Another Happy Holiday Story!

Here's another happy holiday story:  Yesterday 115 OJALÁ children in Rancho SM Viejo had their Christmas party.  It was held in the yard of Veronica's house, where 45+ little kids have their art classes every Wednesday afternoon. There were enough tables, benches & stools for all the children to sit down for a meal. The tables had pretty tablecloths and noche buena plants. The decorations included over 40 incredible piñatas made by the little ones over the past month, and 77 hand-painted Christmas tree balls. The children in Dan's wood-working class had their finished toys to take home. Bry and Boni, our 2 fantastic mosaics teachers, also involved in the Children's Peace Project (international circle dances), organized the dances before the meal.  Imagine a large circle of bigger kids surrounding a circle of little ones, all singing, moving and celebrating our earth, our communities and each other. IMAGINE - don't you wish you'd been there?
 

Then the local mothers came, carrying the food they'd made to feed all those children. Part of OJALÁ's mission is to bring everyone together to work for the community and eventually feel that OJALÁ is an integral part of life here, and that it belongs to them and their children...that they have much to give. Everybody pitched in to help serve the children...delicious tostadas on plates that would later be washed and put away for another time. FYI - any large gathering in a rural area means the use of hundreds of styrofoam plates/bowls, cups etc. OJALÁ is, by example, trying to change this, little by little. Families are welcome to use the store of dishes for their parties.

The food seemed endless and the children were able to eat and drink all that they wanted. (We always serve fruit waters, never sodas.) The mosaic class gathered to say goodbye to Bry, who now leaves to resume her college life in the States. They gave her a photo album of her time with them. Then, every child received a goodie bag - fruit, cookies and candies donated by Mayor Lucy - and a small tube of toothpaste! Finally, after the moms had washed all the dishes, they each received a noche buena plant to take home. Many hugs were shared and a few tears were shed - an amazing thing is happening in this poor, dusty place - all kinds of people are coming together to share the joys common to us all - the loving support of our children and their incredible creativity. Ojalá, you will one day come and a see for yourself...elsmarie

PS - from ancient Arabic, OJALÁ means "God-willing." In modern Spanish, it means "hope."  Ojala, you will all have a happy season!

Joyful~joyful

Our local internet provider, Unisono, is giving OJALA free monthly service in the home of the mother who has the little kids art class at her house every Wednesday afternoon - now up to 45 children! Her name is Veronica and she is the mother of two wonderful girls who participate in the other art classes, English and music. None of the homes in this poor village have ever had computers, much less internet. When Veronica has had some tutorials and we receive donations of 2-3 computers, the kids will be able to get in touch with the world! This is a huge step - and we are very grateful to our local, generous friends!

Our Story

My name is Elsmarie Norby.  I have lived in the town of San Miguel de Allende, in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico for 12 years, giving music classes to lots of children, in small rooms, churches, public schools in town and in the rural communities. Many little choirs happened and many concerts were given.  

The art tent for the younger children, ages six and under

In 2007 I built a small house in a rural community near the center of San Miguel, called San Miguel Viejo (old San Miguel).  As a photographer and musician, I wanted a quieter, less busy life. My first visitors were the local children, curious about the nice house, my little dogs and me. They were poor, hungry and not very clean because of their country circumstances - but with shy smiles and excitement about playing with the dogs and the promise of a cookie or two, they kept stopping by.  

I got to know them and we began to do things together. First, I gave them new sharpened pencils with erasers to replace the useless stubs they had. Paper followed pencils, scissors, glue and colors followed paper. I was amazed at their ideas, concentration and creativity. I began to offer little snacks: simple sandwiches, fruit, cheese, juice. I noticed that several children tried to hide some of their food. They were saving it to take home to share with their siblings and parents.  

Beautiful ________ in art class!

I began to play music for them - they danced through the garden, sang even though they didn't know the song. They didn't want to leave. I had some books for children in Spanish - they sat in the patio and read. The little ones sat on the laps of the bigger ones. Even when it started to get dark, they didn't want to leave. 

Needless to say, more and more children came. Friends began to donate materials and come to help. We needed a name--OJALÁ--this originates in ancient Islam meaning “God willing.”  In present-day Spanish it precedes any expression of hope:  Ojalá, it will soon rain.  

OJALÁ is now a non-profit organization serving up to 120 children in this small community; giving classes in arts, music, English every week; taught by 12-17 dedicated volunteers. A small library is developing and, ojalá, the children will have access to it every afternoon: to read books and have a place to do their homework. Not all of them go to school, but here they all have a sanctuary for discovering, learning and creating.