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Pop Wuj - Sustainable Community Development
Pop-Wuj is responsible for several community development projects throughout Xela and the surrounding area. These projects were designed by Pop-Wuj to address the immediate needs of the community, as well as promoting sustainable growth and development. A part of the tuition of every student who attends Pop-Wuj contributes to the continuation and success of the projects, and every student is invited to participate hands-on in the projects. While the
students in the Medical Spanish and Social Work programs have the most direct involvement with the organization and execution of the projects, those students enrolled in the regular Spanish Immersion Course have several opportunities throughout the week to donate a morning, afternoon, or whole day to the project of their choice.
For frequent updates on our projects and information on how to help them, please visit our Todos Juntos Blog which is updated by the students of the Social Work Program.
Volunteers able to make long-term commitments to Pop-Wuj can choose to take on more intensive leadership and organizational roles within the projects. You will find more information in the Long Term Volunteer section.
For frequent updates on our projects and information on how to help them, please visit our Todos Juntos Blog which is updated by the students of the Social Work Program.
Volunteers able to make long-
La Guardería – Daycare Center
The Guardería – or daycare center – was started primarily to serve single working mothers in and around Llanos del Pinal, a rural community just south of Xela at the foot of the Santa Maria volcano. The center itself is located in Llanos, and is only a 20-minute bus ride from Pop-Wuj. Its services are completely free to those families who need them. It is staffed by one teacher and several women who help with cleaning, maintenance, and the preparation of snacks. Lydia, who runs the Guardería and adjacent greenhouse, is also ever present. The women are all affectionately referred to as “Tía”, or “Aunt”, by the children.
The Guardería – or daycare center – was started primarily to serve single working mothers in and around Llanos del Pinal, a rural community just south of Xela at the foot of the Santa Maria volcano. The center itself is located in Llanos, and is only a 20-
In addition to the wonderful staff, the daycare center relies heavily on the presence of volunteers to help the children – who range in age from pre-
Aside from working with the children at the Guardería, Pop-
out, which often makes the difference between a child who is forced to quit school and work and a child who can continue his/her education. If you are interested in helping the Guardería by making a donation, please see our Wish List or monetary donation information.
El Invernadero – Greenhouse Project
Invernadero is the Spanish word for ¨greenhouse¨, and that is precisely what this project entails. Our greenhouse shares the same property as the Guardería, and currently houses a large quantity of tomato plants. The purpose of the greenhouse is to contribute to the food given daily to the children at the Guardería, to produce a crop which can be sold at the market to produce income for
the Guardería, and to educate the children on healthy agricultural and environmental practices, as well as to foster a sense of responsibility. Tomatoes were chosen as our primary crop due to their high nutritional value, the relative ease with which they are sold in the markets around Xela, and their ability to thrive in greenhouse conditions.
Another aspect of the environmental and educational goals of the greenhouse project is a reforestation project. Due to the widespread reliance on open fires and woodstoves for cooking and heating in Guatemala, deforestation is a widespread problem threatening the health of the environment as well as the human population. Although the native trees chosen for the reforestation project do not require a
greenhouse setting to thrive, they are planted on the same property shared by the Invernadero and the Guardería, and require the involvement of both the children and the volunteers in order to survive, grow, and teach community members how to care for their surroundings.
Programa de Becas – Scholarship Program
One of the most important – yet least visible – projects here at Pop-
resources. The situation is particularly grave for young girls, whose families often perceive them to be of greater value in the home than potentially educated and in the workforce. This attitude breeds a cycle of illiteracy and poverty, which is precisely what the Scholarship Program fights to combat.
By contributing a very small amount of money weekly to a family, a child receives the chance to continue with their education. The added income to the family compensates for the gain they would receive by sending the child prematurely into the workforce, a choice that most families make out of necessity, not out of a lack of value for literacy and education. The scholarship can mean the difference between a future as farm worker and becoming a teacher. Aside from contributing funds, Pop-Wuj assists with the practical matters of finding a school, transportation, and school supplies. Pop-Wuj also closely monitors the progress of all scholarship recipients, and has a yearly celebration for those children who complete their secondary or professional education.
One of the most important aspects of the Scholarship Program is its promotion of community involvement through learning. Rather than giving the scholarship to isolated individuals, Pop-Wuj usually chooses many needed families from any given community to receive the scholarship. This fosters accountability among recipients, as a representative of each family must attend a monthly meeting in order to receive that month’s scholarship money. Some communities choose to meet more frequently, and in one community the recipients requested that they receive less money per family in order that the scholarship could help a greater number of families in the community. The scholarship amount is currently 100 Quetzales per month for each participating family. This means that each family receives Q1,200 a year, equivalent to about USD160/year. Although this seems like a very small amount to pay for a child’s education, it can mean a world of difference to many Guatemalan families! If you would like to support the Pop-Wuj Scholarship Program then please see our donation information here.
By contributing a very small amount of money weekly to a family, a child receives the chance to continue with their education. The added income to the family compensates for the gain they would receive by sending the child prematurely into the workforce, a choice that most families make out of necessity, not out of a lack of value for literacy and education. The scholarship can mean the difference between a future as farm worker and becoming a teacher. Aside from contributing funds, Pop-
One of the most important aspects of the Scholarship Program is its promotion of community involvement through learning. Rather than giving the scholarship to isolated individuals, Pop-
Stove Project
The stove project is a joint effort between Pop Wuj, and the community of Pacaxjoj – a rural Quiche village – to improve the environment, health, and sustainability of the people of Pacaxjoj. The stove project was developed in order to combat the serious issues facing households who rely on an indoor open fire for their cooking needs;
these problems include deforestation due to increased consumption of firewood, the severe respiratory problems attributable to heavy smoke and poor ventilation in one-room homes, and frequent burn accidents which occur when young children play around the open flame. The fact is, illnesses contracted from smoke inhalation are the second leading cause of death among children in Guatemala, as well as being a serious problem for adults. The stove project aims to relieve these problems, as well as foster community development, through the construction of simple yet more efficient, safer stoves for the families of Pacaxjoj.
The stoves require simple materials – concrete block, cement, clay and pumice for insulation, brick, and a simple “plancha”-
appropriate, and addresses both local needs – economic efficiency through decreased need for firewood, safety through a contained fire source, and health by channeling the smoke outdoors – as well as the global needs of decreased deforestation and environmental awareness. The stoves are
actually 50% more efficient than an open fire! The project is also a unique opportunity for foreign volunteers to work side-by-side with community members throughout the planning, organization, and execution steps of the project. Stove building is heavy, dirty work, but the satisfaction one gains through participation is unbeatable!
The Pop-Wuj Clinic
With the help of local doctors and the volunteers in the Medical Spanish Program, Pop-Wuj run a medical clinic. The clinic is free to all those communities and individuals who receive the services of Pop-Wuj’s other projects for instance the Guarderia or stove project. Other individuals are charged only a small fee of 10Q – equivalent to about $1.35 – per visit, which includes consultation with the doctor as well as medication as needed.
With the help of local doctors and the volunteers in the Medical Spanish Program, Pop-
The permanent clinic is located in Xela, right next door to Pop-
a school, home, or community building made available by community members. From there, the clinic serves individuals who would otherwise have little access to much-needed medical treatment. Often, the social work program teams up with the traveling clinic in order to bring hygienic supplies and health workshops to these remote communities. The traveling clinic rotates through the different communities served by the school’s volunteer projects, so each area receives visits with some regularity. This allows for relationships to build between patients, doctors, and volunteers, as well as facilitating follow-up treatment when necessary.