The intrepid trek covered 160 km at an altitude of around 9,000 feet and began outside the town of Quetzaltenango. From there we walked through the villages and volcanoes of the Alaska region in Western Guatemala until reaching the village of Panajachel on the shores of Lake Atitlan. We did not hike on a conventional trekking route and camp sites were arranged for us in villages which supplied us with food and facilities along the way.
Everyone completed the main itinerary and some of us even managed the San Pedro Volcano in the foothill of Lake Atitlan after a 4 o’clock morning start with our guide, Ivan Morales. At the start of the trek we were strangers to each other but along the way - through blind panic, or the fear of waking each other up by snoring too loudly – we became firm friends.
Everyone completed the main itinerary and some of us even managed the San Pedro Volcano in the foothill of Lake Atitlan after a 4 o’clock morning start with our guide, Ivan Morales. At the start of the trek we were strangers to each other but along the way - through blind panic, or the fear of waking each other up by snoring too loudly – we became firm friends.
The crew we had was truly sensational, especially the two guides, Ivan and Emmanuel, and the crew who cooked and set up camp. Injuries were treated expertly by Pat and Kath and special mention should be made of the following efforts: Cheryl for braving her disintegrating feet; Pete a football injury sustained in a secret place whilst playing at 8,000 feet; Jessica for her killer instincts when tackling Mayan hit men in the above game; Pat for her rapport with the Guatemalan police force; Laura for singing; Georgina for climbing the volcano on empty; Catherine for never breaking her vow of silence in preparation for joining the Carmelite nuns; and finally Gareth who in spite of rumours to the contrary, refused copious amounts of booze that were offered to him on his honeymoon.
Soon after returning from the trek, we heard that The Waterloo Foundation, in Cardiff had agreed to award us a further £30,000 to help us buy our own land and build a school. During the Spring and Summer of 2008 land was found and purchased. This funding, combined with the money we raised from the trek has enabled us to commence the construction of a new school building. All being well the school will be ready by June 2009. During this period we were offered, free of charge, the services of a lawyer and architect. Meanwhile in January 2009 and March 2009 we will be welcoming two interns from Dame Alice Owens School in London, who will assist us in the teaching of English and Sports. This is a very important to us and draws on the excellent work done by Claire North who visited from London and worked as an intern at the school in the Spring of 2008.
Academically, the students have had another successful year. The school has now made a name for itself within the City and continues to be used as a centre for Adult Literacy classes at the weekends. In May this year we had a student qualify in the finals of a Public Speaking competition, another student was in the final of a drawing competition and a team of choreographic dancers made the finals of a competition in which 37 colleges from Guatemala participated. The football team was again successful, the girls’ team reaching the quarter finals of a major competition where, unfortunately, they lost on penalties. The school band has become very successful and has been invited to participate in many parades throughout the city. In July this year the band won the prize as THE BEST BAND in the “Parade of Market Associations” held in the city centre. Mention must be made here of the welcome that the band gave to all the trekkers who visited the school after the trek. Streets were blocked off and the band played and marched in our honour. It was an emotional time for everyone and will not be forgotten after all the hard work.
During the last year we again received fantastic support from a huge number of individuals and organisations such St. Mary’s Rotary Club, Swansea, the Swansea Latin American Association and a number of schools throughout the country – Driffield School, Hull, Dame Alice Owens School, London. We also had donations from a Charity Concert held in London and various friends in lieu of birthday presents. As well as this many other people continue to support us with standing orders, fund raising events and private donations. The support of St. James’ Funeral Home in Swansea has been particularly gratifying. Whatever the amount, we would like to thank everyone who has contributed to Study Guatemala in 2008. Without your assistance – and especially the people who came on the trek – we could do little, if anything to help the children in need who live in Guatemala City..
Liceo Britanico Guatemalteco has become a place of pivotal importance in the community of Zone 5. The money you give to us transforms the life of a huge range of children who come to us from across the city and who, until now, have had no real expectation of schooling beyond the age of 11.
If anyone is planning to visit Guatemala and would like to visit the school please get in touch with us. You would be more than welcome to see at first hand some of the things we are trying to achieve with the children of Zone 5, Guatemala City.
Soon after returning from the trek, we heard that The Waterloo Foundation, in Cardiff had agreed to award us a further £30,000 to help us buy our own land and build a school. During the Spring and Summer of 2008 land was found and purchased. This funding, combined with the money we raised from the trek has enabled us to commence the construction of a new school building. All being well the school will be ready by June 2009. During this period we were offered, free of charge, the services of a lawyer and architect. Meanwhile in January 2009 and March 2009 we will be welcoming two interns from Dame Alice Owens School in London, who will assist us in the teaching of English and Sports. This is a very important to us and draws on the excellent work done by Claire North who visited from London and worked as an intern at the school in the Spring of 2008.
Academically, the students have had another successful year. The school has now made a name for itself within the City and continues to be used as a centre for Adult Literacy classes at the weekends. In May this year we had a student qualify in the finals of a Public Speaking competition, another student was in the final of a drawing competition and a team of choreographic dancers made the finals of a competition in which 37 colleges from Guatemala participated. The football team was again successful, the girls’ team reaching the quarter finals of a major competition where, unfortunately, they lost on penalties. The school band has become very successful and has been invited to participate in many parades throughout the city. In July this year the band won the prize as THE BEST BAND in the “Parade of Market Associations” held in the city centre. Mention must be made here of the welcome that the band gave to all the trekkers who visited the school after the trek. Streets were blocked off and the band played and marched in our honour. It was an emotional time for everyone and will not be forgotten after all the hard work.
During the last year we again received fantastic support from a huge number of individuals and organisations such St. Mary’s Rotary Club, Swansea, the Swansea Latin American Association and a number of schools throughout the country – Driffield School, Hull, Dame Alice Owens School, London. We also had donations from a Charity Concert held in London and various friends in lieu of birthday presents. As well as this many other people continue to support us with standing orders, fund raising events and private donations. The support of St. James’ Funeral Home in Swansea has been particularly gratifying. Whatever the amount, we would like to thank everyone who has contributed to Study Guatemala in 2008. Without your assistance – and especially the people who came on the trek – we could do little, if anything to help the children in need who live in Guatemala City..
Liceo Britanico Guatemalteco has become a place of pivotal importance in the community of Zone 5. The money you give to us transforms the life of a huge range of children who come to us from across the city and who, until now, have had no real expectation of schooling beyond the age of 11.
If anyone is planning to visit Guatemala and would like to visit the school please get in touch with us. You would be more than welcome to see at first hand some of the things we are trying to achieve with the children of Zone 5, Guatemala City.
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