On a rainy October 17th, morning, in Gualan, Guatemala, with the Canadian Ambassador to Guatemala in attendance, the Ripple Effect supported Blanca Hilda all-girls school was officially opened.
Dignataries 
The inauguration began at 7:30 a.m. with a breakfast at the school.  The tables were set up under tarps because it was a rainy morning.  Teachers, the Principal, 11 Rotarians & spouses from Rotary Club of Gualan (there are only 15 members in the club), and Canadian visitors, Rotarians Jim Coulter, RC of Watrous; John Berringer & spouse Dr. Rowena Lass and Gord & Deb LeMaistre, Rotary Club of Kenora; and Dr. Deborah Walters, DG of District 7790 were there to celebrate! 
 
CAN Ambassador to GuatemalaAfter breakfast the Canadian Ambassador to Guatemala, Hugues Rousseau and Christina Laur, Team Leader, Canadian Cooperation Section from the Canadian Embassy arrived, as well as a representative from the Guatemalan Ministry of Education, the Mayor of Gualan plus several representatives from local city and department governments.
 
The students arrived (more than 400 girls) and the speeches began with many people expressing their gratitude and asking us to offer their thanks to the Rotary Club of Prince Albert, District 5550 World Community Service Foundation and the Canadian Rotary Collaboration for International Development.
 
The speech by Ambassador Hugues Rousseau was especially encouraging as he explained that the work of Ripple Effect throughout the country makes him, and the Canadian Government look good.  He offered to assist in any way he could, and asked to be invited to more of the Ripple Effect’s grand openings.  He also requested we contact him when we return to Guatemala so we can meet and discuss ways to work together. 
 
The Ambassador had a strong message for the students, telling them that it is very important for them to remain in school and work hard at their studies.
Before & After Ripple Effect 
 
One student who was very excited about the proceedings wanted to have her picture taken.  She had a very special request.  She wanted her photo taken with “Prince Albert” as she was quite sure he would attend the ceremony given that he’d funded the construction!
 
New classroomThe newly constructed classrooms were kept under wraps until after the speeches were done.  “Although we’d seen pictures of the partially completed building, walking around the corner of the older building and seeing the new classrooms was an emotional event!” said Ripple Effect co-leader, Debra LeMaistre. “It is a beautiful building, with wrought iron balconies, tiled floors, white ceilings, and a beautiful view of the community,” LeMaistre continued.
 
Before Ripple Effect's involvement, the 400 girls of Blanca Hilda School in Gualan 400 students was overcrowded with some classes being held outside.  The washrooms for the most part didn’t work, and there was about a 5 ft. drop off one end of the front of the washroom building with no railing. 
 
The initial plan by the municipality was to remove a large tree on the property to accommodate the 2 classrooms Ripple Effect had agreed to build.  After a meeting with parents, teachers, city council and Rotarians, it was agreed that the beautiful tree would be spared. Through negotiations, the municipality agreed to remove an old single classroom to be replaced by 2 Ripple Effect classrooms and matched by 2 more funded by the municipality for a net gain of 3 Classrooms.
 
Ripple Effect would like to thank the Rotary Club of Prince Albert, District 5550’s World Community Service Foundation, and CRCID.  Rotarians are to be congratulated for the work they do to improve educational opportunities for the children of Guatemala. The Rotary Club of Gualan asked us to pass along their gratitude and look forward to working together on another Ripple Effect project soon.