Operating a School for 80 Children in 2017

Warm greetings from Guatemala,

The rainy season has passed without much trouble this year so we are grateful for that!

We are also grateful to you for all your support of our work thus far this year. We are still a little short on our budget and we are confident that coming into this giving season we can all close this gap together.

October 1st was “El Día del Niño” (The Day of the Child) in Guatemala therefore we decided at La Academia to celebrate with all our little ones. Normally the schedule if full of classes for the kids and teenagers and this day was a very welcome break to just play!!

So all involved in our family, including staff, volunteer students-in-practice, teachers and even the dogs, listened the inner voice of the little child, and everyone participated and had fun.

They had a special meal prepared with love and flavor by our chef Moma Sonia, cake, candy, sodas, music, piñatas, games, little gifts and even a clown. During the whole day our children could do what they do best; simply be children, enjoying themselves and not having to worry about anything.

We would like to appreciate you again for helping make this space open to creativity, innocence and safety.

Mick and Debora (co-founders)
And the staff and children of
The Integral Heart Family in Antigua Guatemala.

Greetings from Guatemala,

One of our goals when we opened our school in 2016 was to empower our all Guatemalan staff to manage and operate every aspects of the programs and classes offered there to our 80 children and their families. This dream is now becoming a reality and a great test is currently underway.

As the founders, Mick and Debora traveled back to Europe for the first time since moving to Guatemala in 2009 to visit their families in Ireland and Spain they left the school in the most capable hands of the staff they have been working with since they created Integral Heart in 2010.

And, as you will see from the photos all is going really great. The Critical-Thinking classes for teens are being led by two of their senior students as well as the homework help and creative classes for the younger children. The food and education sponsorship program is in the capable hands of their social worker who has been with IHF Guatemala since 2010.

We hope you enjoy and thank you again for all your support,

The All-Guatemalan Staff of Integral Heart Family in Guatemala.