"Los Patojos" The Little Ones

5 años de amor y educación! 5 years of love and education!

2011-09-12T13:11:00.000-07:00

Expresar lo que sentimos en los patojos por cumplir 5 años de vida de sueños e ideas en acción es algo que por medio de palabras no es suficiente, sin embargo, los resultados que hemos obtenido durante este tiempo, han sido fantásticos y de mucho beneficio para los niños y jóvenes de nuestro proyecto.

La alimentación desde hace 5 años ha mejorado en calidad y en cantidad, lo que significa que también aumentó el número de niños y jóvenes que tienen acceso al cumplimiento de su derecho a una sana y nutritiva alimentación, hemos pasado de 3 participantes a más de 100 durante todo este tiempo. Existe una necesidad grande de mejorar la calidad de alimentación, existe la ausencia de este recurso en muchas familias de la comunidad, pero gracias al trabajo en equipo y con la cooperación responsable, ahora más de 100 niños y jóvenes gozan de su derecho a la alimentación diariamente. Gracias por ayudarnos a prevenir la desnutrición en nuestro proyecto.

Se ha implementado un programa preventivo de salud a nivel familiar dos días por semana con una participación constante de 10 a 13 pacientes cada día. Gracias por ayudarnos a prevenir enfermedades y facilitar espacios para la atención médica gratuita. Nuestro doctor es un héroe y una excelente persona, el es el encargado de atender a la gente, a las familias de la comunidad. Gracias a la cooperación responsable y a nuestro médico, todos y todas tenemos derecho a la Salud en nuestra comunidad de manera local e independiente.

En fin, Los Patojos durante estos maravillosos 5 años, hemos llorado, reído, cantado, caído, saltado, hemos sentido, hemos pensando, hemos actuado. Gracias a todos y todas las personas que creen en nuestra propuesta, en nuestra plataforma social de activismo y participación ciudadana para la niñez y juventud en nuestra comunidad.

Agradecemos profundamente a Jessica Newman y a toda la familia de JustWorld Interational por ser pilares esenciales en el desarrollo de este proyecto, a Juan Andrés Rodríguez y a toda la familia de JWI Capítulo Guatemala. A Kathrin Dommel y a la hermosa familia de Volamos Juntos, A Give Kids a Chance y Casasito por creer, reforzar y apoyar nuestras propuestas sociales con amor y confianza. Gracias a los compañeros y compañeras que están presentes en la lucha social por un mundo mejor, Vanesa Cuñado, Ingrid Jent, Ervin López, amigos y amigas de todas partes del mundo, familia, hermanos y hermanas, niños, niñas y jóvenes que somos LOS PATOJOS, SUEÑOS E IDEAS EN ACCIÓN.

ALIMENTACIÓN, SALUD, EDUCACIÓN Y PARTICIPACIÓN SOCIAL PARA LA NIÑEZ Y JUVENTUD
(8 de Septiembre 2006-8 de Septiembre 2011) y esto apenas empieza!

English Version.

To express what feel during these amazing five years at Patojos, fulfilling life dreams and ideas into action is something that in words is not enough, however, the results we obtained during this time have been fantastic and of great benefit to children and youth of our project.
Nutrition, has improved in quality and quantity during these five years. Our numbers also have increased from three children to over than a hundred that have access now to a balance and healthy feeding program. There are a huge number of families that don’t have access to a worthy plate of food every day but thanks to the responsible cooperation, team work and our sponsors, we are now preventing malnutrition and making kids and youth happy and stronger every day.

A preventive health program has been implemented for the families two days a week with a constant share of 10 to 13 patients a day. Thanks for helping to prevent disease and provide space for the free medical care. Our doctor is a hero and a great person; he is in charge of caring for people and the families in the community. Thanks to the responsible cooperation and our doctor, we all have the right to health in our project. A well fed child is a healthy one.

Anyways, our first five wonderful years, we have cried, laughed, sang, fell, jumped, we felt, we thought, we have acted and we are acting. Thank you and all who believe in our proposal, our social platform for activism and civic participation for children and youth in our community.

We are grateful to Jessica Newman and the whole family of JustWorld Interational for being pillars in the development of this project, Juan Andres Rodriguez and the family of JWI Chapter Guatemala, to Kathrin Dommel and her beautiful family and team of Volamos Juntos, Give Kids a Chance and CasaSito for believing, strengthen and supporting our social proposals with love and trust. Thanks to colleagues who are present in the social struggle for a better world,Vanesa Cuñado , Ingrid Jent, Ervin Lopez, friends from all over the world, family, brothers and sisters, children and youth that are DREAMS AND IDEAS IN ACTION.

FOOD, HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL PARTICIPATION FOR THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE WORLD.
(8 September 2006-8 September 2011) and this is just beginning!

NUEVA IMAGEN - NEW LOOK LOS PATOJOS 2011

2011-08-20T23:32:00.000-07:00

Estos murales estuvieron durante 3 años en las paredes de nuestro programa - these murals were on our program walls for three years...

Muchos recuerdos, mucho trabajo, muchas imágenes que nos hacen fuertes y nos dan energía para luchar por ser felices, por un mundo mejor, por la niñez, por la juventud, por los sueños e ideas en acción!

So many beautiful memories, lots of hard work, lots of images that make us strong and give us energy to fight for happiness, for a better world, for the childhood, the youth and the dreams and ideas in action!

Y AHORA ESTOS MURALES NOS ALEGRAN TODOS LOS DÍAS EN EL PROYECTO, ESTE ES EL NUEVO LOOK DE LOS PATOJOS 1

AND NOW, THESE ARE THE MURALS THAT MAKE US HAPPY EVERYDAY AT THE PROJECT, THIS IS OUR NEW LOOK!

ESTÉN PENDIENTES PARA LAS PRÓXIMAS NOTICIAS!

BE READY FOR THE NEXT NEWS!

Equipo Los Patojos-JWI, Donación Zapatos, Computadora, Casasito Team Building!

2011-06-06T19:00:00.000-07:00

Equipo Los Patojos 2011, gracias al apoyo de JWI

Just World International ha facilitado el soporte económico de todo el proyecto particularmente para el equipo de educadores populares, el doctor y la clínica, el equipo de cocina y mantenimiento durante los últimos años. Gracias a este apoyo, nuestro proyecto social se ha fortalecido y mejorado en los aspectos de educación alternativa, salud, alimentación y participación social, ofreciendo espacios seguros y de desarrollo integral a más de 130 personas entre los 3 años de edad hasta los 25.

Los Patojos no sería lo que es, sino fuese por el apoyo, amor y confianza que la familia JWI, el capítulo de Guatemala, sus embajadores y colaboradores, demuestran todos los días por medio de su duro trabajo, su esmero y esfuerzo para que en los patojos podamos poner nuestros sueños e ideas en acción! Agradecemos especialmente a Jessica Newman y su equipo de trabajo, Angela Covert, Juan Andrés Rodríguez y su equipo de trabajo, Catherine Weber, La familia Beltranena y finalmente a los y las embajadores de la comunidad ecuestre guatemalteca e internacional. Gracias a su apoyo podemos tener un equipo profesional, con vocación y amor hacia la niñez y juventud del proyecto.

Donación de zapatos escolares y deportivos.

La Asociación Los Patojos, Sueños e ideas en acción, agradece a los señores Antonio y Roberto González por la donación de zapatos escolares y deportivos para la niñez y juventud de nuestro proyecto y de la escuela oficial urbana mixta Rafael Rosales, ubicada también en jocotenango.

Más de 200 niños y niñas, jóvenes fueron beneficiados con un par de zapatos para el uniforme escolar y deportes. Muchísimas Gracias por el gesto! No vamos a olvidarnos de este detalle, gracias por creer y ayudarnos a hacer nuestros sueños realidad.

Give Kids A Chance dona una computadora para el proyecto juvenil.

Give Kids A Chance ha donado una computadora para el proyecto juvenil. Con este equipo, se ha iniciado el proceso de enseñanza de edición de videos y programas de diseño a los jóvenes que asisten al proyecto para la juventud en los patojos, muchísimas gracias a Dona, Gary y Rosi, gracias por el apoyo y por creer en nuestras propuestas artísticas!

Casasito, Team Building Workshop.

Casasito, ha organizado una actividad de Team Building donde varias organizaciones se reunieron y compartieron ideas y formas de ver el mundo.

Agradecemos la invitación y la oportunidad de formar parte de la red de organizaciones sociales de casasito, la experiencia fue una de las más constructivas y divertidas que el equipo de educadores de los patojos ha tenido en los últimos meses. Muchísimas gracias por el taller y la vivencia única. Esperamos con entusiasmo la próxima reunión.

Refuncionalización del proyecto juvenil en Los Patojos.
(juventud en acción)

Después de seis meses de experimentación y pruebas, en Los Patojos 2, hemos decidido cambiar la dinámica de trabajo por una más creativa y atractiva para los jovenes de la comunidad. Bajo el nombre de "Casa Juvenil Los Patojos" se ha iniciado una metodología sobre "libertad de opción y decisión", es decir, las actividades y propuestas del proyecto son opcionales y la juventud decide, razona y escoge la que más le funcione, de esta manera se pretende fomentar la libertad de participación social, la responsabilidad y disciplina para llevar a cabo las actividades y el mejoramiento de la calidad de vida de los que son parte del proyecto.

Proyectos como: Inglés, Deportes, Cocina y manualidades, Música, Arte, Break Dance, Cooperativa Juvenil, Lectura, Juegos de mesa, Educación Sexual, Matemática y Computación, Juegos cooperativos, Medio Ambiente, Labor social y voluntariado, etc... son algunas de las opciones que la juventud tiene en el proyecto.

Próximas actividades:

10 y 11 de junio: Grabando documental con MTV Argentina.
18 de junio: Batalla 5x5 Los Patojos Crew.
Inicia temporada de preparación de teatro social.

*Se inicia temporada de voluntariado.

Les compartimos los siguientes links:

NUEVO WEBSITE DEL PROYECTO:

www.lospatojos.org.gt

BLOG DE PERIODISMO INFANTIL SHUTI CENTRO LOS PATOJOS

http://www.shuticentrolp.blogspot.com

BLOG DE LOS PATOJOS CREW

http://www.wearelospatojos.blogspot.com

VIDEOS PARA DISFRUTAR DEL PROYECTO:

http://www.vimeo.com/24668620 We dance for Peace!

http://www.vimeo.com/24014575 Los Patojos Crew en la 6x6.

http://www.vimeo.com/23689018 Volcán Acatenango con nuestra querida Manuela Rosales y Los Patojos.

SUEÑOS E IDEAS EN ACCIÓN,

Niñez y Juventud libre de drogas.

Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes.

Director.

Daniel Godoy, the death of a dream.

2011-05-22T19:24:00.000-07:00

You will forever be with us Colocho!

(Daniel Godoy "Colocho" 18 years old, hit and killed by a drunk driver)

These days have been intense, hard, good, sad, happy, real, these days have been the ones that make us think that this project is important and needed in this community.

Why?

Well, because it is a social success to see more than 50 young kids (13-21 years old) getting together at the project for break dance, circles of trust and support, kids that love circus and juggling, theater and journalism, more than 120 children (3-13 years old) coming for a nice plate of food, access to a clinic and educational reinforcement, art and safe places for all of them to learn about family, society and the world.

This is a place for kids, a place for them to believe again in their dreams, ideas and hopes; what we hope is to see most of them doing that, making real what they want, and fighting hard against social desintegration... we hope to see them happy growing as responsible citizens.

Well, are we making any sense? yes we are.

And what we know is that one of our kids is not here with us anymore, one of our dreamers, one of our hopes is gone, and you know why? because of where we live violence, alcoholism, and social insecurity allows innocent people to die and this is what we have to deal with everyday.

We are doing what we have to do to collaborate in the construction of a better community with dignity, respect and social participation... but we need the authorities to be strong, brave and part of it.

We lost one of the good ones and that is just one of many... we will not stop, we will keep working hard in the name of Daniel Godoy and the young minds that have been taking away unjustly because we are dreams and ideas in action. NO MORE YOUNG MINDS LOST.

Representing the hope that we still have, that is with us... LOS PATOJOS TEAM!

Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes.
Executive Director.

VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL

Siempre estarás con nosotros Colocho! (Daniel Godoy, 18 años, asesinado por un conductor borracho que está libre.)

Estos días han sido intensos, reales, buenos, tristes, productivos... estos días han sido los que nos hacen pensar con más confianza y esperanza que este proyecto es necesario para esta comunidad.

¿Por qué?

Porque es un éxito social saber que más de 50 jóvenes entre los 13 y 21 años, asisten al proyecto para bailar break dance, para participar en los círculos de confianza y formación moral, social y política, buscando apoyo y atención. Donde también se disfruta el circo, los malabares, el periodismo social, la música, el arte, la educación alternativa, la alegría y el amor, la responsabilidad social, donde más de 120 niños entre los 3 y 13 años de edad asisten por un delicioso y nutritivo plato de comida, con acceso a la clínica de salud preventiva, juegos y dinámicas para mejorar su aprendizaje, el proyecto es un lugar lleno de paz, amor y sentimiento de familia fundamental para cualquier ser humano; sí, asi es esto de estar en los patojos.

Los Patojos es un centro de aprendizaje y confianza basado en el respeto para que la niñez y la juventud crean en sus sueños, ideas y esperanzas. Trabajamos fuerte para que ellos y ellas puedan hacerlos realidad y ser mejores personas responsables y dignas.

¿Tiene sentido lo que hacemos? Sí, si tiene sentido.

Sin embargo, y a pesar de todo lo bueno, también existe todo lo malo. Hace unos días, uno de los nuestros partió para siempre, la desintegración social, el alcoholismo, la indifencia, la violencia y la inseguridad han permitido nuevamente que un joven lleno de ilusión pierda la vida de manera injusta. Todos los días muere un niño, una niña y un joven, pero la esperanza jamás morirá.

Hacemos lo que podemos y debemos hacer, estamos colaborando en la construcción de una comunidad y sociedad diferente pero necesitamos que las autoridades también sean parte real, valiente y con compromiso. No podemos permitir que esto se vuelva normal y dejar la vida humana sin ningún valor o sentido. NO MÁS MUERTES DE JÓVENES INOCENTES.

Ayer, hoy y mañana hemos estado representando la esperanza de la infancia y la juventud, los patojos está presente... HAY DOLOR, pero en el nombre de Daniel Godoy y de los muchos que han sido muertos injustamente seguiremos luchando para un mundo mejor.

Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes.
Director General.

Los Patojos en el 2011

2011-03-14T17:32:00.000-07:00

Bueno, empecemos!

Sueños e ideas en acción.

Las mollejas, fusionados y meteoritos en el atrio de la iglesia de jocotenango.

Y el quinto año ha iniciado, el año de los cambios y de los nuevos programas para el proyecto. El arte y la juventud, la educación y la niñez, la alimentación y la salud son nuestros elementos fundamentales. Desde el mes de enero se ha venido trabajando en la remodelación y ambientación de un nuevo proyecto. Finalmente los patojos tiene su proyecto de juventud.

En febrero se inició un programa juvenil por medio del diálogo social y los debates, la formación sociocultural y política y la expresión artística para adolescentes y jóvenes entre los 13 y 20 años de edad, sin embargo, en marzo se inició oficialmente el programa donde temas como inglés, la formación social de forma local sobre Guatemala y sus realidades, geografía, formación en valores, expresión artística, teatro y círculos de lectura son desarrollados por el equipo de trabajo y los participantes.

Gracias al apoyo de Volamos Juntos, es posible pagar la renta de nuestro nuevo edificio. En dicho edificio también funcionan dos programas esenciales para la comunidad, la clínica comunitaria y el centro cultural.

La Clínica Comunitaria es posible gracias al apoyo de JWI y atiende un promedio de 10 a 15 pacientes diarios, niños, jóvenes, adultos y ancianos de todas partes del departamento.

El Centro Cultural es posible gracias al apoyo de GKACH, medios visuales, pintura, teatro, malabarismo, break dance, música y periodismo social, son los talleres que se ofrecen cada sábado.
LOS PATOJOS CREW

VEGA, CHIKIS Y ANGEL, BBOYS.

Mollejas y Fusionados listos para ir a la montaña!

El nuevo proyecto juvenil Los Patojos es simplemente la continuación del proyecto infantil que iniciamos hace cuatro año y es posible gracias al apoyo y patrocinio principalmente de JustWorld International, Volamos Juntos y GKACH.

El comedor infantil atiende a más 100 niños y niñas diariamente, esto es posible gracias al apoyo de JWI para el proyecto de alimentación juntamente con el equipo de cocina y mantenimiento. Casasito apoya mensualmente con alimentos para reforzar la calidad y cantidad de almuerzos y refacciones que servimos diariamente a los patojos y patojas. Bboy canche disfrutando del almuerzo, gracias a JWI.
Daniel, estudiando medios visuales en el Centro Cultural.
EQUIPO DE PERIODISMO SOCIAL.
Moises y Daniel con sus JWI paquetes escolares!

Equipo de Periodismo Social.

El programa infantil mejora cada año, tenemos un equipo joven y lleno de esperanza, comprometido socialmente con la educación, los sueños y las ideas. Nuestro equipo es patrocinado por JWI y es el motor de este gran sueño hecho realidad.

Mas de 100 patojos y patojas tuvieron el apoyo de JWI para iniciar sin ningún problema este ciclo escolar, los paquetes y becas escolares nuevamente han sido importantes para nuestra niñez y su sueño de completar sus estudios a nivel primario, secundario y diversificado. Gracias JWI.

Agradecemos con todo nuestro amor el apoyo y la confianza de Jessica Newman y el equipo de JWI, a la comunidad guatemalteca que cree en los patojos, Juan Andrés Rodríguez, Catherine Weber de Rize, a Kathrin Dommel y el equipo de Volamos Juntos Alemania, Give Kids a Chance por creer en el proyecto de arte y a Casasito por estar siempre con nosotros.

Los Patojos somos sueños e ideas en acción y este es solamente el inicio de una revolución de amor y paz para nuestra comunidad.

Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes.
Director General.
Asociación "Los Patojos" Sueños e Ideas en Acción.
Acción local-Pensamiento Global.

(English Version)
And the fifth year has begun, with changes and new programs for the project. Art and youth, education and childhood, food and health are our key elements. Since the month of January, we have been working on the renovation and decoration of a new project. Los Patojos finally has a youth project.

Circle of trust at the mountain!

bboys!

Main Entrance of the project.

In February we launched a youth program that includes dialogues and discussions, social debates, cultural, political and artistic expression for adolescents and youth between 13 and 20 years old.

In addition, in March we officially launched the youth program with subjects such as English, Guatemala and its realities, geography, moral values, artistic expression, drama and reading circles that were developed by the team and the forty participants.

With the support of Volamos Juntos, we are able to pay the rent of our new center. Also, in this center operates two core programs for the community, a community clinic and a cultural center.

The Community Clinic is supported by JWI and an average of 10 to 15 patients attend per day. Patients are represented by children, youth, adults and elders from all parts of the community.

The Cultural Center is supported thanks to GKACH. Visual media, painting, theater, juggling, break dance, music and social journalism, are some of the workshops that we offer every Saturday.

The new youth project is merely the continuation of our child project that we began four years ago and is possible through support and sponsorship of JustWorld International, Volamos Juntos and GKACH.

The school kitchen serves over 100 plates of food; JWI helps and funds our nutrition project with the kitchen equipment and the maintenance of it. Also, CasaSito supports our project to enforce the quality and the quantity of our food services.

LUNCH TIME A JWI AND LP SCHOLAR KITCHEN! VICTOR WORKING HARD ON OUR LOGO AT HIS PROJECT!

The children's program is improving every year; we have a young, hopeful, and socially committed team towards education, dreams and ideas. Our team is sponsor by JustWorld InternationaI and is the engine of this great dream that is a reality now.

100 children received support from JWI to start without any problems this school year. Scholarship packages have again been important for our children and their dreams of completing their studies at a diversified primary and secondary level. Thanks JWI for the support.

We thank with all our love and support Jessica Newman´s trust and the JWI team, the Guatemalan community that believes in Los Patojos, Juan Andres Rodriguez, Catherine Weber Rize, Kathrin Dommel and the Volamos Juntos con Alemania team, Give Kids a Chance for believing in the art project and CasaSito for always being with us.
THE YOUTH PROJECT OUR CULTURAL CENTER

The Patojos are dreams and ideas into action and this is only the beginning of a revolution of love and peace for our community.

Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes.
Director General.
Asociación "Los Patojos" Sueños e Ideas en Acción.
Acción local-Pensamiento Global.

THANK YOU AND BE READY FOR THE NEXT ONE!

For more information about our art and cultural projects check them out at:

http://www.lospatojoscrew.blogspot.com/

LOS PATOJOS CREW.

http://www.shuticentrolp.blogspot.com/

PERIODISMO SOCIAL.

EDUCACIÓN, ARTE, ALIMENTACIÓN Y SALUD PARA TODOS Y TODAS LOS Y LAS NIÑOS Y NIÑAS DEL MUNDO!

EQUIPO LOS PATOJOS 2011: Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes, Andrea Díaz Pérez, Alfredo Rafael González Fuentes, Mauricio René Álvarez Jovel, Karina Sic, Celeste Ordoñez, Sofía Pérez, Silvia Pichillá, Blanca López, Dr. Hector Valle, Gabriela Reyes, Fernando Ortíz, Juan Ignacio Romero Córdova, Eduardo Mayorga, Melissa Miranda.

Main Sponsor: Just World International

Los Patojos Supporters: Give Kids a Chance, Volamos Juntos Alemania y Casasito.

150 children studying, having access to food, health and art! 40 young minds working hard to stay away from drugs, delincuency, ignorance and social desintegration... we are writting a new history!

4 AÑOS DE EDUCACIÓN, SALUD, ALIMENTACIÓN Y ARTE.

2010-09-22T16:20:00.000-07:00

Los Patojos busca la paz social, pero si en un país no existe la justicia, entonces dificil será pensar en la paz social, sin embargo, creemos que durante los últimos cuatro años de trabajo, hemos sembrado la semilla de paz, educación y desarrollo en muchos corazones y mentes de niños, jovenes y familias: la paz se construye en colectividad, con entrega y compromiso.

Porque Los Patojos somos Paz Sociocultural.

Un 8 de septiembre del año 2006, una idea y un sueño empezaba a realizarse. Su nombre: Los Patojos, su misión: Educar e integrar, su razón de ser: La niñez y la juventud, su estrategia: La acción.

Amigos, familia y voluntarios de todas partes del mundo, han estado participando activamente en esta propuesta que durante este tiempo de acción, de logros y de importantísimo aprendizaje, han consolidado un equipo autodidacta, con compromiso social respecto a la educación popular y la niñez y por el bienestar común. Un equipo lleno de amor, paciencia y creatividad que sirve de apoyo e inspiración.

Cuatro años de entender realidades, de luchar por la creación de soluciones y de ser diferentes: Positivos, soñadores y constructores de paz.

El modelo de Los Patojos prescinde de la pasividad y las palabras, y se vuelca en poner en marcha la máquina, en activar lo que estaba dormido, en rescatar lo perdido, en hacer algo. Hablar de cambios y no hacer nada, es como soñar en falso, es tiempo de actuar.

Áreas de desarrollo humano fundamentadas en cuatro necesidades básicas - la necesidad de comer, tener una buena salud, de aprender y de participar responsablemente en la sociedad - se han desarrollado a través de los siguientes proyectos: Proyecto de reforzamiento académico y educación popular, comedor escolar y clínica médica, cine, teatro, música, pintura, break dance, malabares, diplomados y escuela para adultos, escuela de idiomas, computación e internet, proyecto de voluntariado internacional, talleres y charlas sobre salud, deportes , en fin, áreas que han sido tomadas como esencia de trabajo en el proyecto, áreas que son planificadas, organizadas y evaluadas, que nos dan resultados concretos a corto y largo plazo: Vidas mejores y pensamientos libres.

Cientos de niños han sido parte y son parte de los sueños y de las ideas de este proyecto, jóvenes en pleno crecimiento y listos para adaptarse a la sociedad, familias que están agradecidas y apoyadas, guatemaltecos y guatemaltecas construyendo una mejor comunidad, una mejor sociedad, un mejor país.

Hoy compartimos con ustedes compañeros y compañeras, estas palabras de agradecimiento, de amor y amistad, gracias sinceras gracias a todos los que han hecho posible que Los Patojos pueda ser lo que debe ser: Un lugar de cambio, de paz y de reconocimiento social que pueda luego ofrecer al mundo, personas comprometidas y entregadas para escribir nuevas historias y cantar nuevas y mejores canciones, solucionar problemas y vivir pacíficamente.

Gracias a Jessica Newman y a toda la gente de Just World International por apoyar constantemente y dar libertad, confianza y apoyo económico para el sostenimiento del proyecto de salud, alimentación y de reforzamiento académico, gracias a Juan Andres Rodriguez, guatemalteco comprometido con el cambio del país,

a Kathrin Dommel y su equipo de Volamos Juntos Alemania, por creer en la juventud de nuestro país, gracias a Alice Lee de Casasito por su amistad y apoyo incondicional para nuestros proyectos, gracias a Courtney Kcronin y Stephanie Wencl de Risingminds por habernos ayudado a crecer y ser fuertes, a Cooperatur por compartir nuestras ideas y enviarnos voluntarios desde España, gracias a todos los voluntarios que se han entregado a la misión del proyecto, gracias Vanesa, Karen e Ingrid Jent, Ervin, Inez, Lisa, Lori, Cari, José, Raúl, Brianne Link, en fin, tantos nombres de personas maravillosas.

Gracias de todo corazón por apoyar, por ser parte de esta propuesta y por seguir en la lucha.

Feliz cumpleaños número 4 Los Patojos, y esto es solo el inicio.

Este es el nuevo proyecto del centro cultural "Fuera de las drogas" "Free of drugs" si quieres darle un vistazo: LOS PATOJOS CREW

Agradecimientos especiales: Linda de León, Mario Contreras, Mauricio Álvarez, Rafael Fuentes, Diego Romero, Sofia Pérez, Andrea Díaz, Blanca López, Silvia Pichillá, Fernando Ortíz, Celeste Ordoñez, Dr. Héctor Valle, Pilar Mármol, Diego Silva, Miguel Dominguez, Gabriela Reyes, Verónica Romero, a mis padres Rudy y María, a mis hermanas Sara y Marisa, a mi hermano Rafael Romero, madres de familia y amigos artistas. Un fuerte abrazo.

SECCIÓN FOTOGRÁFICA
Momentos de siempre, así es como se vive en el proyecto:

LOS PATOJOS, SUEÑOS E IDEAS EN ACCIÓN.

Jocotenango, Sacatepéquez, Septiembre 2010.

Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes.
Director Ejecutivo.

Muchas Gracias, seguimos en la lucha!

LOS PATOJOS 2010 NEWSLETTER (Six months of action)

2010-06-09T11:36:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and LP supporters, six months have passed already in this beautiful and challenging year of 2010. It is time for us to share with all of you, everything that our program has reached since january until june.

Organizations like Just World International, Risingminds, Volamos Juntos and Casasito believe and have been supporting us in a strong way, helping LP to make the projects real so the children, the youth and the families can have access to the services we are offering to the community. Thank you very much for the support.

JWI crew, Jessica Newman, Brianne Link and Juan Andrés Rodríguez made the next projects happen:

Scholarships and scholar packages.
More than 90 children and 10 young students were able to go to school this year with scholarships in books and computer classes, english and also with their school supplies so they can finish the year and study with no problems.

Los Patojos Salaries
The team budget (salaries) this year is covered by JWI, there will not be los patojos without this incredible team that LP has. JWI and LP are creating jobs and opportunities to have a better life here in the community, this team is in charge of our children education and run the projects that LP program has. Teachers, cooks, doctors, music teachers and artists are included in this budget.

The medical Clinic and the doctor salary.
The clinic is working 2 days per week and attending more than 20 patients per day, helping the families with their medical needs, because of this clinic and the wonderful work of our doctor, children are now safe and having medical control frequently. Leyton, our kid with kidney mal function is getting his treatment at the clinic and all the support from volunteers around the world to buy his medicines every week.

JustWorld Ambassador Angela Lawrence adopted the medical doctors salary for one year which allows the doctor to treat the kids 2 days every week. Thank you so much for supporting our clinic!

The kitchen and the cooks salaries.
Between 90-100 plates of food are cooked everyday at LP kitchen, feeding the students that need a balanced nutrition and have the right to eat in a healthy way. JWI funds this project completely with the salaries and the maintenance of the kitchen.

Another JWI Ambassador Halie Robinson believes in LP and raised funds for our community kitchen, Thank you Halie for your love and support, thank you for helping our kitchen, cooks and kids to have all the things we need.

Another organisation that helps every month LP kitchen is Casasito, providing supplies so we can feed more kids and run all the extra activities the feeding project has. Thank you so much Seño Alice and crew, you are a very special person, friend and social leader.

Volamos Juntos directed by Kathrin Dommel has supported the rent of the second project in los patojos, The youth project that works with 25 young minds with education, team work, critical thinking, art and social activism. thank you VJ.

Los Patojos is a dream in action, we promote the positive side of our community, we empower our kids talents and provide them spaces with tools that help them to learn, grow and to be responsible people. The volunteers have a very important role in our processes and these six months we have had fantastic volunteers that brought energy and love, hope and more ideas to our program, like the CIRMA crew, Karsten from germany, Vanessa and Irene that are working hard in their organisation to be partners with LP, Victoria, Calvin "Kanutzen", our beautiful friends from Orange County Hillel Justin Young and Ami Kurzweil, Profe. Ervin from Chicago, Sharon González that supports Leyton with his medicine... and so many other beloved volunteers that have being and are part or our family: THANK YOU.

2010 PROJECTS
(Jan-June)

MEDICAL CAMPAIGNS
LP has created a team of 12 health advocates (mothers and young students) that are coordinated by two doctors and supported by our team. Topics like: HIV, kidney diseases, skin diseases, lung and breathing problems, nutritional aspects in the family and social issues.

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEBATES
LP is part of a group of young thinkers called Divergencia Colectiva. We are all trying to discuss and understand our country different realities so we can all find solutions or organize more projects.

THE ENGLISH SCHOOL (German and Italian too)
50 Students from 17-50 years old, attend every wednesday to study english at 7:00 p.m., the project is divided in four groups and the teachers are volunteers.

we also had GERMAN CLASSES with Karsten, this month we started ITALIAN CLASSES with Valeria every tuesday also at the same time.

WOMEN COOPERATIVE
Linda de León is in charge of our cooperative, mothers working together creating and making notebooks with recicled materials, a project that helps them to get some extra funds and keeps them happy, sharing and gettin stronger as women, mothers and active members in the commmunity.

COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER
Art, heals society, sets it free!
Music project
Art project
Cine and audiovisual project
Circus and juggling project.

CIRCUS AND JUGGLING PROJECT
with the support of profe. Selvyn Suruy, more than twenty children (boys and girls) have learned the art of juggling and circus. We now are proud to share with you that LP has a circus and juggling team of kids that are giving this community a different touch of sense, this team is recovering the streets and giving them a differente meaning.

We also started our BREAK DANCE PROJECT under the name of LOS PATOJOS CREW DANCERS, boys and girls dancing in a free, happy and creative way.

THE CULTURAL NIGHTS
Every three months, the Cultural team perfoms in front of 200 people and share with them their talents and the results of their hard work, these nights are the result of what we work every day and every saturday morning.

LP LIBRARY "OLIVIA LOPEZ BALBOA JWI EMBASSADOR"
we now have one of the best and creatives libraries in the community. The children have access to so many different books, and their reading habilities are improving, getting to a point that the children themselves take books to their houses and read, instead of watching tv or stay in the streets, THEY READ!!!!

Also with the support of CHILD AID, this year we got packages of different books, more than 100 books in math, poetry, stories and science for the benefit of the reading project.

And of course, thank you so much to our guatemalan donors during the horse show at el cortijo, thank you for your support, we felt your love and your trust, we all together can make our country a better place for everybody. Thank you.

MORE GOOD NEWS: this month, los patojos will be getting registred and becoming legal, we are excited, it has been more than three years, but now we are almost done with this process.

THANK YOU for reading and supporting Los Patojos

Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes
LP Executive Director.

Sueños e ideas en acción.

SIEMPRE EN LA LUCHA.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS AMAZING 2009!

2009-12-28T20:40:00.000-08:00

Thank you very much for all your love, support and trust.

LOS PATOJOS
Sueños e ideas en acción.

December 29th, 2009

Dear friends and Los Patojos Supporters:

Another year has passed and we are so lucky to have you all with us, believing and making the difference. So many beautiful actions and projects have begun like the clinic, the school kitchen, the cultural center, the women cooperative and the most recent events: The foundation of the second LP project, where young minds and teenagers can be treated with love, patience and lots of emotional support. Another beautiful challenge to go trough, with hope and hard work; and the 3rd. Children-Youth Cultural Festival which was a unique expericience full of urban art, movie making, culture and and Urban Dance. Families came together and more than 160 people attended to our Festival during the final presentation.

(The Doctor is giving a lecture to the parents about the nutrition and health situation of Los Patojos students.)

(Los Patojos at the School Kitchen, "Comedor de Los Patojos and JWI")

(LP Audiovisual team working on the second part of their animated movie, II Part coming soon)

(The Women Cooperative working on their products, beautiful handmade and recycled notebooks)

LP NEW CENTER FOR THE YOUTH, LETS MAKE THIS HAPPEN!Final Presentation during the 3rd. Children and Youth Festival by FUGA, a modern and urban dance collective from Guatemala city.

During the last three months we worked very hard so the projects that we have been thinking and planning to develop for long terms can actually be a reality, now our community has the chance to participate in a free, positive and productive way. We are making the difference here. The children in this part of the world also have had during more than three years a place called Los Patojos-Risingminds where they all can express and learn about life and the options we all have in a just and fair way, thinking in a critical way, making sure to understand the present in order to get a better future.

for more information about volunteering go to http://www.risingminds.wordpress.com/

Seño Yessi and Las Estrellitas.Music classes given by volunteers.

Glendy and Grace from Rebeldes Con Causa in a cooking class, baking cookies!

OUR FIRST GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT ARE NOW ENGLISH SPEAKERS, THANK YOU TO THE VOLUNTEERS THAT ALWAYS DO A FANTASTIC WORK AT THE ENGLISH SCHOOL EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

Courtney Ckronin and Stephanie Wencl from http://www.risingminds.org/ have always supported Los Patojos with love, a lot of work, personal sacrifices and confidence. Thank you our dear angels for doing what you do for these children, for this community, for this country. Rising Minds has created a beautiful Volunteering Project that now allows Guatemala and the world to understand and learn from each others trough the participation of volunteers that come and generate their own projects and share with us their dreams and passions about life. Risingminds is helping people to generate social awereness and friendship, respect and peace. Thank you Courtney for your dedication and your deep love for Los Patojos, you have created a solid multicultural project that is benefiting Los Patojos and Volunteers around the world.

Thank you Rising Minds Crew for making this possible, for believing in a better world.

Courtney Ckronin.

Stephanie Wencl
(http://www.ambosdesings.com/)

Jessica Newman and Juan Andres Rodríguez, with all the embassadors from Just World International, specially Brianne Link who has been supporting our Scholarship Project for two years now, JWI http://www.justworldinternational.org/ have also been a very important part of Los Patojos in the develop of the new projects. Now we are jumping for a Just World together with hope and with more energy. We would also like to thank you for renewing our website which will be ready very soon http://www.lospatojos.org.gt/ (updated site).

Juan Andrés Rodriguez with Grace, JWI Embassador and our guatemalan supporter!
Kids dancing on the stage with roof and lights that was built thanks to the efforts of Brianne Link and JWI.

Kathrin Dommel, Director and Founder of Volamos Juntos, Germany. http://www.volamosjuntos.blogspot.com/ has also been a very important part in our team, VJ is supporting Los Patojos with the Youth Project, Thank you so much Katy for sharing your dreams with us and helping our kids to get a better education and a safe place so they can express their ideas in a free and respectful way. Thank for supporting The Women Cooperative and for promoting their work in Germany too. Thank you so much to Volamos Juntos Crew.

Kathrin Dommel, Director of Volamos Juntos in Germany.

Mauricio and his students from the Urban Art Workshop.

Ingrid Jent and the GK Foundation, Thank you so much for supporting LP october budget for the last three years. You are very special friends and you will always be part of our lives and stay in our hearts. Thank you so much for believing.

The kids playing, Martin and Angel, having fun and being free!

To all our friends that have supported in so many ways, Marguerite Keating, Ada Ketchie, Rainbow Café, Cooperatur, Spanish Travelling School, Casasito, Justin Young, Jackie Rotman, Evelin Rubio, Lori Gosselin, Carmen Muñoz, Myra de Wyldt, Kyla Gallager, Ervin López, Lisa, Joan, José, Lorena, Erica, Pauline, Regina Fuchs, Joan Clos, Alba la pintura y la doctora, Allison, etc... Wow so many names that i will not have enough time to write all of them but you all know who i am talking about, to all the volunteers that have come and are part of us, that every day think about Los Patojos, Thank you so much, we are all the result of your love and trust.

Corina and Lorena.

We are blessed to have such wonderful and beautiful people with us everyday helping in every possible way so this dream can be real and these children can grow up safe and healthy.

In the name of Los Patojos crew, the 130 children, our 70 families and our beautiful teenager group, I would love to say MUCHAS GRACIAS DE TODO CORAZÓN, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.

We wish you only the best, and remember that together we can make this world a better place... Enjoy the festivities.

Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes.

Acción Local, pensamiento global, sueños e ideas en acción.

Los Patojos.
http://www.lospatojos.org.gt/

Siempre en la lucha!
(Since Septiembre 2006-Diciembre 2009)
Getting ready for 2010.

II Cultural Night at Los Patojos

2009-09-28T19:58:00.000-07:00

Hey people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once again, Los Patojos is sharing with all of you some info and photos from the II Cultural Night.

The children offered to the families, friends and other children a fantastic show. Around 150 people came to our program for beautiful evening full of art and fun.

Thanks to Just World International, the Cultural Center has a new audiosystem and a new ilumination set for the children presentations, The Cultural Center is making a difference, a good and real one.

Los Patojos is so happy to see and have all these people that came to our II Cultural Night, they loved it.

It is important to generate spaces where families can be all together thinking of hope, love and having fun. Step by step, Los Patojos is working hard to integrate families for everybody to have a better life style, a better place to live, and motivation.

Thank you all for supporting Los Patojos. Here we go, enjoy!

II CULTURAL NIGHT AT LOS PATOJOS
Time: 7:30 p.m
Place: Los Patojos program.
Date: Friday 26th.

Shows
Angel Morales, 12 years old, singing "Antigua".

Dance group (just girls from 12-15 years old) "Amazing Girls", directed by: Mariandré Xoyón. Great dance teacher.

Our young comedians "Arael and Jairo" with their hilarious act called "Pega Pega".

The beautiful Theater play "La danza de los sueños" directed by Kathrin Dommel, created by all the group of young actors! It was a remarkable performance!

The spectacular premiere of the first animated movie made by our Audiovisual team directed by Mauricio Alvarez.
Name of the movie: Los Compadres.

Team: Boris, Eduardo, Frank, Ricardo, Victor and Gerardo.

In order to make this movie, the kids had to learn a lot and study a lot about movie making, more than 900 photos were taken, if you want to watch the movie, you should ask for information ... jejeje... it is a great movie, check it out: LOS COMPADRES, FIRST ANIMATED MOVIE MADE BY LOS PATOJOS AUDIOVISUAL TEAM.

GENERAL MOMENTS CAPTURED BY LOS PATOJOS CAMERA

LOS PATOJOS, SUEÑOS E IDEAS EN ACCIÓN.
ACCIÓN LOCAL - PENSAMIENTO GLOBAL.

SIEMPRE EN LA LUCHA POR LA PAZ Y EL BIEN.

Y esto apenas empieza!

July and August Newsletter LP-RM

2009-08-30T20:45:00.000-07:00

Greetings our dear friends, volunteers, family and believers!

Once again, we would love to share with all of you our activities, happy and sad moments, progress, dreams, new projects, and some of the action that happens at Los Patojos, Siempre en la lucha!

These two months were tough, difficult and meaningful, we will give more images and less words, so you guys can imagine and feel whatever your heart and mind tells. Here we go:

Lets start with the tough part, well, Ingrid González was fighting for her life over two years, 11 years old, so many dreams and so many ideas that could changed this world, so many lessons that we learned from her, some many love that we got from her... She is now resting in peace, no more pain, no more suffer.

Thank you all for the support you gave Ingrid during this time. Ingrid is and will be in our hearts for the rest of our lives!

LOS PATOJOS DURING JULY AND AUGUST

The children from "Los Fusionados" and "Rebeldes con Causa" have organized five mini cooperatives, they have been working on bracelets and learning the value of work, money and team work.

LOS PATOJOS CHORUS, participated in Casasitos Music Festival, Congratulations to Casasito-Team, it was a very well organized festival and the children had a lot of fun, thank you for letting us participate! We song our songs with friendship and respect!

JUST WORLD INTERNATIONAL AND LOS PATOJOS
The clinic will start on September the 2nd. The clinic has a new ceiling, thanks to JWI. Every classroom also has its own ventilator now and we got more school desks, so many things are happening, the Cultural Center is a SUCCESS, we got our new sound system and we are ready for our II Cultural Night, on September 25th, all the groups are working hard on the weekends for this night (Theater, Music and Dance presentations, Movie Show...)We also bought some school supplies for "Las Estrellitas"

THE ENGLISH SCHOOL FOR ADULTS has been functioning successfuly and the group of students are getting ready for their final presentations in october.

VOLUNTEERS ARE ACTIVELY WORKING with the children and the teachers, Courtney Risingminds Director, created two new aspects for the volunteer work that have improved in a huge positive way the volunteer work at Los Patojos, these projects are The Mano y Mano project and the Transference Project, for more information about this, you can write to risingminds@gmail.com, Some volunteers in action!

THE YOUTH PROJECT- PROYECTO JOVEN
The youth group is actually working on its final presentation, good stuff is coming during the next months, you will be getting an invitation and for sure, getting the information about the youth project, Young minds, young hearts... ready to make this place a better one!

HOMEWORK TIME, COMPUTER CLASSES, TEAM WORK, LUNCH TIME AND CULTURAL CENTER

LOS PATOJOS SOCCER TEAMS Champions during the community fair!
Thanks to Carmen Muñoz for providing new uniforms for our teams, plus shes a good coach and an excellent soccer player!

GET READY FOR THE MONTHS OF SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, WE WILL BE SHARING WITH YOU THE PROGRESS OF OUR NEW PROJECTS, THE SCHOOL KITCHEN, THE CLINIC AND THE WOMEN COOPERATIVE, AND SOME MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES...

And this is only the beginning, SIEMPRE EN LA LUCHA!!

Los Patojos May/June Newsletter 2009

2009-07-05T21:55:00.000-07:00

Greetings dear friends and family of LP, we are so happy to share with all of you some of the many activities we have done during these two months. We hope you are all doing great and living life with love and hope.

Courtney Kcronin, President of Risingminds,( www.risingminds.org ) partner of LP is and will be living with us not just in our land but in our hearts and souls. We would like to say special MUCHAS GRACIAS to her for her dedication in this mission, she has done so many important, solid and uniques things for LP.
Thank you Court for your advices, we feel blessed and lucky to have you in our lives. Stephanie Wencl, from Risingminds as well, was visiting us too generating smiles, supporting us with love and trust. LP CREW SAYS THANK YOU TO COURTNEY AND STEPH FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO. YOU BOTH ARE OUR ANGELS. LP would not be the same without you.
_____________________________________________________________

Ok, now lets go to the action: During these two months LA FIEBRE PORCINA affected the entire country and the world, schools were closed, kids were getting afraid and they were not being able to go or do almost anything in the streets, anyways, we decided to make a memorial photo!
Now that we have expressed what we feel and think about that huge problem, lets talk about work and life we do and live here at LP. Thanks to Profe. Fernando Ortíz, the kids were able to perform for the first time their own theater play, they so excited to work as a team, learn new things and the most important thing: they realized that through art they can also express what they can not say in public, they found confindence and they show themselves that they can do anything they believe and dream. We had our first cultural night, UNDER THE RAIN, we didnt care, they permormed with passion, that rainy night will always be in our hearts, it was the beginning, it was not an easy one. The Cultural Center has started, with a lot of parents learning to respect and love their kids, what a fantastic day that was... Casasito, is a really special organization that LP respects a lot in this country, our friends from Casasito have organized an amazing Music Festival, Chorus and songs of kids that help this world to be a better place! We were invited to participate in Casasitos festival selection, we got selected and LP free style chorus is so happy and motivated to be part of this fantastic oportunity, activities like these, are the ones that are needed in this country to promote friendship, respect and progress... thank you Casasito for your support and Congratulations. Alicia Jo Rabins and company, were also at the school playing beautiful music, thank you for coming and sharing life with us through your music, your spirit and energy! The activities in terms of education and kids-youth integration started in may and june, young students, guatemalan students are supporting LP a lot. The youth project started with an incredible team of leaders from (INVAL Instituto Normal Para Varones Antonio Larrazábal) every wednesday morning. Different High Schools also did their social projects with us, LICEO ROSALES SCHOOL painted classrooms and the bathroom of the program, CASA CENTRAL painted all the school desks and donated 4 beautiful wooden bookshelves for the classrooms, LA TOSCANA painted the clinic and helped us to find medical supplies, we also built the clinic door (Clinic will be functioning at the end of this month) check some photos out... WE HAVE THE STAGE ROOF! Thank you Brianne Link and Just World International! THE COOKING CLASS for the children just started, the children will learn how to cook different food, it is fun and new for most of the children, we like this project a lot, teachers, volunteers, the cook and the children are and will have such a great time working together and learning something useful in life! EL DIA DEL BAILE Y LA ALEGRIA a day where we just dance and have fun, and the Cultural Center with its projects is working really good, the children come every saturday to the workshops, our AUDIOVISUAL team is working already in our firs animated movie, wait until its done, it will be fantastic, the girls specially are so interested in THE KNITTING WORKSHOP by Seño Vero, so beautiful to see how this group get together and share about life, ideas and future knitting projects. For the moment, we are working with Music-Chorus, Audivisual, Knitting projects. Soon: Reclying and Biding, Theater. Lisa Greyson (nuestra hermana) did a fantastic mural with the help of beaufitul volunteers and children, Thank you so much for sharing your art with LP. Siempre en la lucha Lisa!!!

Welcome Ervin López, our brother and new volunteer coordinator for the months of july, august and september!

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO our dear and beloved friend ELENITA PENZETA for organizing with her friends an activity, a special concert in the name of INGRID GONZALEZ, our heroe, Ingrid will have her medicines and ingrids family will be able to start a small business so they can work together and have a better life, Thank you Elena and friends for doing this, with the donation, things can be better for our dear Ingrid, Gracias Elena, gracias por pintarle una sonrisa al sol!

MUCHAS GRACIAS, TO OUR VOLUNTEERS AND FRIENDS THAT ARE PART OF OUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY...

Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes.
Los Patojos.

March and April Newsletter from Los Patojos

2009-05-03T20:48:00.000-07:00

Hello to all of you my dear friends, it is so good to have you in our lives. It is time to inform you what was and is going on at Los Patojos during march and april, so many beautiful things are happening in a positive and constructive way. We are starting new projects, meeting fantastic people around the world, that believe and trust that LP can help people to get a better life. We can not do, what we do without you all.

During this season we are happy to inform you that we will be starting three important community projects: The Community Clinic, The Community Kitchen and the Community Cultural Center. These three projects will be giving to more than 250 children the opportunity of a just health care control, Nutrition and Food, and the support to express themselves trough art. Education and Art, set communities free. This is possible thanks to Just World International and Jessica Newman, Juan Andrés Rodríguez and friends, Alice Lee from Casasito and friends, Cooperatur and Risingminds. Thank you so much for helping us to make dreams real and life better!.

Ok then sisters and brothers, we leave you now with images than can give you a better idea of what we are talking about! We love you.

THE TALENT SHOW
Los Patojos sharing their talents!

LOS PATOJOS NOW CAN SIT IN STRONG NEW DESKS AND HAVE ACCESS TO TV AND DVD PLAYERS IN THEIR OWN CLASSROOMS! Thanks to Myra de Wildt and friends we have 50 new desks and Anne Marie Choquette for the tv and dvd and for the french classes and for her friendship. The metal structures that keep the tvs safe are because our dear friend Regine Fuchs, Danke Regis!
Before and after:

Hillel and Latino Community Service Club at University of California Irvine at Los Patojos Thank you Justin, you are my brother from another mother! Our house is your house, Shalom to you my dear friends... all of you, Moran, Bethany, Isaac, Hilda, Julie, Lindsay, and the rest of the team!

SUMMER PARTY WITH LOS PATOJOS AND JULIA, BLANCA AND PILAR!
Summer time!!! thank you Julia, Blanca and Pilar for everything you did during your time with the children, the summer party was so cool and full of joy, it was an awsome day with a lot of fun, love and unforgettable memories!

THE ENGLISH SCHOOL IS ON AND WE HAVE MORE THAN 50 STUDENTS Thank you Pily, Miss Dalia, and all the volunteers that are helping us and the students to learn english, so they can be confident and ready to get a job or to be better students!

THE COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER IS AWSOME! (That is what the children say)MUSIC AND PERFORMANCES

THEATRE PLAYS

SOCCER AND SPORTS

AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA INTERNET AND MOVIE-PHOTO EDITION

RECYCLING AND MAKING NOTEBOOKS

JUST WORLD INTERNATIONAL AND JUAN ANDRES RODRIGUEZ
Thank you so much for everything you have done for Los Patojos, thank you for visiting us, thank you Brianne for helping us with our stage roof, thank you giving us the opportunity to join you guys and share one of the best time in our lives, THE HORSELESS SHOW! Thank you Jessica, Jill, Juan Andres, Leonel, Linda, Brianne, Nick, and everybody for making this happen!

AND THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING!

Los Patojos Newsletter Jan- Feb 2009

2009-03-01T11:26:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends and LP supporters, we are so happy to let you know that this year we have so many beautiful activities and projects for our community. This newsletter will be with more photos and less words, so you can actually take a look and see actions and productive results.

Thanks to Juan Andres Rodríguez, a LP believer, and Just World International http://www.justworldinternational.org/ more than 35 children got a scholarship so they can go to school with the basic and needed school supplies, this year public education is free, but, still we have a lot of families than can not buy the school supplies for their children.Thanks to their beautiful and friendly effort, our children have shoes, sneakers, notebooks, uniforms, schoolbags, etc... thank you JWI and Juan Andrés to make opportunities real.

We also started the Parents school and meetings, where educational topics like violence prevention, sex education, drugs, family issues, and so many different topics are part of our adult project. Check some actions:

On the weekends we just started our Community Cultural Center Patojos (CCCP)and the soccer clubs with more than 30 children, check them out:

We have also worked on:
The library, a new door for the library, a door for Las Estrellitas (1st. graders), we have finished the remodalations of the outside part of the school thanks to our friends in Viladrau that supported Los Patojos, all the doors have been painted and protected and now we have ilumintaion in the street so it doesnt look dark and dangerous anymore at night. Thank you Rob for building our master piece door for the library, Micky and Jules for building the walls for the toilet, thanks to our volunteers that painted the library, Check them out:

In the mornings, we have started a project to support public schools in our community, the topic that we are going to be working on this three months is Prevention of HIV and Premature Pregnancy with children from Escuela Pública Rafael Rosales, to the 5th and 6th graders, Check them out:

We Celebrated Ingrids Bday, she has the heart of a lion, what a beautiful girl, an example to all of us! Shes getting better, but still need a lot of support, lets not forget about her! check her out!

And in our Cultural Center, we just started the Talent Show, and in march, we are going to start the Theater Workshop and the Book reading circle, these are some photos of the kids showing their talents, like sports, magic, music, dancing, etc...

THANK YOU ALL, FOR ALL THE SUPPORT, THE LOVE AND THE FRIENDSHIP!

THANK YOU RISINGMINDS, STEPH AND COURTNEY FOR BEING OUR ANGELS! WE LOVE YOU.

Thank you for reading our newsletter, Siempre en la lucha, Sueños e ideas en acción!

Los Patojos Crew and Risingminds!

January 2,009! And here we go again!

2009-01-18T21:25:00.000-08:00

Dear Los Patojos friends, volunteers, teachers, parents, and the world, we are so happy and proud to share with you all our first day of activities here at our program, this is a place where freedom and love are the most important values we promote.So happy to start our third year of changes, guatemalans for guatemalans, how nice is that? Thank you for believing in us, thank you for your support, thank you for the power of love and the great energy you share with Los Patojos. In the name of love, Los patojos exist.

Today, 98 children came so happy and full of hopes, three years ago were 3 children
now we almost have 103 and we are always thinking in the quality and making things better, not about the big things.

We have a beautiful guatemalan team jp, rafa, mauricio, linda, ana,liz, yessi, diego,
jessyca and gaby that also work with a fantastic group of volunteers from all around
the world, this year we started with people from germany, holland, the States, and Japan! We are so excited for this year 2009, full of projects, dreams and actions!

Thank you again to www.risingminds.org for making things easier and possible and all you friends that trough your trust and help make this happen!

and this is just the beginning!

Thank you all for this 2008!

2008-12-28T13:05:00.000-08:00

Dear friends, Thank you all for making this year 2008, one of the most important and beautiful in our lives here at Los Patojos.

During this fantastic year we´ve had such wonderful experiences that made things better for our community. Since february, we started to rebuild the school, and now thanks to our special friends from BUILDERS BEYOND BORDERS B3
www.buildersbeyondborders.org we have now a new and strong infrastructure. Thank you dear friends for making things real, for helping us to build OUR SCHOOL WITH TEARS AND SMILES...thank you Amy, Joe, Chris, Colleen, Jerry, all of the kids that shared their love and hope with us.

Many beautiful activities during this year, visits from all over the world, volunteers that have worked and changed our lives and theirs, thank you for trusting and for being among us as equals citizens of the world.

WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY SPECIAL THANKS TO:
SBORTY, David and Jackie,www.sborty.org
MAK er en solidaritetsorganisation www.melleamerika.dk
JOAN CLOS and the Cosell de Joventut from Viladrau, Cataluña.
Our friends from ZerosetBCN-Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona.
Our friends from JWI Just World International, Jessica and Leonel, thank you! www.justworldinternational.org

Ingrid Jent and her family, Thank you so much for the support and the confidence!

Special Thanks to ST. CHARLES OF BORROMEO SCHOOL AND ITS COMMUNITY, for providing with educational materials and tools during all this time, thank you Marguerite Keating for all the support, patience and hope you have given us!

Thank you friends, brothers, thank you for supporting LP and our projects, this is just the beginning of changes here in Jocotenango!

THANK YOU RISINGMINDS, we did it again, we also have changed for hope and love, again... because of you, many opportunities of work, development and dreams have become true and real. Thank you Stephanie Wencl, Courtney Kcronin for being our Guardian Angels! We love, need and respect you forever! www.risingminds.org

Thank you to all the people that are part of our revolution of love and hope, of education and respect, all of you, that are reading this email and the ones that are not in this letter, you know though, that you are everyday in our hearts and it is because of you, that LP is making things better, changing and beginning new ways change!

SOME PHOTOS 2008 (January-December)

September Newsletter!

2008-09-30T20:51:00.000-07:00

September Newsletter, Los Patojos.
Ideas and dreams in action…

Dear friends, volunteers and sponsors of Los Patojos, it so nice for us to show all of you our September newsletter and a pleasure to inform about our activities and future projects that we will be having during the next months.

September: Month of Independence, ¿what indenpendence?
September at Los Patojos: The Frienship and volunteer month.

We would love to share with you our team, and say thank you to all the teachers and volunteers that are involved with the idea of LP.

Because of these people here can happen in our program, they are in charge of everything and the children education. Thank you team for being the best one in the world.

Guess what?

This month has been so successful; we finally have done with the construction of our Audiovisual and Lecture Room, The computer lab and The clinic.
The children now have their own space to study computer things and use internet to communicate with their friends around the world. They also are able to watch educational films, have fun, create circles of discussions, do research on line, write emails, etc…

These Rooms were a dream made true thanks to Builders Beyond Borders, SBORTY, Risingminds, Ingrid Jent and many other friends and volunteers that helped us to build them. We are ready now, finally. Thank you all.

¡The Parent School is a success!During this month, we also have been working with the beautiful group of parents at our Parents school, even in crazy raining days, the parents came to the sessions and participated in the process of family integration. We are so happy with this project, Linda de León has been in charge of it and she has done such an amazing job. Thank you Linda, Thank you to all the people that have come to our parent school and try everyday to have better families in a better community.

Thank you all for believing, thank you all for supporting, thank you all for being our friends.

Isaac and Los Fusionados did an amazing mural, promoting free expression, believing in ideas and coloring life with love and friendship.

Thank you to “Pa los Patojos” for the support to our kitchen, we are serving lunches to 65 children every day, nutritional and descent food for our shining stars, food is great and it’s been served in a free way and with love to the childrenThe kids are also showing their talents trough dances and also creating their own costumes, organizing their own performances and having fun, see, fun can happen when love and confidence is given to children trough creative education.

This is what we get here at LP.
Love, Food and Education.

It has been 8 months of learning, of construction, of challenges, of dreams, of actions, of children working for a better life, of creating new spaces for development, step by step, slowly like whistling a beautiful note, but strong and productive as the sunlight … We are making things better, not bigger… thank you all for believing in us.

We are now also working in some projects that will be happening during the last months of the year and next year.
1. The Children Festival (November)
2. The Youth Project (Oct-Nov-Dec)
3. The Women Project (Oct-Nov-Dec)
4. LP Vacation School (Oct-Nov-Dec)
5. English For Adults (Oct-Nov-Dec)
6. The Parents school (Oct-Nov-Dec)
7. The Sponsor program.

There are so many things to share with you our dear friends, we will keep you informed and also updated with our progress and activities. Thank you all the volunteers that have worked with us during this season, thank you, we hope you felt like home, we love you and always will keep you in our hearts. Our program is your program.

And this is just the beginning…
Thank you all.
Los Patojos crew.

¿WHAT IS RISINGMINDS?
For more than two years, Los Patojos has been supported and protected by two angels: Stephanie Wencl and Courtney Kcronin. These fantastic girls have created an organization based on love and trust: “Risingminds”.

Both of them have sacrificed their energy and time so our program can actually be running and creating opportunities for families, young people and children to get better lives for themselves and for others. Behind everything here, are them, my angels, our angels.

We are so thankfull to have Steph and Court, beautiful models of change, beautiful friends, beautiful people that work every day for a better world. Thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your efforts and energy. Without you LP would be in a hard and different place. Thank you for keeping us safe.

Risingminds is a legal nonprofit that promotes love and gives hope to organizations like Los Patojos. It’s because of Risingminds that the financial support to run the program.

Visit our website www.risingminds.org and join us, help us, support us, so we can keep making things better, helping others to help themselves.

Thank you Steph and Court, my respect and love for both of you.

VISIT AMBOS STORE www.ambosdesigns.com
SHOP AND ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF UNIQUE AND GORGEOUS DESIGNS, YOU ALSO SUPPORT BOTH ORGANISATIONS.

June and July Newsletter!

2008-07-28T19:16:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Los Patojos!

We are pleased to inform you with love and affection that many of our activities have come to fruition during the past few months.
We would also like to tell you that our construction is almost finished; very soon you will be able to see photos of our completed offices and construction here at los patojos.

Los Patojos has been a place of love and of much happiness for more than 85 boys and girls who currently attend our program.
Our program continues to improve more and more, creating opportunities for freedom and material independence for families while fostering love and confidence through personal motivation.

The projects that have been successfully running during the past few months include the Youth Project, the English School, The Parents School and our Little School. We have also initiated a new Women’s Project, where we intend to promote and defend the rights of women and their dignity.

We are very happy for the opportunity to realize these projects planned by the Patojos Team and administrated by our distinctive members. Thanks to everyone who have made these projects possible.

Right now, we have an excellent team of volunteers (from Spain, Germany, Canada and the United States) that have worked with us to improve the quality of life for our kids. Thank you friends, you are essential to our team.

Our lovely Marguerite Keating is in the house! representing the School of San Carlos of Borromeo, who has provided our program with educational material and much support.
Thanks for believing in us!

RisingMinds visited during the month of June, giving more hope and joy to our local

team. Thanks Steph and Erica for your visit…thanks for keeping Los Patojos alive and ready for the fight!

We love Keating and Risingminds!

SAD NEWS: TERRY LONG IS BACK IN THE STATES!! THANK YOU BLANQUITO FOR YOUR LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP WITH LOS PATOJOS. WE MISS YOU, GOOD LUCK AND Siempre en la lucha!

Good news for our volunteers!
For our friends who are interested in having an experience with us, we now offer the service of the House of Volunteers! If you are interested, visit www.caspatojo.blogspot.com for information on prices and facilities for our volunteer friends.
Power and Change: Ideas and Dreams in Action…Act Local, Think Global.
Los Patojos Team.

May and April at Los Patojos 2008

2008-07-03T18:04:00.000-07:00

The Magical Patojos:
Thanks to Victor, our professor of magic, we now have ten patojos who are magicians. Victor is a professional magician who has traveled the world, teaching magic and other useful knowledge to children. Los Patojos had the honor of having him with us for a month. Now, our little magicians are ready to perform and experiment with the marvelous world of magic. Thank you Victor for your patience and energy. We hope that you are ready for the next magical presentation that will be performed by our little magicians…..our patojos have performed incredible magical tricks, which have impressed and entertained kids, teenagers, and adults.

Friday Fiesta: Celebrating Block Day
Because we are free, because we are beautiful, and because we are the present and the future of our family, our community, and our world, we deserve to have a good fun party. Thank you to our patojos for your love, happiness and dreams….we use the day as a teaching tool to conserve and value the construction and remodeling of our school for los patojos.

Parents School
Second "Prevention" by Axel Romero (Government Minister)Last Friday, more than 35 parents attended Parents' School. The subject was "Culture of Prevention," which was presented by Axel Romero of Sacatepéquez. It was another successful session; we continue integrating families with education and confidence.

First Los Patojos Disc: "Dreams and Ideas in Action"Sound Engineer: Alicia Jo Rabins
Music and Lyrics: Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes.
Alicia Jo Rabins is a professional musician, originally from New York. This woman plays the violin with passion and magic, and we thank her for helping make our dream a reality. We now have our first recorded disc for our patojos.

Our Songs:
1. Our Little Revolution
2. I want to
3. Los Patojos
4. So Many Children

*We will soon arrive at our final stage of the teenager project con las patojas of the Indigenous Institute of our Lady of Aid (IINSS), who are waiting for our first audiovisual presentation and our first educational documentary. The teenagers of Los Patojos are studying our society. Thank you friends for your support and trust, and for your part in our little revolution of love and education.

News for you, coming soon...

2008-06-13T15:58:00.000-07:00