San Miguelito School construction is well underway in the small mountainous village of Santa Euela, Huehuetenango in Northwestern Guatemala! Materials were delivered to as close to the site as possible, which was 120 metres from the storage shed. All the materials, including the sand and cement were hauled to the site by men & women in the community. Both men and women from the community are providing unskilled labour to help build the 5 new classrooms. 

 Woman hauls sand to site

 A woman hauls sand on her back to the site 

 

The picture of students with their teacher shows the walls about half complete.The faculty and students are anxiously awaiting the completion of the school.  There are approximately 120 students who attend this school, but if history repeats itself, there will be alot more students attending once this new school is built. 

 
On August 31st more pictures of the school construction were received showing great progress! The school is nearly ready to receive the metal roofing! The Rotary Club of Huehuetenango and the Community of Santa Euela are anxiously awaiting the arrival of 7 Canadians who plan to visit in the fall. The visitors, members of the Rotary Clubs of Kenora and Watrous and 2 employees of CRCID will travel to Huehuetenango to meet with Rotarians, members of the school's parent council, municpal leaders and teachers.
 
Funding for construction for this school was provided by District 5550 Rotary Clubs of Gimli, Brandon, & Kenora, and District 7090 Rotary Club of Dundas Valley Sunrise as well as a grant from District 5550 World Community Service Foundation and matching funds from CRCID.
 
Ripple Effect is currently seeking funding for Phase 2, which will include a kitchen, washrooms, and furnishings for the 5 classrooms.  If you or your club would like to help, please contact Gord LeMaistre at glemaistre1@hotmail.com or John Berringer at theberringers@kmts.ca

 

Rotary Clubs of Kenora, Gimli, Brandon and Dundas Valley Sunrise all contributed to the funding for this Ripple Effect project.  The Kenora Road Race also donated, and a District 5550 World Community Service Grant was also secured.  All these funds were matched with CRCID funding which brought the funds available to $58,000, enough to bring services to the site, level the property and construct the 5 new classrooms.  Fundraising is on-going as washrooms, a kitchen, principal's office, library/computer lab, and playground are all required.  Furnishings are also needed