What's New:

Back to School!

After a weekend of colorful celebration here in Xela,  students and volunteers alike headed back to school this week.  I was lucky enough to tag along and have my first experience in the classroom. Having done so, I have to say that I have a new found respect for teachers everywhere, and specifically for our fabulous volunteers here at Manos de Colores!! It was such a treat to watch as their fun and engaging lesson plans led to students competitively forming teams and shouting out the approriate color, number, or pronoun with great enthusiasm and even laughter!

read more...
Semana Santa at El Nahual...

This week began with Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Semana Santa. Excitement is in the air, processions are in the streets, and flowers and palms are everywhere! As most of the local schools are closed this week, our teaching volunteers are enjoying a change of pace as they break ground in our new garden! They´ve been busy leveling the field behind our school, while others have been planting, watering and painting to complete the landscaping inside the community center.

read more...
2nd week at the new community center...

This is our first week of hosting Manos de Colores at our new Community Center! Our wonderful volunteers helped move the last of the items over last week and now the new classrooms are nearing completion. Many of our activities have already been held here, such as salsa lessons, and amazing cooking lessons from Pati. Now we have completed the transition as we hosted our first Saturday school here over the weekend, and Manos de Colores was held here yesterday! What a great start to the week!

read more...
Clothing Exchange Benefit Party - March 26th 6pm-9pm

@ Pala Life Klish (4ta calle 15 Ave)

(Under the stairs across from VRISA bookstore)

Here comes summer time!

Trade in those long tops for flip flops

 

Q10  with clothes to exchange

Q15 without

Take what you like

read more...
WE ARE HERE!

I´m very pleased to be typing this from our BRAND NEW OFFICE, full of sunlight, books, and the smell of fresh paint (maybe that´s what´s making me delirious...). Yes, it´s true. We have finally moved into our new community center! Volunteers stayed after lunch on Friday to help lug over boxes of books, tables, chairs, and the stove and refrigerator from the old school to our new location at 28 Avenida. This week we´re finishing up some work on the classrooms and by next week all the kiddos will be over here for Manos de Colores as well. 

read more...