14 Days, 14 Thoughts It has now been 2 weeks since I've arrived at Project Somos as a volunteer assisting with the garden, social media, and fundraising! Even though it's a short amount of time, I have already learned and experienced so much. In an effort to sum it all up, here are 14 thoughts … [READ MORE]
St. George’s Volunteer Trip • Part II
A big thank you to all of the St. George’s students and teachers that came to volunteer at Project Somos this week. The students worked hard all week digging trenches, planning activities with the kids, working in the kitchen, and playing soccer. On Thursday Saints had the opportunity to go to Iximche, local Mayan ruins with our […]
St. George’s Volunteer Trip • Part I
This week we have St. George’s school from Vancouver volunteering, with 14 students and 2 teachers. Saints has been coming to Project Somos since 2012, (except 2014) every year they come with students ready to work hard. This week they are working on digging different trenches for water runoffs, water lines, and irrigation systems. As […]
York House School Volunteer Trip • Part II
This past week we had York House School from Vancouver volunteering for the week. It was a great week, the students worked very hard and found great success in everything they did! Mornings were spent on more physical tasks such as painting and sanding, while in the afternoon the focus was on programming for the […]
York House School Volunteer Trip • Part I
This week at Project Somos we have York House School from Vancouver visiting. With 12 students and 2 teachers, they are working hard! With jobs varying from painting, filling in a trench, sanding the bamboo in the playground, to working in the kitchen or in the preschool. In the afternoon, the majority of the students […]
Let Yourself Trust – Volunteer Trip February 2016
This past week our dear friends Marytn & Justine, of Let Yourself Trust returned to Project Somos one year later, from their visit in January 2015. This time, they came with 22 volunteers who have raised money for, and to build, our music/art/culture dome! This will be our second building in our Learning Campus at Project Somos! […]
Guest Blogger Carla Costuros – 40 Years Later . . . Transforming Beauty into Beauty • Part III
During the second week we switched to felt-making, starting with ‘animalito skin’ felts using undyed local white and brown fleeces. These, the mamas stitched into pantuflas (baby slippers). Our second project was coronas (crowns) for the preschool. With this project, the mamas started to learn how to layer felts for pattern, design, and different purposes. Next, having developed their skills, […]
Guest Blogger Carla Costuros – 40 Years Later . . . Transforming Beauty into Beauty • Part II
Natural dyeing continues in a few pueblos in Guatemala on cotton fibres, but my research did not turn up any reference on the current use of natural dyes with wool. We did find a local fellow, Pedro Gieron, who has recently taken up natural dyeing (on cotton) and as part of our workshop, we had the opportunity […]
Guest Blogger Carla Costuros – 40 Years Later . . . Transforming Beauty into Beauty • Part I
In the early 70’s I discovered weaving and natural dyeing. When the opportunity arose to study the textiles of Guatemala, I eagerly embarked on what was the beginning of a life journey. The weaving in Guatemala is unique and complex. In the mornings we studied with the accomplished weavers from San Antonio Aguas Calientes, and […]
Celebrating One Year!
This month we celebrate one year since our preschool program began! I can’t believe a whole year has whipped by so quickly! Last January we hired Maria Alicia Choc (Ali) and she began teaching the children in our Community Hall on January 15th. Seven weeks later, we moved everyone over to our just completed “learning […]