Congratulations Citlali! We are proud to announce that Citlali's photography will be featured in the Muskoka 2012 Nature Calendar. Muskoka has partnered with us to offer the girls of the Buen Pastor equiptment and workshop opportunities to explore and enhance their creativity through the camera's lens. 

Please take a moment to view Citlali's image as well as the work of many other talented, young photographers, and consider making this a Christmas gift for someone special.  It is only $12, will be shipped to your home and proceeds will support the Buen Pastor!  To view and purchase the calendar click here. 

Over the past few weeks, a new system has emerged.  The girls now have their very own cards, used to "check-out" a book, a game or an activity. Each girl must first complete her homework to activate her card. Several girls are chosen every week to act as the Responsables. This means that they keep track of the cards, the books in the library and the games, they take note of who is using what and remind their friends to return these items so that they can continue to use them on a daily basis. This new way of interacting with their shared possessions paired with the positions of leadership, fosters individual responsibility as well as offers opportunities for the girls to work together within their own play.  

On May 10th, the girls participated in a Mother's Day celebration with their classmates. Magali and Gaby were in a dance. Citlai and Gaby paricipated in table gymnastics. Cynthia sang in the school choir. Itzel danced and recited poetry. It was a wonderful tribute to all the mothers. We would like to thank Ashland Rotary and the people who lovingly donate every month. Thanks to your help, Buen Pastor was able to buy the outfits needed to participate in the school's recognition of moms.

Buen Pastor is now partnering with Givology to provide school uniforms for the girls at Buen Pastor.  If you would like to pitch in, just go to the profile page and donate as little or as much as you like. Once the uniform project is fully-funded, Givology will transfers the funds to Buen Pastor who will then buy next year's school uniforms. 

We're especially thankful to Margaret Lawless for setting this up. Margaret is 19 years old and has been volunteering at Buen Pastor since last year. She's from the suburbs of Philadelphia and will be attending Swarthmore College next year as a Sophomore.

Buen Pastor made the cover of the CHOPPER, Guanajuato's weekly paper!  

When Octavio Hernandex Diaz came to pick up his high school daughter, he had never heard of Buen Pastor.  His daughter volunteered afternoons helping the girls with their homework as part of her required community service at the private school she attends. Diaz was impressed by what he saw. 

As he took a tour and met the people there, he began documenting with his cellphone: volunteers from all sectors of Guanajuato, Madres who have dedicated their lives to empower women and girls, the living spaces, classes, guidance counselor, catechism class, art, play, and most of all laughter. You can imagine the surprise when Madre Lourdes found herself on the cover of the Chopper surrounded by the children she had been prepping for communion. 

Diaz ends his article with: "All the Madres of Buen Pastor are examples of what Guanajuatenses should admire, value, and recognize not only on International Women's Day, but always!" 

You can read the article online here: "The Sisters of Buen Pastor perform a quiet yet very important social work."

Tuesday was a lot of fun at Buen Pastor. The madres and girls prepared for a very special visit from Sister Armelle from France. She’s the "Consejo Gerenal" of the congregation, and she’s been making her way throughout Mexico visiting all the Buen Pastors.  The girls put together a show as they sang and danced for Sister Armelle and visitors.

Other special visitors on Tuesday included Sister Leticia, Provincial. She’s the Mother Superior for the entire Republic of Mexico. Sister Conchita joined the group as well. She’s the Mother Superior of the Buen Pastor in Mexico City.  It was a privilege and great fun getting to know them and what they do. For instance, Sister Conchita shared how the girls at Mexico City's Buen Pastor take Taekwondo lessons every week, and how they have put together a carefully hand-selected library there. Reading and physical fitness are important, she emphasized. 

It was an incredible evening. Everyone—volunteers, visiting nuns, mothers—were recognized and thanked for their participation in the Buen Pastor community. It was very touching to see this kind of gratitude and love distributed.  Even the mothers of the girls were recognized for their participation in working to improve their home lives by meeting with the psychologist at Buen Pastor. This night celebrated the love, hope, and the collaboration that goes into improving the lives of the girls living at Buen Pastor. 

Thirty year old John Neff came to Guanajuato from Orlando the beginning of March. Since then, he’s opened up his own practice offering affordable chiropratic therapy. He’s also begun volunteering at Buen Pastor, offering adjustments and neurological testing for the girls and madres.

Through the Clinic Abroad Program with Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida, John has made six trips to Third World countries offering chiropractic care to underserved populations. Now, he offers his expertise and thoughtful care to the Buen Pastor Community.

John’s philosophy is that the body has the power to heal itself if given the instruments that it needs, such as nutrition. He also includes brain balancing in his work which can help with attention deficits, learning disabilities, depression, anxiety, and pain.  We all look forward to seeing his work evolve with the girls and madres.

On March 10th, five girls from Buen Pastor, participants of The Muskoka Foundation photography program, had their first international exhibit at The Los Angeles Theatre Center during the Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk. Thousands of art enthusiasts attended the walk and this brilliant exhibit of Guanajuato photography quickly became the crowds favorite.

You can see more images from the show here. 

On February 19th and 20th over 35 participants sold homemade and organic products, and promoted conservation organizations in Guanajuato's Tianguis Ecológico (Ecological Fair) in Guanajuato. Some of the products sold included: medicinal plants, sweets, solar water heaters, honey, cheeses, salsas, handmade soap, whole wheat bread, chocolate, organic coffee, and ecology-friendly diapers!

There was a table set up for Buen Pastor. Madre Patti and Madre Elvira were there with volunteer Maggie.  In the photo above, Maggie is modeling one of the aprons that the madres were selling. 19 year old Maggie came to Buen Pastor last year and fell in love with the girls, as she did with her. When she left, she promised to come back, and she has.  She'll be volunteering until May, diligently helping the girls every afternoon for hours with their homework and letting them braid her hair. She's even begun fundraising for Buen Pastor. 

Katie provides a review of the girls' experience in eStudio473 art curriculum during 2010. She also gives us a glimpse of classes to come which include creating wearable art, an installation with found objects and waste, and new purposes for discarded items.  You can read all about these exciting projects in the PDF linked to below.

If you would like to sponsor a girl for a 2 hour class for 12 weeks, please go to eStudio473 - Support and click on the Donate button. Cost: $72.