Jesse Neuman, a career educator and professional musician, has developed the MUSICWORKS program to bring interactive arts experiences to students of all ages and ability levels. He has presented to NYC public and private schools, to groups as varied as a half-dozen pre-schoolers, a 300-plus hall of elementary school students, and residential populations of at-risk teenagers. Mr. Neuman has also funded and presented two volunteer seminars in Quito, Ecuador.
This August 2010, Ms. Lynch and Mr. Neuman presented a combined 3-week sports and music program in Panajachel, in coordination with Club Ninez y Juventud, Colegio Eben Ezer, and Mayan Families. Together they were able to hold 2 local basketball clinics and 2 local soccer tournaments, reaching over 250 children, as well as music instruction for 100 students. None of these children who would otherwise be able to afford these programs, and in fact many who attended on weekends are working to earn money for their families during regular school hours. Feedback from both programs was terrific, and plans are already in the works for a return trip.
Most proudly, thanks to your help, Deportes Pana and Musicworks are both able to sponsor students' school-costs for the upcoming year. Please read more about brothers Alex and Wilson below, and visit www.MUSICWORKSnyc.weebly.com to learn more about Gloria and her family.
for more information, contact DeportesPana@gmail.com
Jesse Neuman of MUSICWORKS presenting music classes at Colegio Eben Ezer, and Mayanfamilies schools in Pana and San Antonio.
DONATIONS COMING IN!
MUSICWORKS and Deportes Pana would like to thank the following for their donations:
- Matt Hochman of IMS PRO Audio (music books)
- Jamey Aebersold (music books and cd’s)
- David and Randi Wender (kids shoes and clothing)
- Catherine McManus (baby clothes)
- Nancy Feinstein (kids jerseys and caps)
- David at Zogsports (jersey t-shirts)
- Dan Voss (saxophone)
- Betty and Marvin Lipson (cornet)
Your generosity and care will make a huge difference in the lives of less fortunate children, and we thank you for your continued support.
Deportes Pana has a Winning Year!
2010 could have been a disastrous year for our Kids Sports Club. Tropical Storm Agatha did vast damage, taking out bridges, roads, schools and homes, but our kids just pulled up their socks and worked all that harder.
We ended up with a soccer tournament with 50 teams,a basketball tournament with 15 teams, two basketball camps and our first music camp. We signed up 10 new volunteer coaches, received our first major donation of $2,000 from Global Sports in California, and found a second Padrino from New York. We are providing Physical Education services directly to 5 local schools and, in all, are providing services to almost 1,500 kids. One goal in 2010 was to bring services to isolated, poverty stricken mountain Indian villages. We really achieved that goal and now have active programs in Patanatik, Xecotoj, Monte Mercedes, Concepcion, Santa Catarina and San Andres.
As you know, we mostly work with Mayan kids, but not exclusively. We are open to all kids. We are proud to say that our basketball teams include not only Mayan kids, but also kids from USA, Russia, England and Bangladesh. Our common language is Spanish and the kids get along great together. We thank everybody who has helped us in 2010, great organizations like Global Sports, Sports Gift, Claremont Prep School in NYC, the Guatemalan Fund for Peace, MUSICWORKS, and all the individuals who have donated time, materials and prayers.
God Bless You All and have a wonderful holiday.
Willy Lynch, founder
Your donations are sending 2 children to school!
Alex and Osmar (ages 11 and 8) live in Pana with their mother (who works 2 jobs, totaling 12 hrs. per day). Their house is made of cement block, lacks an efficient stove and water filter. They have a traditional sink and electricity, but have not been able to pay the water bill since their father died of sudden pancreatic cancer. The two brothers share one mattress with their mother. She leaves everything ready for the boys before she leaves early in the morning, and Alex heats up the food for his younger brother and sees him off to school. Alex makes sure he and his brother have hot tortillas to eat and whatever else his mom can afford. Their diet is mostly: beans, rice, eggs, and sometimes two times a week, they can afford meat.
Storms Devastate Guatemala…YOU CAN HELP
As you may have read in the news this week, flooding and mudslides from the recent tropical storms in Central America have devastated much of Guatemala City and the surrounding areas (this, on the heels of an eruption of Volcan Pacaya, only a dozen miles from Panajachel!) The amazing photograph below is of a huge sinkhole that swallowed up a 3 story building in Guatemala City. Hundreds have died and over 100,000 have been evacuated from their homes. One of our own directors has lost his house and all of his belongings.
MUSICWORKS and Deportes Pana are continuing to fundraise for the Sports and Arts seminar we are volunteering at this July and August, and feel that now more than ever the children of these poor families need our guidance, a welcome distraction. However, if you would like to donate to humanitarian relief efforts directly, you may do so through our PayPal link above and email us to “Earmark for Relief.”
Thanks again for your continued support.
