ability to make a global impact on food security, health, poverty, and education, and the privilege to work with such a dynamic and dedicated team of professionals and volunteers who share the same love and passion for a country that helped me become who I am.

Immediately, I want to dive deep into all aspects of Pueblo a Pueblo to become fluent with its operations. Within the first year, I plan to streamline many of the systems that we use in order to create a more efficient process for communication, data collection and management, and reporting. I will also spend considerable time bringing Pueblo a Pueblo to life in the midwest to grow our support in this area of the country.


How do you envision Pueblo a Pueblo in 10 years?

I envision an organization that engages in socially entrepreneurial activities that not only support the economic improvement of the community, but also provides a sustainable revenue model for Pueblo a Pueblo.  I also envision an organization that leads best practices for other international NGO’s through our leadership in maternal health, education, and WASH.


And finally, do you believe that tortillas should be eaten with every meal?
​

I definitely believe that REAL tortillas should be eaten with every meal - the good kind, las hechas por mano, not the flat, boring perfectly round ones.  In fact, I tortillar better than my wife!

​Entrevista Con Nuestro Nuevo Director Ejecutivo

Para nosotros, es un placer presentarle a la comunidad de Pueblo a Pueblo nuestro nuevo Director Ejecutivo, Andrew Wilson. Andrew trae consigo años de experiencia en la gestión de organizaciones sin fines de lucro, y una pasión por la justicia social, y soluciones creativas y sostenibles.

Antes de unirse a Pueblo a Pueblo, trabajó como Director Ejecutivo de COTS, Inc, una organización dedicada a atender a las necesidades de las personas sin hogar, y como Director Ejecutivo Regional de la Sociedad de San Vicente de Paul en Appleton, Wisconsin. También fundó y dirige NPO Together!, un pequeño negocio de tecnologías de la información que proporciona soluciones tecnológicas gratuitas o de bajo custo a organizaciones sin fines de lucro.

Antes de estas experiencias, Andrew sirvió en el Cuerpo de Paz de los Estados Unidos durante dos años y medio en áreas rurales de Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Durante su servicio, tuvo un papel decisivo en la ejecución de más de una docena de proyectos de desarrollo comunitario, y creó un sistema para el monitoreo de la implementación de proyectos, que se ha adoptado a nivel nacional.

Recientemente conversamos con Andrew para llegar a conocerlo un poco mejor, y aprender más acerca de su visión para Pueblo a Pueblo. A continuación está un poco de nuestra conversación:


¿Qué fue lo que te atrajo a Pueblo a Pueblo, y te impulsó a querer ser el nuevo director?

Hay muchas cosas que me atrajeron a Pueblo a Pueblo. Desde que vivía en Huehuetenango hace años, no he sido capaz de ignorar el deseo de continuar a servir al pueblo de Guatemala de nuevo. Además de mi amor por Guatemala, he dedicado mi carrera a la oportunidad de servir a una organización socialmente innovadora, que trabaja a nivel comunitario para combatir la pobreza y proporcionar oportunidades. Ser capaz de hacer eso por Guatemala es una receta perfecta.

Yo quería ser el próximo director porque veo el mundo con diferentes ojos. Quiero ser capaz de usar mis habilidades para construir sobre los éxitos ya logrados, y seguir ampliando los logros de Pueblo a Pueblo.



¿Cuál es su relación a Latinoamérica y, específicamente, Guatemala?

Mi primera experiencia en Latinoamérica fue cuando pasé un semestre universitario estudiando en Costa Rica, y luego años más tarde cuando vivía en Todos Santos Cuchumatán, Huehuetenango como voluntario del Cuerpo de Paz. Me sentí atraído por la región por primera vez en la escuela secundaria, cuando manejaba una clínica móvil y gratuita que brindaba servicios de salud a trabajadores agrícolas migrantes de Centroamérica.

Las historias y experiencias me movieron, y me inspiraron a estudiar español en la universidad. A través de mis estudios, mi semestre en Costa Rica, y mi experiencia en Huehuetenango, yo sabía que siempre estaría conectado a Centroamérica. Luego en 2008, como el destino quiso, sellé mi conexión con Guatemala cuando me casé con mi esposa guatemalteca en la Ciudad de Guatemala.

Ahora, mi conexión es mi familia. La familia de mi esposa, que también es mi familia, permanece en la capital, y somos muy unidos. Siempre han estado allí para los buenos y los malos momentos de mis experiencias. Aún después de regresarnos a los Estados, siempre tratamos de pasar la mayor cantidad de tiempo posible en Guatemala, y la mayoría de nuestros amigos y familiares más cercanos viven allí - incluyendo nuestros padrinos y mis ahijados, cuya madre era mi vecina en Todos Santos.



¿Qué es lo que más te emociona de tu nuevo papel con Pueblo a Pueblo, y cuáles son tus objetivos inmediatos en tu primer año como director ejecutivo?

Lo que más espero son dos cosas: poder  tener un impacto global en la seguridad alimentaria, la salud, la pobreza, y la educación. Y además, el privilegio de trabajar con un equipo tan dinámico y dedicado de profesionales y voluntarios que comparten el mismo amor y pasión por un país que me ha ayudado a convertirme en lo que soy.

Inmediatamente, quiero entender todos los aspectos de Pueblo a Pueblo para adquirir fluidez con sus operaciones. Dentro del primer año, quiero agilizar los sistemas que utilizamos para crear procesos aún más eficientes de comunicación,  recopilación de datos, y la gestión y presentación de informes. También voy a usar mi tiempo para que Pueblo a Pueblo sea más conocido en el medio oeste de los Estados Unidos, con el fin de hacer crecer nuestro apoyo en esta zona del país.



¿Cómo ves a Pueblo a Pueblo en 10 años?

Veo una organización que se dedica a actividades sociales innovadoras que no sólo apoyan a la mejora económica de la comunidad, sino que también proporciona un modelo de ingresos sostenible para Pueblo a Pueblo. También imagino una organización que sea líder internacional de mejores prácticas para otras organizaciones gubernamentales a través de nuestro liderazgo en la salud materno-infantil, la educación y WASH.


Y, por último, ¿crees que se debe comer las tortillas en cada comida?
​

Definitivamente creo que las tortillas DE A VERDAD se deben comer en cada comida.  Hablo de las buenas, las hechas a mano, no las aburridas y perfectamente redondas compradas en una tienda. De hecho, ¡yo torteo mejor que mi esposa!

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Guatemala Office
Cantón Tzanjuyú 
Santiago Atitlán, Sololá 
(+502) 7721.7449 (Callers in Guatemala)
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  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • OUR MISSION
    • OUR TEAM
    • BOARD OF DIRECTORS
    • OUR SUPPORTERS >
      • COFFEE INDUSTRY PARTNERS
    • Annual Report
    • FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY >
      • AUDITS & FORMS 990
    • Partnership with Natik
    • Our COVID-19 Response
  • PROGRAMS
    • WHAT WE DO
    • WOMEN'S RIGHT TO HEALTH >
      • MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH
      • WOMEN'S HEALTH CHAMPIONS
    • SCHOOL HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND NUTRITION >
      • WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE IN SCHOOLS
      • PRIMARY EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS
      • PATHWAYS TO LITERACY
      • SCHOOL NUTRITION
      • ORGANIC TEACHING GARDEN
    • SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS >
      • BEEKEEPING
      • YOUTH LEADERSHIP
      • WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
  • BLOG
  • MULTIMEDIA
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