"On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...."
This beloved traditional holiday song is the
inspiration for our seasonal blog series, "12 Days/12 Ways", a
promotional effort of goodwill we started last year to draw attention
to 12 not-for-profit groups or charitable organizations in Playa del
Carmen and along the
Riviera Maya. So many people from around the world travel to the Riviera
Maya during the holiday season. Many reach out to us via regional
message boards and Facebook looking for a way to give back to the less
fortunate residents in our local communities. 12 Days/12 Ways was
started to help these generous, kind-hearted visitors find legitimate
and worthy charitable organizations to support, addressing their
particular needs for this holiday
season.
For each of the 12 days of Christmas, the BuyPlaya
Blog, better known as "Life's a Beach", will spotlight a charitable
organization or giving opportunity. Some may already be familiar to locals and
frequent travelers to this area. Others, perhaps those most in need of
recognition and support, may be new to our readers. It is our hope to do
this every year, with updated information and wish lists.
The "12 Day/12 Ways" list has not yet been completed for 2012. If you have a favorite
charity that you feel belongs on this list, collect all of the
information you can and I will be happy to consider your group for
inclusion.
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Hekab Be Library promotes literacy and learning opportunities among children and adults in Quintana Roo, Mexico, in order to meet their educational goals. Serving as a tool for educational, social and economic progress, we provide individuals and families with resources for scholastic advancement, helping improve people’s language and literacy skills, while promoting cultural preservation and awakening the desire to understand other customs and ways of thinking.
The Hekab Be Library, started in 1995, acquaints young children with books, provides learning resources for school children and offers literacy and writing classes for adults. In addition, the library offers after-school activities and tutoring, reading and math programs, arts & crafts workshops and yoga classes for children. Adults can participate in classes in English, Spanish and Maya. The library also presents parenting and health seminars and hosts local AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings and secondhand clothing bazaars.
This year, Hekab Be said goodbye to beloved librarian Carlos Canul and "Hola" to new library director, Mariana Galindo Lando. Mariana,
originally from Veracruz, has called Akumal home for the past six years. Mariana has a B.A. in primary education and is a
certified elementary teacher. She has worked as a teacher at various
schools in Veracruz and in the Riviera Maya, most recently as a teacher
at Instituto Vittorio Monteverdi in Tulúm.
As the new library
director, Mariana has many goals, the foremost being to create an
educational atmosphere that is welcoming to people of all ages. She
will be implementing new programs including classes in music, dance, and
other arts and it is her desire to see HB become not just a center for
education, but also a cultural hub for the Akumal community.
How can YOU help?
Support the Hekab Be "Library Angels" Program!The Hekab Be library is 100% donation driven. In 2011 Hekab Be inaugurated their
"Library Angels"
program to encourage people to become
monthly sponsors of the library. The goal is to generate a
steady, dependable monthly income to be supplemented by fundraising efforts. The money
donated is used for the library's programs, supplies and teachers
salaries which make up about 75% of the library's operating expenses. The amount given each month is
entirely up to the sponsor and can be automatically deducted from the
sponsor's account with the new "Subscription" button via Paypal. Those who use
Bill Pay through their can also set up automatic donations. Email
akumallibrary@gmail.com for the correct setup information. USD donations are tax deductible!
Each quarter, Library Updates will be sent out directly to all of the
Library Angels so that they can be kept informed on the activities and
goings on at the library. To make a one time donation or to become a
"Library Angel", please visit the
Hekab Be Blog and choose to either DONATE or SUBSCRIBE!
Buy a Hekab Be T-shirt:
Show your support of Hekab Be by buying and proudly wearing a t-shirt from the new Cafe Press Hekab Be T-shirt Store! T-shirts are available in men's and women's sizes. Cool tote bags are also available, perfect for hauling your beach reads and sunscreen! A variety of colorful and whimsical designs are offered.
Donate books and library supplies:
- Books - All reading levels in SPANISH
- A durable digital camera/memory card
- Chess sets
- Packs of solid colored craft foam sheets, used for arts and crafts projects
- Double sided tape
- Flat head thumbtacks
- Colored pencils
- Liquid white glue such as Elmer's
- Water based/washable liquid paints such as Crayola kids paint (liter size or larger)
- Construction paper
- Laminating sheets, various sizes, but especially letter size
- Child safe scissors with rounded points
- 3 ring binders
- Letter size clear plastic sleeves that can be used in a 3 ring binder
- Thick or jumbo crayons
- Play Doh (or generic brand)-- small size cans keep longer in this climate
- Bead sets for making bracelets and necklaces
- Popsicle sticks
- White-out or any brand of liquid corrector
- Poster board, white or any color. Sam's and City Club in Playa del Carmen sell this in packs of 100-200 sheets
- Various kinds of paper to use in art projects: tissue paper, crepe paper & shiny/foil paper in assorted colors
- Blank white paper (8-1/2 x 11) such as copy paper or any standard paper sold in bulk
Photo from the Akumalian
Here is a list of gifts that children who frequent the library said they would like to receive for Christmas this year. These are the gifts most requested, and of course, the library welcomes any kind of toy donations and assistance to give these special children a very Merry Christmas!
Hot wheels race tracks
Back packs & messenger bags
Dolls, baby dolls & accessories
Doll houses
Skateboards or other thing with wheels you can ride
Toy cell phones
Soccer balls
Diaries that lock with a key
Wrist watches
"Connect 4" game
Roller skates
Stuffed animals
Barbies
Remote control cars
Toy train sets
Max Steel action figures
Dinosaur figures
Toy instruments such as guitars, drums
If you are in Akumal, your donations can be left at the
library during business hours Monday - Friday 9:30am - 5:30pm (closed from 1pm-2:30pm for lunch) and on Saturdays 9am - 1pm. Spanish language books for all reading levels are always
welcomed! If you are not going to be in Akumal in time for Christmas but
would like to send us some toys or books, email the library and they
may be able to find someone who can bring it down:
akumallibrary@gmail.com.
Your support is needed and appreciated in helping give the kids a Happy Holiday Party every year! If you would like to share in the joy of giving,
please come to the Annual Hekab Be Christmas Party on Wednesday, December
19 at 3:00 pm.
There will be singing by the kids, a pinata, food and of course, Santa
will be on hand handing out the gifts! Please come if you are in town! For updates, you can also follow Hekab Be on Facebook!
I moved to Mexico with my family in 2004 with the hope of offering our children a more global education and world view. Since then, we have traveled through Mexico, Belize and Guatemala, gathering friends and life experiences and learning a lot about ourselves along the way. When we are not out and about exploring, Rob and I own and operate BuyPlaya, a Playa del Carmen real estate company and FurnitureMex. "Life's a Beach" is a catch-all blog where you may find anything from restaurant reviews, to recipes, gardening tips, commentary about expat daily life, local events, information about moving to Mexico and educating children in Playa del Carmen. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.