Phenomenal change is happening in the Ixil, and I have witnessed that change firsthand. In 2002, I traveled to the Ixil on an AGROS trip to work alongside the village of La Esperanza. My husband Dave and I continued to work with Villa Hortensia Uno (VH1). Now, as a veteran traveler to Guatemala, I have made twelve working trips to the Ixil. I attended the Nicolas Christian School graduation ceremony for Villa Hortensia Uno in 2018. These were the first students ever to complete ninth grade in this village. It was a thrill to see their joy and accomplishments celebrated. Some had waited years to have the opportunity to learn past the sixth grade. It was a dream of a lifetime to earn a ninth-grade education. Two of the students were twenty and twenty-one years of age. Thank you to Nicolàs Fund for Education for extending education to this remote village. I had the joy and excitement of meeting the three teachers and one tutor employed at the school. I knew these teachers from elementary age. These teachers graduated from the very first graduating class in 2018. They worked hard to overcome adversity to complete high school and continued their education beyond high school to become teachers. This is their village. They were born and raised and educated here. And now they have chosen to pass on the blessing of education to their brothers and sisters, cousins, and friends, who would not otherwise have an open path for the future. They are thirsty to learn. Two of the teachers in VH1 are pursuing university degrees using online learning. Eliseo is studying theology, and Juan is studying English. By investing in …
Celebrating Mayan Culture at Nicolás Christian School
In a vibrant display of tradition and beauty, Nicolás Christian School recently celebrated Guatemalan Independence Day (September 15th) with a unique focus on the rich Mayan culture. Unlike any other, this special event beautifully showcased the unique heritage of the Ixil in Guatemala. A Day Filled with Tradition The Nicolás Christian School students and staff adorned themselves in traditional Ixil region clothing from various villages in the Quiché Department, creating a vivid tapestry of cultural pride and diversity. The school grounds came alive with an array of displays featuring handmade pottery, intricate weaving, traditional foods, and crops. Visitors were greeted by stunning floral carpets, the rhythmic melodies of the marimba—Guatemala’s national musical instrument—and the vibrant sight of round kites, traditionally flown on All Saints Day to ward off bad spirits. The celebration extended beyond mere displays. Handcrafted representations of Mayan archaeological discoveries sparked curiosity. Adding to the lively atmosphere, a live puppy and clucking chickens charmed attendees, bringing an authentic touch of rural Guatemalan life to the event. Honoring Contributions The heart of the celebration was a poignant tribute to women’s contributions to Guatemala’s development. A female student embodied this spirit by wearing Ixil clothing, adorned with a mantilla (lace veil), and holding a lit candle. Her presence symbolized Mayan women’s enduring strength and importance throughout Guatemalan history. A Tribute to Heritage Our students paid homage to their heritage through marimba music and heartfelt speeches, proudly singing the Guatemalan national anthem. This celebration was not just an event but a testament to Nicolás Christian School’s deep respect for Ixil culture in Guatemala. Your support is invaluable to us, and we are deeply grateful for your generosity in allowing our students …
Atole de Elote Recipe | Enjoy Guatemala’s Traditional Corn Drink
Atole de Elote is a traditional Guatemalan hot beverage made of corn and milk that is served across Guatemala for a warm snack. This is a great easy-to-make snack for the whole family! In Guatemala, women pulverize the fresh corn on a grinding stone or metate to achieve a silky, creamy consistency. Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 45 min | Serves: 8 Step 1: Blend corn one can at a time & 1 1/2 cups water divided evenly in a blender until smooth. Pour through a fine mesh strainer into a large saucepan, pressing pulp against the mesh to release liquid. Discard solids. Step 2: Stir in sugar, cinnamon and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; stir occasionally. Step 3: In another saucepan, bring milk & remaining water to a boil. Stir into corn mixture; remove from heat. Remove cinnamon. Pour into mugs & garnish with reserved corn kernels. Serve warm.
Don Iván? It is the President!
Imagine that you are having your lunch and suddenly you receive a phone call from an unknown number. “The President (of Guatemala) Giammattei wants to speak with you!”
Nicolás Fund for Education Explores Social Entrepreneurship
[spacer height=”20px”]Social entrepreneurship occurs when individuals and companies develop, fund and implement innovative solutions to social, cultural, or environmental issues. [spacer height=”20px”]One example of a social entrepreneur is 2006 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammed Yunis, the man that popularized the micro-lending concept in India to provide small loans to poor women to start small businesses. His objective was to help poor people escape from poverty by providing loans on terms they could understand and manage, and by teaching them a few sound financial principles so they could better manage their finances. Social entrepreneurs must have a good understanding of how a problem impacts people, particularly the marginalized and poor, in order to develop creative solutions and identify available resources to solve those problems.[spacer height=”20px”] [spacer height=”20px”]Unlike traditional businesses, the goal is not profit making but instead to provide solutions that benefit society. If there are any profits, those are usually reinvested to expand the business to serve more people. Businesses must be designed to be financially and ecologically sustainable, however. Global organizations have developed to support and encourage innovation and leadership through social entrepreneurship. [spacer height=”20px”]These organizations offer technological and business consulting expertise to create comprehensive, well researched, successful small business plans. These organizations can provide start-up capital, promote networking, collaboration, and partnerships and assist with media communications to tell the story effectively, to teach and to promote greater impact. In November, NFE Vice Chair Kathy Riper, NFE Treasurer Lolo Levy and her sister Sara Wells and team member Dave McKnew met with Andy Lieberman to learn more about social entrepreneurship opportunities in Guatemala. [spacer height=”20px”]Mr. Lieberman is employed by Santa Clara University in California, which has a commitment to …
July Trip Registration
[spacer height=”20px”]We are now accepting applications for our July 21-31, 2017 Impact Trip. [spacer height=”20px”]The application and enrollment instructions can be found here. We will be hosting a regional Teacher Professional Development workshop on this trip, so educators are especially encouraged to come on this trip. If you have never been on a mission trip, an experience like this will deepen your relationship with God as you serve him, as well as creating lasting relationships with our NFE scholars and your fellow team members. Make this your 2017 New Year’s Resolution!
NFE Textile Sale December 4th
[spacer height=”20px”]Come and join us! [spacer height=”20px”]NFE is having a special event on December 4th at 11:30 am where Guatemalan and Mexican textiles will be sold at Evergreen Covenant Church in the Fellowship Hall. NFE has a special friend, Hazuki Camp, participating in our sale. Hazuki used to attend ECC when she was attending school in Seattle. Hazuki volunteered at Agros during that time. She is from Chiapas, Mexico where Agros has villages. Hazuki now lives in Beaverton, OR with her husband and three young children. She works with Trebol, which is a coop of women who make beautiful, handmade leather and embroidered products. Hazuki will be donating a percentage of her proceeds to NFE. Following the Textile sale, a Trip report will take place.
Give A Gift That Changes Someone’s Life For The Better!
[spacer height=”20px”]Support Nicolás Fund for Education through the Bellevue Presbyterian Church Alternative Gift Market this Christmas! [spacer height=”20px”]Buy a share of a laptop computer for Nicolás Christian School for $60, or purchase shares of musical and sports equipment for $40/share. (Our dream is to amass enough musical instruments to form a marching band for Nicolás Christian School! ¡Marching bands are muy popular in Guatemala!) AGM shares can be purchased with checks or cash at Bellevue Presbyterian in the lobby on December 4, 11, and 18th. If you buy in the BelPres lobby, you will be given a gift card to share with the gift recipient. Alternatively, AGM purchases can be made online with a credit/debit card. Thank you for your support of NFE! The AGM catalog print version can be picked up at Bellevue Presbyterian Church.
Would You Like To Attend Our Nicolás Christian School Graduation Ceremonies Virtually?
We are hoping to offer virtual attendance at our Nicolás Christian School graduation ceremonies on November 15, 2017. [spacer height=”20px”]We are still working out details to make sure this will be feasible, but if we can arrange it, you would click a specific link which would be e-mailed prior to the ceremony. If this is something that you would be interested in, please contact Becci Merritt via the form below.
Our New Seventh-Graders Need Your Help!
Friends, thank you so much for investing in the young lives of Guatemala’s Ixil region! Through your generosity, students from this desperately impoverished region are looking forward to a future free from poverty—through a high-quality secondary education! Because you care deeply about the students we serve together, I want to celebrate with you some of the great accomplishments of the Nicolás Christian School. I also want to share with you an urgent request as the new school year gets underway in January 2017. I am so blessed to report that, still in its first year, the Nicolás Christian School has already become known throughout the Ixil region as a center of educational excellence! Our science and computer labs are one-of-a kind, and our library/resource center is the envy of other schools. The leadership is excellent. And, most important, the school is openly and unapologetically rooted in the Christian faith. No wonder our students are so proud of their school! These amazing blessings are due to donors just like you—along with other faithful friends—who have stepped up to support and pray for the school and NFE students. This January, a new class of seventh-graders from Agros Ixil villages will start their first year at the Nicolás Christian School. We have begun work with three additional Agros villages, and those children are anxious to begin attending Nicolás Christian School. Three students from San Nicolás, seven students from Cajixay and other students are praying that they will be able to continue their education beyond the sixth grade. We won’t be able to accommodate these additional students unless we can increase our budget. We haven’t yet raised sufficient funding to cover their scholarship …
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