Las Manos @ El Hato

Aldea El Hato is a tiny community nestled in the mountains seven kilometers north of Antigua.  The village is home to around 800 people, most of which are under the age of eighteen.  A family in El Hato generally consists of six to eight children, but a double-digit household isn't out of the question, either.  While there are so many children to feed, the typical income for an El Hato worker is only around $200 a month.  So, if both parents work and, say, have the low-ball figure of six kids, that's about fifty dollars a month per family member.  Consequently, it isn't shocking to meet an El Hato adult who has never been to a restaurant, seen a film in the cinema, or been beyond the market in Antigua. The public school in El Hato houses about 225 students, ranging from "prepas" (kindergarten) to sixth grade.  Families must pay around fifteen quetzales ($2) a year to send a child to school, as well as acquire about $20 to $30 dollars worth of school supplies.  While this seems minuscule to most Westerners, the costs of a public education actually prevents many El Hato children from attending classes.  In lieu of school, parents often keep their children at home to assist in caring for their younger siblings while the adults go to Antigua to work.  Other children help with the cooking and gather firewood.  Fortunate children are sent to school long enough to learn to read, write, and perform basic mathematics to help them with future employment. Earth Lodge, a guesthouse located in El Hato, was opened in July of 2004 on forty acres of land.  When Drew (Canada) and Bri (US) moved to the site, there were no buildings, water, or electricity, and despite beginning with no experience in construction, the two gringos created one of most beloved getaways in Guatemala.  Earth Lodge is a backpacker's dream and a haven for any vacationer, with five private cabins (including a tree house in a tree and a tree cabin with a tree in it), a sauna, a deluxe "lodge" with a restaurant and well-stocked bar, a movie room with over a 1000 films, games galore (ping-pong, corn hole, bumper pool, volleyball, badminton, etc.), and the list goes on and on. Earth Lodge, though, has not remained an entity unto itself, but rather Drew and Bri work hand-in-hand with the community.  In addition to hiring local people for the restaurant, the running of the farm and guest transportation, Earth Lodge's operators have taken a vested interest in the little escuela of Aldea El Hato.  For over three years now, Earth Lodge has sponsored the school and its students.  Each week, they supplement the government menu with fresh fruits, local veggies, and multi-vitamins.  Patrons of the lodge often participate in raffles, impromptu bingo rounds, and straight-forward donations, which Earth Lodge then filters into field trips, school supplies, and student sponsorship.  Since Earth Lodge's involvement, students of El Hato's school have gotten to go to the Guatemala zoo, the school has obtained a computer lab, and the surrounding community and international passers-by have taken a growing and keen interest in the school. Finally, in 2009, Drew, Bri, and our own Bryant Hand negotiated Las Manos's 2010 arrival in El Hato.  Earth Lodge provides housing and meals for Las Manos staff members, helps us assimilate into the community, and is instrumental in interacting with school officials and teachers.  In addition, they have agreed to assist short-term volunteers with accommodation costs, offering people donating a week or more of time a twenty-five percent discount on already pleasantly affordable rooms and dorm beds.  We at Las Manos couldn't be happier to be shacked up with such wonderful partners. A word from Brianna at Earth Lodge For the past 3 years that we have been fund raising for the school, we have seen an increase in the number of children attending school due to the fact that the sponsorship funds cover the cost of all school supplies.  This past school year, the $45 US per student paid by sponsors also paid for all the school children to go on the first ever field trip to the Guatemala City Zoo and Kid's Museum. We are very excited to be partnering with Las Manos for the next school year and know that their support will help to further the quality of education in this village.  Please donate to this cause if you are able; every little bit helps! For more information on the El Hato school, go to http://elhatoschool.blogspot.com/