News

OPEN WINDOWS FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE

October 17, 2008

“OPEN WIINDOWS FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE”
A benefit was held in Austin, Texas on October 16th to raise funds to support the Open Windows Library, educational programs, and scholarship fund. The event featured live music, appetizers, drinks, a silent auction, and a raffle. Among the 50 plus attendees were Velma Chavay, Velma’s cousin Beatriz, and Adanes Vasquez who are from Quetzaltenango. We were honored to have these talented Guatemalans who sang and danced for us to one of their native songs in their indigenous dress.
A good time was had by all and many went home with wonderful local Antigua Guatemalan treasures won at the silent auction. The big winners of the raffle prize package were Judy and Jim Davis who will be coming to Antigua soon to enjoy their week stay in Peggy Yonge’s condo, half day of fishing with Parlama Sport Fishing, and 2 breakfasts, lunches, and dinners at Dona Luisa Xicotencatl.
This event was co-sponsored by Becky and Rudy Hopkins with LandAmerica Austin Title who graciously opened up their lovely home for the event and provided the invitations. The Peggy and George Yonge Foundation generously paid for the benefit expenses so all the money raised at the function was donated to the Open Windows Foundation. And, we were working with a $1000 matching funds grant from karma411.com so over $6800.00 was donated to help the children and families in San Miguel Dueñas. The Open Windows Library has a lot of good friends in Austin, Texas and we are very grateful for their 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

June News

June 30, 2007

In June Open Windows announced the Child-of-the-Week program, celebrated Father’s day, hosted visitors from Friends Through Guatemalan Adoption, and kicked off a challenge grant fundraising drive. Read all about it in our June Newsletter.

May Newsletter

May 30, 2007

Highlights from May include our annual fair and community fundraiser, our mother’s day celebration and evening of fun, and a big thanks to Ruth, the nurse who runs our health clinics and Open Window’s long-term volunteer Alanna.

April Newsletter

April 30, 2007

It has been a big month at the library. Highlights included earth day activities, the continuation of our pen pal relationship with a school in Wisconsin, and the receipt of new books and supplies for the children and the community of Dueñas. To read our newsletter, click here.

Family Night at Open Windows

January 22, 2007

On January 22nd, Open Windows kicked-off the year with the first annual “Parent’s Night” at the library. We were absolutely thrilled to host over 70 parents in the library! Parent support is an integral part in the success of a child’s education, and we are encouraged to find that the Dueñas community supports their children’s education and supports the library. The parents thanked Open Windows for the opportunities the Foundation gives their children. It was a very positive night for all!

The New Library Building

September 20, 2005

By 2004 it was evident that the library was outgrowing its one small room. Every afternoon the overflow would have to use a large, lamina-covered garage area, not a very practical solution during the rainy season. Discussions began about how to utilize the area behind the library to build a new, larger building, and also construct two very much needed bathrooms. Teresa Quiñonez, who owned the land, was in agreement, and so plans were drawn up for a three-phase building program:

Phase One would be the construction of the two new bathrooms and a roofed terrace outside the computer room;
Phase Two planned for construction of a new library building and a roofed ramp to a second level;
Phase Three would construct a second level across the top of all the buildings.

Open Windows started to look for funds for this building program. Through a combined effort of generous individual donors and grants, enough money was raised to complete the most urgent: Phase One and Phase Two. Construction began in November 2004 and continued throughout the following year.

Open Windows celebrated its fourth birthday with the inauguration of this wonderful new building in September 2005. Originally it operated from two small rooms (each one 6.6m x 5.1m): one functioned as the library and one as the computer center. The library now occupies a much larger room of 10.7m by 7.1m. There are also two new bathrooms and a small courtyard, where the children can grow a garden. This extra space means that throughout 2006 the library can enroll an additional 500 children.

Phase Three will happen once funds have been secured through a special fundraising campaign. This will provide extra space for the library, as well as for the current free, monthly medical clinic, and also a large meeting/conference room, which can also be used by the community for special events.

(For the foreseeable future the library will be concentrating on expanding its network of individual donors and grant-assisted funding. A construction fundraising campaign will be initiated once this has been achieved.)