BACKYARD SCHOOL is a non-profit Civil Association, legally recognized in Guatemala through the public deed dated January 26, 2016, starting its activities since 2010.
To end the year 2009, we put on paper our goals for the next year and one of the goals of Iris Santander was to look in our community for the elderly and children in need and share shoes, clothes and some food, it was a very interesting, challenging desire and it meant a personal investment.
Five months later, on May 14, 2010, the first visit was made. It was an old man approximately 80 years old with a disease in the back, he had a stooped (crouched) appearance. His only family was a brother and they lived alone. They did not have someone to cook for them, clean the house, or wait for them to eat. The brother is a person who consumes liquor chronically and he had to take it home when he did not arrive. In his house there was no electric power, drinking water made only with cane and sheet. In a corner of the small room of 3 meters per side, we observed a supposed bed made of very deteriorated blocks and boards.
He was only wearing old shoes on his feet, and dirty clothes. At lunchtime he was asked if he had food, in response to the question he showed us his table where there was only 1 quetzal of tortillas and lemons cut in half that was available at home. He shared a pair of shoes, a shirt, a chumpa (sweater) and was brought bread to eat. In our community it is not common for someone to give something away without asking for something in return, at the end of the visit the elder asks «how much do I have to pay».
That first visit was impressive for Iris Santander and her husband, Nery Martínez, because they had realized the needs that exist in the community:
- Housing
- Basic services (electricity, water)
- Medicines.
- Beds
- Food
- Clothing
- Shoes
- Education
In the following visits we observed small children, adolescents integrating youth gangs, single mothers with the need to work and have nowhere to leave their children to take care of them.
In this way, the needs to be covered and the target group are identified. It was decided to start to work on the following lines of action:
- Manage donations to cover the needs detected in the community.
- Apply for school scholarships in Educational Centers, so that young people have new opportunities.
- Facilitate a place for children: education, recreation, training and values training.
The first place to care for the children was under a tree in the public square of our community. The children were invited by knocking on doors from house to house, the group was growing and the children were often cared for under the rain. They were told stories and Bible lessons, motor activities were carried out such as cutting, painting, arming, sharing a spare, group games were organized and vegetables were delivered. One day in the public square one of the children had an accident because young people outside the group hurt him, at that moment it was decided to take them to our house, thinking about the safety and protection of the children.
Initially we worked in the room, then in the dining room and when the group grew up in our bedroom. These environments were not enough for the number of children attending, this forced us to look for a larger space, at the same time our house was a neglected and weedy lot. When talking with the owner that allowed us to use it, children with sticks, pieces of metal and rusty machetes removed the weeds, removed the earth and cut trees; they formed with sweaters the goals played very happy and did not want to leave the place. The owner was very surprised by the change they had made.
A year later with the purpose of building, the land was negotiated but we could not gather what was necessary to pay for it. The owner of the place hearing the screams and smiles of children accepted to sell through a debt and pay Q500 per month. In this way a galley was built that protected us for a good time. We started the formal construction on our own raising a small wall that remained incomplete for several months and it was until year 2011 when a group of people helped to flatten the place. Seeing the need in the rainy season helped us to build the first part of the installations. At that moment the dream of seeing a three-level building is born and the foundations for its realization are prepared.
The construction work stopped for several years. During this time, many children came to the project asking for meals, education and housing, among those children, a young man named Alex showed up. This young man, who used to live in an orphanage, asked for support. Housing and food were granted; as he interacted with other kids, he saw all needs they faced. A few time later he left saying “I’ll be a millionaire, and I’ll come back to help in this project”, many people had used this phrase before, but none had returned. Suprissingly, two years later he returned with a different life, a loving and special new mom called Leceta Guibault, she adopted him with a heart full of love.
To show her gratitude to the people who gave her son a roof, a hot meal and a family when needed, Leceta began bringing groups of foreingners to visit Guatemala and San Bartolome Milpas Altas, Sacatepéquez. These generous people felt sympathy with the community work made in the project and decided to support the construction of the building. Among those caring people are:
- Patch Adams: He said: “Why do you worry so much about money? I’ll help you.”, and he did. He helped to build the building’s second floor. We will never forget him.
- Hope International: Financed the construction of the third floor.
- For the Love Mateo: Financed the construction and equipment for the first floor.
It’s difficult to mention all people, organizations and countries who help make this dream come true; this dream that helps children, young people, single mothers and elder people.
Besides these contributions, our organization started managing scholarships, occupational training like sewing and cooking for single mothers who also take regular classes to graduate from elementary level.
Medical care is another branch of our project. It is sponsored by north Americans, as well as people from other nations. This support consists of dental, ophthalmological, and medical checkups and treatment thanks to the donation of their knowledge, time, medicine and also to the fact that our project has a place we can call our own.
After fifteen years of hard work, it is possible to see that the dream is coming true and it is even going further than we first imagined as we now provide for other four small villages in need of services with volunteers and sponsors who through love serve one another. The help is provided to children from the communities of San Bartolo, Vuelta Grande, La Colorada, Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Sumpango and San Mateo all located in Sacatepequez area.
Foreign families who have adopted Guatemalan children, return to support other Guatemala children in need of food, health, and education. BACKYARD SCHOOL is a shelter with open doors and arms for those who (accept/ choose /decide) to be part of this project.
