EarthThreads International 2024 Project Collaboration with Codesh Ministries!

 As we do every year, EarthThreads International has chosen the charity organization we will be working with all of this year: Codesh Ministries! 

At the preliminary one-on-one meeting with Pastor and Director for Codesh Ministry - Sr. Ricardo

In collaborating with Codesh Ministries and the schools they sponsor, we hope to successfully fundraising and develop project activities for the benefit of their mission and the local community surrounding and including the Department of Quetzaltenango in Guatemala.

AquaKids - Affiliate Swim Club for Codesh Ministries, swim practice for Academy of Children with Hearing Impairments (April 2024)

Last year, I can say that is was an absolute priviledge working with All Hands and Hearts in their 2023 Natural Disaster Relief Program; Hurricane Ian Program in Fort Myers, Florida for 3 weeks, New England Storm Floods in Cabot, Vermont for 4 weeks, and a School Building Project in Sinduli District, Nepal for the village of Tinkuna in the  Hariharpurghadi Rural Municipality, for a week. It was amazing sharing the Christmas holiday with them, and they made it even more special by celebrating my birthday with me on Christmas Eve! 

Hanging out with the team and staff on base for Christmas Eve 2023.

Christmas Eve 2023, on the AHA base.

On the worksite in front of the school's foundation. (Decemeber 2023)

On base by the mess area. (Novemeber 2023)

Marraige Falls in Vermont (August 2023)

On base at Covenant Hills in Cabot, Vermont (August 2023)

In a gutted out house on the worksite in Fort Myers, Florida (June 2023)

While I was waiting for my flight to Kathmandu after working with All Hands and Hearts for 2 months on the Eastern Coast of the United States, I visit my family and friends in Xela, Guatemala for the month of October, and spent the time training yoga and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (grappling) with Yoga House and the up-coming gym, G-Team, Xela. I met an amazing group of people, from athletes to artists to UN Members, and was priviledged enough to be able to host two events for the community in Antigua, Guatemala, one in collaboration with Caoba Farms, and the other inviting a face painter to come out and help us brighten the days of some children working at Plaza Mayor in front of the Catedral de San Jose, near the fountain. These events were in the hopes of bringing awareness to the necessity of the municipalities and departments provide the needed legislature to provide funds and medical care for people living with disabilities, as well as to write laws demanding the manditory child labor laws in order to stop the exploitation of child labor in Guatemala. 

In Plaza Mayor with the children who frequent the area, selling everything from cigerettes and gum to birdseed and toys (November 2023) 

Here, the owner and head coach of G-Team Xela brought pizza for the children to have a small pizza party while having their faces painted

Camila (Founder of EarthThreads) trying her hand at face painting for high energy kids while they enjoyed pizza brought and donated by G-Team MMA's owner and head coach (November 2023)

Face painter from Caoba Farms being a true hero and painting for over 20 boys and girls, free of charge (November 2023)

Face painter from Caoba Farms just as the afternoon of free face paints for the children in Plaza Mayor, Antigua, Guatemala commenced (November 2023)

Camila (Founder of EarthThreads International) on the day of the concert benefit for Sr Edwin (on the left) raising awareness for community members living with diabilities and children's rights. (Novemebr 2023)

These activities were as enriching for me as they were for those participating, however, they raised some challenges that we are facing today as a society. Due to the nature of the government in Guatemala, we are still behind as a nation in terms of equal rights, access toe ducation and resources, and environmental protection. It was apparent that the children in these circumstances were struggling with their social development while being forced to work and sell rather than being in school where their self esteems and educations could flourish. It was saddening and eye opening, yet, we still enjoyed the day's events. As of this year, as we plan to return to Antigua for another event, we would like to invite the local media, as well as UNICEF, in order to give a speech on the nature of the importance for child labor laws and equal access to education. As we are preparing to do this, EarthThreads International will be working with CODESH MINISTRIES, in summer camp events, by donating towards their new fascilities and to the programs they support for the education and recreation of local community members in and around the Quetzaltenango Department.

While working with Codesh Ministries this week, we got to work together at their affiliate swimming center, "AquaKids", in order to get some pretty special first timers into the water! We were joined by the Academy of Children with Hearing Impairments for some pool therapy and water safety instruction! It was so fun to work with these children, as they were as strong and determined as any little fishies I have swam with before! 

This week, as we focus on introductions to the multiple special-needs schools in the Quetzaltenango Department, we will also be visiting the new fascility campground in Momostenango in order to survey and find a good area to install a new education garden bed for the camp kids! 

Many of these children come from low-income families, have sensory disabilties, live within the foster system, or are positive for auto-immune disorders. It is imperative that every child have the opportunity to recieve an equal education and experience the chance to just be a kid, and Codesh Ministries is providing that opportunity for so many children in the area. May they be an example for all of Guatemala, and a leader worldwide in social development programs and equal inclusion. 

I am so grateful for the random chance of running across an old flyer at my friend's bakery cafe, and being able to reach out and get in contact with Pastor Ricardo for volunteer and fundraising opportunities. 

Our goal this year is to raise $2000 under the Camiji Foundation, and build a new garden bed for the kids camp, providing flowers that will attract butterflies and eyes! I hope to coordinate a Christmas Holiday field trip, as well, for our friend Academy of Children with Hearing Impariments, and ivnite them to Alma de Colores in San Juan la Laguna, where we can enjoy some fun recreational activies, art, and meet a commercial business dedicated to inclusion and equal opportunity in Guatemala. Cannot wait for this year's 2024 EarthThread's Collaboration with Codesh Ministries!

Love,

Camila Alejandra Wilson

Founder and Project Development Coordinator for EarthThreads International