Vocational Arts Program Kicks off for 2004
Rob Cahill (March 2004)

Major improvements in Vocational Arts Program:

° this year students have more choices. Students can pick one of the following: weaving, sewing for women, sewing for men, carpendry, para-nurse (a.k.a. health promoter), church and community leadership, welding.

° this year classes are held three afternoons each week for 90 minutes. Last year classes were held only two days weekly. This increase of 33% more class time allows the students to have a day to put into practice the skills they are learning.

° this year all of the teachers in the Vocational Arts Program are local practicioners of their trades. They all speak K'ekchi', thus they provide role models for the students that the students can identify with more easily.

° this year we are offering a class in back-strap loom weaving. This is an ancient and yet currently practiced art among the K'ekchi' people. Traditional and yet not tradition-bound, students are free to experiment with patterns and colors of their own creation.

Marvin Ca'al makes a metal chair. This is Marvin's second year in welding class.

° this year 10 students elected to study Church and Community leadership, offered for the first time. The aim of this class is to form young men and women into leaders in the areas where they come from. Some of the young people taking these classes are interested in becoming Pastors. Others are interested in leadership in general.

Bezaleel's vocational skills development program is being made possible by a special fund set up specifically for this program. In order to fund this program this fund still needs $2,700 for the year 2004. Please send gifts to Fundameno U.S. and specify Vocational Arts Program.

Materials are also needed to run this program. Donors can choose to give gifts in kind or donate the money to buy the items locally. All cash gifts should be sent to Fundameno U.S. and clearly designated for the Vocational Arts Program, please specify the items you wish to have purchased. Gifts in kind can be carried down by Work and Learn teams. Contact Rob and Tara Cahill for information at rtcahill@yahoo.com.

If you or someone you know is interesting making a donation to support the vocational skills development program contact Dale Witmer at Fundameno U.S. at Dewy@voicenet.com.