Volunteers: We received a lot of help here in Guatemala from our 29 volunteers, who came from Holland, Belgium, Canada and the United States.
Milk Project: This year we helped 23 children in our milk project.
Evaluation Days: We had 4 evaluation days for finding children with a cleft lip and palate.
Surgeries: 60 children got their cleft lip/palate surgery this year.
Educational Center: On the 12th of July of this year we started our educational center, in which we receive between 40 and 50 kids daily.
Vacation School: Because of last year’s success, this November we opened the ‘vacation school’ again. Every day was like a little party with our enthusiastic volunteers and about 60 children.
New Staff Members: For our educational center we hired a manager: Carolina and for our project “The gift of a smile” we hired Victor, who coordinates this project.
Wedding: Tessa, founder of T.E.S.S. Unlimited, is married with Gerson, the love of her life! The wedding was here in Guatemala on the 9th of December of this year.
Pedro: After one year of intensive physiotherapy, little Pedro can sit by himself and improved tremendously.
Workshops for Women: We started ‘creative’ workshops for the women in the surrounding villages. In November they taught who to make candles!
Restaurant: The Children’s Restaurant, T.E.S.S.’ new project, will start next year. Our team is already complete! Kenny, Pedro, Winifred, Jonathan, Sara, Ruth, Paola, Fatima, Dulce & Keyla will be running the restaurant every Friday! They also came up with a great name for the restaurant: ‘KIDS’ the only restaurant run by children. Come over for dinner someday!
Krispling: This special, super sweet baby boy finally got his surgery, after a stay of 9 months in the hospital. He suffered from a double cleft lip, his eye lids were closed and three of his fingers were grown together. He still needs to be operated on his cleft palate and hernia. This will take place next year. See his after surgery picture next!!
SPECIAL CHILDREN IN THE PICTURE
Jose Antonio, submitted in the hospital because of severe malnutrition when he was 2 years old. Exactly 2 years later he returns home! With the help of 20 wonderful sponsors, we received the medication that he needs daily for his diabetes. He is in our Milk Project and has monthly check-up in the hospital.
Do you recognize Mildred? She was born at only 6 months and is doing really well now! Mildred is also in our Milk Project and T.E.S.S. is keeping a close watch on her.
