April 14, 2006
Santiago Atitlan Hospitalito update

The recovery from hurricanes and mudslides in the region is ongoing. I've just received an update from Kenneth Wood in Santiago Atitlan on plans to rebuild the hospital there. Click MORE for the update. And please donate.

Dear Friends of Santiago Atitlan,

Happy Semana Santa!

Pueblo a Pueblo is pleased to inform you that after many weeks of generous
volunteer labor on the part of our webmaster, Marc Quimbey at Westwind
Studios in Arkansas; our new website is up and running. It reflects many of
the new initiatives that we have begun, as the people of Santiago Atitlan
recover from the disaster. These include:

Hospitalito Atitlan: The decision has been made that the Hospitalito cannot
return to its original site in Panabaj. Together, Fundacion K'aslimaal (the
Hospitalito governing board) and Pueblo a Pueblo have begun a Capital
Campaign to purchase land and build a new, permanent Hospitalito for the
community. The interim Hospitalito continues to provide medical services as
we develop these plans.

Mother/Child Program: With the new website, Pueblo a Pueblo and the
Hospitalito have launched this individual sponsorship program to ensure the
health of pregnant T'zutujil women and their infants. U.S. sponsors will be
able to develop an Email relationship with their "adopted" mother and infant
and the $25/mo. sponsorship will fund prenatal, delivery, post-natal and
well-baby care to the neediest, at-risk mothers and their infants.

Child Education and Health Program: The children of Panabaj who survived
the mudslides, have endured the loss of their family members, friends and
homes. Most are now living in temporary shelters. This sponsorship program
is designed to support a local Panabaj, T'zutujil school and ensure that
these 500 children can continue their education, receive a daily healthy
meal and health care services. Each sponsor can communicate via email with
their child, sharing words of encouragement, pictures and support. Besides
individual sponsors, Pueblo a Pueblo is particularly interested in
developing sponsorship by groups of U.S. students (classrooms, Spanish
clubs, etc.) - providing educational and service learning opportunities for
U.S. students.

Other improvements you will note on the website:
Volunteer information - both medical and non-medical.
Santiago Atitlan Update page that feature new events every two
weeks.
Medical and non-Medical Wish Lists.
Other Disaster Relief initiatives.
Secure on-line donation capacity that will reduce our overhead
expenses.

On behalf of our Board of Directors, let me take this opportunity to again
thank you for your support of the T'zutujil people. It is an honor for us
to assist them to realize their dreams and to work with the many dedicated,
thoughtful and caring volunteers and donors. We encourage you to visit our
new website and appreciate any assistance you can give in promoting this
cause to your family and friends.

Kenneth Wood
President
Pueblo a Pueblo Inc.
P.O. Box 11486
Washington, DC 20008

tel: (202) 302-0622
www.puebloapueblo.org

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world. Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead

Posted by Dave at April 14, 2006 11:56 AM