News

My experience as a Volunteer with Open Windows

June 04, 2010

At Open Windows, the kids and I play board games, read books, and make art projects. I enjoy watching them realize that life is not fair when we play shoots and ladders and watching them smile as we read about Jorge el Curioso’s naiveté. Two afternoons a week, I lead a soccer practice for the kids. They have played two games so far against two volunteer groups from Canada, and the kids dominated thoroughly. I play soccer everyday and love witnessing how universal soccer is as a language. The reactions after a missed shot, a lost play, a quick juke, or a hard foul are the same everywhere. In the evenings, I help with the youth group. This experience has been eye opening as well. Even the high school students or graduates do not have a basic knowledge of geography or world history. Most of the kids cannot find Guatemala on a world map or name the continents. We taught geography with a few lessons and a fierce round of jeopardy trivia. We also taught a lesson on African American history and the Garifuna peoples. Then we watched the Secret Life of Bees, and they now had the background information to understand the setting and the conflicts…

We need your help

June 04, 2010

We are applying for a grant to an organization for an educational program for which we would like your support by voting June 1st to June 20th, at the following web site: www.BetterWorldBooks.com, on the right side is a blue box where it says Readers’ choice literacy grant, click in “VOTE” and search Open Windows Foundation.
Thank you for your support!

Mother´s Day Celebration

May 08, 2008

On May 9th, a Mother’s Day celebration was held for
the mothers of all the children who attend the
Library. The celebration included dance, theater,
poems and songs! Different activities were held in
which mothers participated; had fun and won prizes;
additionally, food and groceries were given.

Inauguration of Our New Computer Center - Thank You Rotary

September 10, 2007

Open Windows is thrilled to announce the official opening of the New Computer Lab. The inauguration was celebrated on September 10th. Students were eager to power-up the 20 computers in the Lab, and to sign up for Lillian’s and Roxana’s computer courses.

(Joan, student, Luisa, Alma, Asunción and Teresa)

The furnishing of the new Center, and the installation of 10 new computers, was made possible thanks to generous contributions by the Portola Valley Rotary Club (Joan Fuesch), the Antigua Rotary Club (Alma Olson and Asunción Vitoria), the International Rotary Club, and by Tom Sullivan. Special thanks to Joan Fuetsch and Alma Olson for shepherding the Computer Center project through its initial stages, and also for starting the Matching Grant to fund the project.

August News

August 31, 2007

Creativity reigned in August! Students put on the first-ever Open Windows play, and new volunteers infused the library with creative new afternoon activities. Take a look at the creative and nutritious recipe included in this month’s newsletter.

July News

July 30, 2007

The month of July was all about Open Window’s international community of Volunteers, Visitors, and Donors. Our students benefited from wonderful activities planned by some of our visitors. Read all about it in this month’s newelstter