On Monday, we explored parts of Guatemala City, the capital of the country. During the morning, our bus driver took a small group of us to the very edge of the city where we were privileged to see La Esperanza Project in operation. This spot is designed to empower women of this marginalized neighborhood by first providing education, child care services, and health care for their children, and also by providing opportunities for employment within its walls - a bakery and handicraft production operation. We visited classrooms and talked with the dedicated teachers. All will be coming to our literacy conference later this week, eagerly seeing professional development in the area of literacy teaching.
In the afternoon we took a guided tour of Guatemala City. After seeking special permission from armed guards (I'm not kidding!), our bus drove us through a neighborhood of high-priced gated and guarded homes in which ambassadors to Guatemala and owners of coffee plantations abide. From there we went directly to the center of the city - also the center of the country - and the center of Central America - to Plaza Mayor. While there we toured the Palacio Nacional, an ornate and stately building that once housed the executive branch of government. This beautiful building held impressive chandeliers and murals and stained glass windows depicting the pillars of good government - windows that were subsequently (and ironically) shattered by a car bomb. Motto on the building: "We can't change its past, let's own its future." Not a bad motto for all of us.
muy interesante!
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