John Doherty With EEESMA Update

EEESMA

"A good education is the greatest gift you can give yourself or anyone else."

Mahtab Narsimhan

No Matter How Long the Winter,

Spring is Sure to Follow

The State of Guanajuato, and most of Mexico for that matter, has returned to "Green Stoplight" meaning that Covid-19 cases are low and safety protocols have been relaxed.

In-person classes are in full swing at EEESMA, visitors are being welcomed and face coverings are now optional within the school environment. And after a long, long two years, it sure feels great!

It's Spring! Let's Get Outside!

Everyone enjoying a day of swinging the clubs

We have begun to move forward in our quest to provide transportation to the very special Deaf children and young people attending EEESMA and residing in communities outside of San Miguel de Allende. The very best way to achieve this goal is for EEESMA to have it's own passenger van and driver. The support for the purchase and running of a vehicle has been strong, but we still have a ways to go. Thank you for considering helping us achieve this lofty goal.

And thank you everyone for your continued support in many other important ways, volunteers included; we couldn't do what we do without you. Wishing you the best that Spring 2022 has to offer!

In Appreciation, John

Field Trips

A Day of Golf at Ventanas Golf Club

All students, teachers and staff had a fun outing practicing their putting and driving, followed by a picnic lunch. Smiles all around!

Visiting Rancho Los Labradores

The youngest students, accompanied by their teachers, visited the farm replete with burros, goats, chickens, rabbits, turtles and a whole lot more.

Ear Health Fair - February 2022

Drs. Julia Shih and Baneet Mashiana travelled to San Miguel from California to volunteer at EEESMA's first Ear Health Fair. Over 200 children were examined and tested over a three day period, including the primary school children of the rural community La Cuadrilla, and others, as well as all of the students, past and present, of EEESMA.

The Fair gave the school an opportunity to use the new audiometer purchased in 2019 but which, due to the pandemic, remained untested. It received good use and performed exceptionally. We now look at ways to train someone on staff to operate it.

The Fair was an exceptional event with many children being helped by having obstructions in the ear canal removed, hearing devices and molds repaired, and referrals made to the local Ear, Nose, Throat Specialist for more advanced diagnosis and treatment.

We are so grateful to Julia and Baneet for their kindness and generousity! We hope they will join us to do it again next year.

Miguelito

A Little One from La Cuadrilla

Dylan

Putting the Fun in Fundraising!

1st Annual Robert Burns Supper

January 16th marked the first San Miguel de Allende publicly attended supper at The Restaurant, to honour the most famous Scot poet.

Donnie Masterton outdid himself by preparing the most scrumptious roast beef with neeps and tatties supper. And to top it off there was haggis, piped in by our new friend from Mexico City, Rafa Gutierrez. Many of the fellows dressed in kilts and the gals in tartan sashes. There was music, poems, whiskey toasts, and Highland dancing.

We can hardly wait till next year's celebration! Please mark January 25th, 2023 on your calendar. You won't want to miss the most fun fundraising event to grace San Miguel de Allende in a very looong time. Lang may yer lum reek!

Click on the photo above to see video.

Smiles, Signs and Salmon Luncheon

The lunch was proudly served by the students themselves followed by a special performance of "Imagine" in Mexican Sign Language.

BRAVO ALUMNOS!!!

Link

There are no government supported schools for the Deaf in the state of Guanajuato. Public schools offer little or no sign language instruction.

Opened in 2012, EEESMA offers kids who are Deaf a better chance in life.

We need your help to ensure Escuela de Educación Especial de San Miguel de Allende continues to offer Deaf Education to children and young adults in the area.

There are no other options.

The ability to attract and retain well qualified teachers

with Mexican Sign Language skills continues to be a big challenge.

Please join us in continuing to build a great school for Deaf children.

Fundraising at EEESMA is accomplished exclusively by volunteers.

#deafeducation

#deafpride

#signlanguage

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart. Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."