WINTER 2011-2012
January 2012
Film "Journey to Atitlan" Wins AVA Gold Award
 On January 13th, BHGHNY Special Projects Coordinator Sam Powers was presented with the AVA Gold Award for exceeding high standards in the media production industry for the film "Journey to Atitlan" produced for BHGHNY. Ava Awards is an international competition that recognizes outstanding work by creative professionals involved in the concept, direction, design and production of media.
BHGHNY ALUMNI GATHER TO ESTABLISH AN ASSOCIATION
On January 10, 2012, a spirited group of BHGHNY alumni gathered with staff for a luncheon and planning meeting. Executive Director, Brad Zervas, led a discussion that was far-ranging in its implications with a specific focus on how BHGHNY could better serve its graduates as they continue in higher education. Additionally, alumni discussed ways in which they could be helpful to current scholars and there was a general consensus that alumni did, in fact, have much to offer.
In creating a more formal BHGHNY Alumni Association-one with a detailed charter to serve, several steps will need to be taken to ensure that we create a platform that is sustainable and one that has as its primary focus the continued support of BHGHNY’s mission.
Both BHGHNY staff and administrators, along with alumni discussed ways to create an atmosphere that would encourage involvement and engagement. Over the course of the next year, and in an effort to formalize an Association that will be sustainable, officers and class agents will need to be appointed; special activities and programs will need to be planned; and a strong relationship with BHGHNY’s Board of Directors will need to be fostered.
There is much for all of us to accomplish in this area and we are hopeful that this represents an important milestone for our organization and for the growing number of alumni who were able to find themselves and their futures while BHGHNY scholars.
If you are a graduate and have not been in contact with us, please make an effort to reach out to us so that we can keep you abreast of BHGHNY Alumni Association related news.
December 2011
Miracle on 125th Street
On December 9th, BHGHNY scholars and staff traveled to Harlem to partner with Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, Mary Lanning in an effort to feed New York's homeless and poor. In the basement of a nearby church, scholars prepared hundreds of meals and decorated bags that were to be stuffed with pastrami sandwiches, fresh fruit and blankets. After hours of preparation, Scholars bundled up to face NYC's winter  cold. From a distance, one could see a line stretching an entire city block dotted with people of all ages lining up to receive a meal and supplies for the winter. Scholars spent hours interacting with those individuals patiently waiting for assistance. Under the direction of Sister Lanning, they provided not only meals and blankets, but a holiday warmth and affection that otherwise may have been missing in the lives of the hundreds of people waiting on the corner of 125th street.
FALL 2011
November 2011
Christmas Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center
 On November 30th, Scholars traveled with BHGHNY Executive Director Brad Zervas and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, Mary Lanning to partake in one of NYC's most celebrated traditions, the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center. Before departing, scholars had the honor of meeting a group of injured combat veterans from the local branch of the Wounded Warriors Project. After dinner, BHGHNY scholars and staff accompanied the Warriors in a police escort to Rockefeller Center where they were ushered through the droves of people lining the streets near the tree. Once reaching their destination, scholars enjoyed music from some of the most popular musicians of today, including, Justin Bieber. Along with over half a million bystanders, scholars partook in the countdown, viewed around the world, when the lights on the tree in Rockefeller center were switched on to begin the holiday season.
BHGHNY Veterans Day Cooking with Mary Lanning
 On November 10th in honor of Veterans Day, BHGHNY Scholars and staff under the direction of Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, Mary Lanning, prepared a meal for the local Fire Department in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn. Preparation for the meal lasted two hours as scholars and staff meticulously prepared Sister Lanning's decadent recipes. After prep time, scholars waited anxiously as the smell of meat loaf and sweet potato filled the room. Scholars then bundled up and walked with staff to FDNY engine house 210 to deliver the freshly prepared meal. In gratitude, the firefighters gave the scholars a tour of the facilities, allowing them to sit in the front seat of the fire engine and listen to stories of battling blazes throughout the city.
OCTOBER 2011
BHGHNY Board of Directors Gather for Planning Retreat
On October 17, 2011, eighteen members of BHGHNY’s Board of Directors gathered for a comprehensive review of the organization’s key financial and programmatic indicators. Joined by members of BHGHNY’s senior leadership team, the planning retreat resulted in a number of important decisions regarding enrollment, expansion, program enhancement and fundraising. Hosted by BHGHNY Trustee Joseph Tarantino, the nearly day-long exercise provided important new insights into the organization’s work and the need to expand its current funding-base. More importantly, it provided all in attendance with ample evidence regarding the need for BHGHNY services and the efficacy of its program model.
In recognizing that BHGHNY remains NYC’s only urban boarding school initiative and that its partnerships with Catherine McAuley High School and Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School have leveraged resources across service-sectors, the Board focused much of its attention on expansion. Additionally, specific steps were taken to create a strategic planning committee, along with the platform needed to facilitate its future efforts.
The day ended with a reception and dinner hosted by BHGHNY Board Chair John Halleron, at the University Club. The Board of Directors was joined by BHGHNY scholars and staff, school leaders and other invited guests. Stay tuned…
Teresa Conlon Celebrates Twenty Years with BHGHNY
 This past August, Teresa Conlon celebrated her twentieth anniversary with Boys Hope Girls Hope of New York and to mark this very special occasion, BHGHNY Executive Director, Brad Zervas and BHGHNY Board Chair, John Halleron, presented Teresa with a letter of commendation and small gift at the reception and dinner that followed the Board Planning Retreat on October 17th. In commenting on Teresa’s many contributions over the years, Mr. Zervas spoke about her commitment to excellence, her steadfast belief in the organization’s mission and her willingness to always do the little extra to support further the important work that we are involved in.
In accepting her commendation, Teresa spoke warmly and enthusiastically about her tenure with BHGHNY. She expressed her admiration for the Board of Directors and thanked BHGHNY staff, who she believes is the best ever, for all that they do on behalf of our children.
Teresa stands as an example to us all. Congratulations Teresa!!
A Leap of Faith Down Under
 When BHGHNY officials approached then high school senior and scholar Ricardo Mullings with the chance to spend six weeks in Brisbane, Australia last summer, he did not hesitate one bit. In fact, he gave very little consideration to what we were proposing. The prospects of being on the other side of the world with complete strangers did not seem to surface any fear. This was all quite brave of him and his return now reflects a much broader horizon.
Ricardo had signed up to be a tutor at Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie)-one of Brisbane’s and Queensland’s most important and prestigious independent schools. Ricardo had to sign a contract with the school committing to the parameters of his position-it was all very official and exciting.
BHGHNY’s Executive Director, Brad Zervas, has stated that “much of the leap of faith was mitigated through my professional relationship with the school’s Headmaster, Jonathan Hensman-Jonathan is a quality school leader and a quality human being and I knew that Ricardo would be well taken care of.” Nevertheless, for a young man Ricardo’s age and from the rather complicated streets of Brooklyn’s Bedford Stuyvesant, Ricardo’s journey was much further away than the miles traveled. In his own words, "When Mr. Zervas first approached me with this offer, I instantly agreed. This has been an unbelievable experience and I humbly thank BHGHNY and Churchie. The world is becoming even more interconnected and BHGHNY is giving students the chance to experience this directly.”
 It was immediately clear to BHGHNY staff that Ricardo’s return was marked by a greater appreciation of the world he currently lives in. He spoke with genuine enthusiasm of the new friends that he had made; of a country that he had never before imagined; of generosity, a commitment to excellence and the belief that there is more that unites us than divides us.
July 2011
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
 On July 18th a small team of BHGHNY scholars and staff traveled to Guatemala to partner with our sister affiliate, Esperanza Juvenil. Prior to our departure, there was regular contact between our two organizations and the leadership at each location planned a program that would encourage close contact between our respective scholars along with several opportunities to learn something about the unique history of Guatemala and the current challenges it is facing. As is often the case, unintended consequences surfaced during our journey and while we adjusted to our new surroundings, it became very clear very quickly that our expectations were to be dramatically changed as a result of what we were to eventually encounter.
To better understand what we ultimately were to face, one really does need to understand something about the geopolitical and social restraints that currently has the country nearly paralyzed. The drama that began nearly 500 years ago with the arrival of Spanish Conquistadors is still unfolding in very real and palpable ways. As a developing country, Guatemala is one of the very poorest in the Western Hemisphere and the majority of its population struggles to secure much of what our own scholars take for granted. Public transportation, a transparent judicial system, clean water, electricity, food and education are afforded to few. While there is evidence of genuine wealth, this is the dominion of an elite class of landowners, bankers and corrupt politicians. Guatemala is also a country with important traditions and customs and its Mayan population represents over twenty distinct groups and over 65% of the nation’s citizenry. It is a country of sharp contrasts.
 Our initial arrival was punctuated by a parade of small arms and police and private security holding vigilance in front of businesses, banks and on various street corners. Merchants and storekeepers did their business behind a shroud of steel bars, locks and chains—a strange mix of commerce and fear. Having been rocked by civil war and assault on its native population that resulted in the loss of 250,000 lives, it has yet to experience the dawn of its own pending light—a light that could shine brilliantly if the right measure of social justice was exercised.
There are not many tourists in Guatemala City and our group drew guarded stares of curiosity and interest. It made us all feel somewhat vulnerable. After just a half hour walking in the center of the city, we retreated to our hotel—it seemed like the safest thing to do. After inquiring about the City’s general safety, we were repeatedly warned that street crime, both organized and random, had become a significant dilemma for residents. We had very little interest in testing these waters and reminded ourselves that great care would need to be taken when we did venture outside.
For nearly two weeks, our friends from Esperanza Juvenil (EJ) would pick us up in the morning and then bring us to its school. With limited resources and with very modest facilities, the leadership at EJ has created a community of young scholars (some as young as five years old), teachers, counselors and caregivers that have achieved a family paradigm that none of us had ever witnessed before.
Divided into five houses, 75 EJ scholars work together to make sure that their basic needs are met. Older scholars help with the younger ones and while they do experience occasional shortages of supplies and materials, they invent ways to overcome some of their needs and do so with a genuine sense of joy. EJ scholars are resourceful, patient, resilient, eager to learn, and kind. The adults in their lives exhibit these very same qualities. They welcomed us without hesitation. They embraced us. They asked a million questions. They shared their dinner table with us and meals that were simple and modest.
The BHGHNY scholars who joined us for this historic exchange, represent a profile that is consistent throughout the movement. Most of our scholars reside in single parent female-headed households. Most of our scholars receive some form of public assistance and reside in some of the poorest congressional districts in the United States. In short, they live the hard-scrabble lives of our own country’s poor, and as poor as they are, when juxtaposed among children from around the world, they are among some of the planets wealthiest.
Our work at EJ included tutoring and teaching, classes in dance, English and regional cooking. We played soccer, hide and seek, learned schoolyard hand-clapping rituals that all young girls seem to know. We skipped rope, spent two days painting and in between all of this, established strong bonds with the entire EJ family. In fact, were made to feel a part of their family. EJ’s Executive Director, Lucas Pinzon, reminded us all that we were united under a common banner and as Boys Hope Girls Hope Scholars, we should take comfort in knowing that our struggles are not determined or limited by boarders and that sometimes we need to first suffer before we can experience greatness.
Our departure from Guatemala City and our travels to Lake Atitlan gave us the opportunity to broaden our context and to experience some of the country’s natural beauty. We visited Maya villages, hiked through a nature preserve and braved a very fast series of zip-line runs with some over 300 feet above the forest’s canopy. We motored across and around Lake Atitlan-the deepest lake in Central America. We shared insights with one another and discovered in ourselves things that we had yet to experience and conditions that we had yet to consider.
Throughout our travels in Guatemala, we made a special effort to document and chronicle our experiences. As our visit drew to a close, we asked each of our scholars what they had learned and what was they had found to be the most significant lesson(s) realized. To a scholar, they each expressed the need to be more appreciative of the things they had and of those individuals most responsible for their care. They each made a pledge to complain less and to be more thankful. They each pointed to their EJ brothers and sisters and acknowledged that they had much to learn from them.
 It’s hard to measure the impact of a trip like this. International travel and exchange for young people is a powerful learning tool. As we know, the distractions here are complicated and it’s easy to forget a lesson leaned weeks and months ago in land so far away. We can though comment on our return—a grateful arrival to that which is most familiar and the recognition that we do indeed have much to be thankful for.
Please watch a documentary film produced by BHGHNY special projects coordinator, Sam Powers chronicling our trip to Guatemala.
June 2011
Our Journey to Atitlan--The Planning Stages
The beginning of every journey is accompanied by excitement, apprehension and a full-measure of wonder. For the six Boys Hope Girls Hope of New York Scholars who are about to embark on their own journey to Guatemala and its almost mythical like region surrounding El Lago de Atitlan, it represents a chance to expand horizons; to meet new friends; to explore a country’s history that is still connected to its Maya past; and to serve others who are less fortunate to no fault of their own.
BHGHNY scholar profiles reflect the needs and aspirations of many of our most vulnerable children. As secondary school age students, the relief, instruction and support that they receive while enrolled in its programs provide the bedrock from which they can build lives that are imbued with dignity and self-respect.
Although BHGHNY’s scholars reside in a city that many would consider to be the world’s most preeminent economic and cultural center, they seldom venture out beyond their immediate boroughs and often live lives that are insulated and isolated. BHGHNY officials believe that international travel and exchange can provide a young person with an expanded context when considering their own lives. As a result, officials from BHGHNY have reached-out to the Boys Hope Girls Hope affiliate in Guatemala to suggest a possible exchange between the two programs and the suggestion was received with great enthusiasm.
Boys Hope Girls Hope of New York scholars and staff are currently preparing for their departure to Guatemala. Their time there will include a comprehensive service-learning project and a legacy initiative to help improve conditions for the Guatemalan youth that they will be working with. They will later travel on to El Lago de Atitlan to explore more deeply the culture and social fabric that defines Guatemala today. As community workers, young writers and reporters, BHGHNY scholars will record their efforts and will return to New York prepared to share their new insights and to illustrate first-hand what the experience meant to each.
BHGHNY is actively seeking the support of area educators, business leaders and others who share in its mission and belief that international travel is and should be an integral feature of a young person’s education and in creating a more inter-dependent and cooperative world.
May 2011:
To simplify and streamline its application process, BHGHNY joined the Secondary School Admissions Testing Board (SSATB) in the spring of 2011. We will now require all incoming students to take the SSATB exam and fill out the Standard Application online. SSAT (link to website) is a non-profit membership organization whose mission is “to advance and add value to the private school admission process for schools, students, and families”. The SSATB network comprises more than 800 international schools and educational consultants and organizations.
-
BHGHNY held its Graduation Ceremony followed by dinner at McAuley Hall to celebrate the accomplishments of the class of 2011 and some staff members. Click here to read the whole story!
WINTER 2011-2012
January 2012
Film "Journey to Atitlan" Wins AVA Gold Award
On January 13th, BHGHNY Special Projects Coordinator Sam Powers was presented with the AVA Gold Award for exceeding high standards in the media production industry for the film "Journey to Atitlan" produced for BHGHNY. Ava Awards is an international competition that recognizes outstanding work by creative professionals involved in the concept, direction, design and production of media.
BHGHNY ALUMNI GATHER TO ESTABLISH AN ASSOCIATION
On January 10, 2012, a spirited group of BHGHNY alumni gathered with staff for a luncheon and planning meeting. Executive Director, Brad Zervas, led a discussion that was far-ranging in its implications with a specific focus on how BHGHNY could better serve its graduates as they continue in higher education. Additionally, alumni discussed ways in which they could be helpful to current scholars and there was a general consensus that alumni did, in fact, have much to offer.
In creating a more formal BHGHNY Alumni Association-one with a detailed charter to serve, several steps will need to be taken to ensure that we create a platform that is sustainable and one that has as its primary focus the continued support of BHGHNY’s mission.
Both BHGHNY staff and administrators, along with alumni discussed ways to create an atmosphere that would encourage involvement and engagement. Over the course of the next year, and in an effort to formalize an Association that will be sustainable, officers and class agents will need to be appointed; special activities and programs will need to be planned; and a strong relationship with BHGHNY’s Board of Directors will need to be fostered.
There is much for all of us to accomplish in this area and we are hopeful that this represents an important milestone for our organization and for the growing number of alumni who were able to find themselves and their futures while BHGHNY scholars.
If you are a graduate and have not been in contact with us, please make an effort to reach out to us so that we can keep you abreast of BHGHNY Alumni Association related news.
December 2011
Miracle on 125th Street
On December 9th, BHGHNY scholars and staff traveled to Harlem to partner with Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, Mary Lanning in an effort to feed New York's homeless and poor. In the basement of a nearby church, scholars prepared hundreds of meals and decorated bags that were to be stuffed with pastrami sandwiches, fresh fruit and blankets. After hours of preparation, Scholars bundled up to face NYC's winter cold. From a distance, one could see a line stretching an entire city block dotted with people of all ages lining up to receive a meal and supplies for the winter. Scholars spent hours interacting with those individuals patiently waiting for assistance. Under the direction of Sister Lanning, they provided not only meals and blankets, but a holiday warmth and affection that otherwise may have been missing in the lives of the hundreds of people waiting on the corner of 125th street.
FALL 2011
November 2011
Christmas Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center
On November 30th, Scholars traveled with BHGHNY Executive Director Brad Zervas and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, Mary Lanning to partake in one of NYC's most celebrated traditions, the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center. Before departing, scholars had the honor of meeting a group of injured combat veterans from the local branch of the Wounded Warriors Project. After dinner, BHGHNY scholars and staff accompanied the Warriors in a police escort to Rockefeller Center where they were ushered through the droves of people lining the streets near the tree. Once reaching their destination, scholars enjoyed music from some of the most popular musicians of today, including, Justin Bieber. Along with over half a million bystanders, scholars partook in the countdown, viewed around the world, when the lights on the tree in Rockefeller center were switched on to begin the holiday season.
BHGHNY Veterans Day Cooking with Mary Lanning
On November 10th in honor of Veterans Day, BHGHNY Scholars and staff under the direction of Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, Mary Lanning, prepared a meal for the local Fire Department in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn. Preparation for the meal lasted two hours as scholars and staff meticulously prepared Sister Lanning's decadent recipes. After prep time, scholars waited anxiously as the smell of meat loaf and sweet potato filled the room. Scholars then bundled up and walked with staff to FDNY engine house 210 to deliver the freshly prepared meal. In gratitude, the firefighters gave the scholars a tour of the facilities, allowing them to sit in the front seat of the fire engine and listen to stories of battling blazes throughout the city.
OCTOBER 2011
BHGHNY Board of Directors Gather for Planning Retreat
On October 17, 2011, eighteen members of BHGHNY’s Board of Directors gathered for a comprehensive review of the organization’s key financial and programmatic indicators. Joined by members of BHGHNY’s senior leadership team, the planning retreat resulted in a number of important decisions regarding enrollment, expansion, program enhancement and fundraising. Hosted by BHGHNY Trustee Joseph Tarantino, the nearly day-long exercise provided important new insights into the organization’s work and the need to expand its current funding-base. More importantly, it provided all in attendance with ample evidence regarding the need for BHGHNY services and the efficacy of its program model.
In recognizing that BHGHNY remains NYC’s only urban boarding school initiative and that its partnerships with Catherine McAuley High School and Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School have leveraged resources across service-sectors, the Board focused much of its attention on expansion. Additionally, specific steps were taken to create a strategic planning committee, along with the platform needed to facilitate its future efforts.
The day ended with a reception and dinner hosted by BHGHNY Board Chair John Halleron, at the University Club. The Board of Directors was joined by BHGHNY scholars and staff, school leaders and other invited guests. Stay tuned…
Teresa Conlon Celebrates Twenty Years with BHGHNY
This past August, Teresa Conlon celebrated her twentieth anniversary with Boys Hope Girls Hope of New York and to mark this very special occasion, BHGHNY Executive Director, Brad Zervas and BHGHNY Board Chair, John Halleron, presented Teresa with a letter of commendation and small gift at the reception and dinner that followed the Board Planning Retreat on October 17th. In commenting on Teresa’s many contributions over the years, Mr. Zervas spoke about her commitment to excellence, her steadfast belief in the organization’s mission and her willingness to always do the little extra to support further the important work that we are involved in.
In accepting her commendation, Teresa spoke warmly and enthusiastically about her tenure with BHGHNY. She expressed her admiration for the Board of Directors and thanked BHGHNY staff, who she believes is the best ever, for all that they do on behalf of our children.
Teresa stands as an example to us all. Congratulations Teresa!!
A Leap of Faith Down Under
When BHGHNY officials approached then high school senior and scholar Ricardo Mullings with the chance to spend six weeks in Brisbane, Australia last summer, he did not hesitate one bit. In fact, he gave very little consideration to what we were proposing. The prospects of being on the other side of the world with complete strangers did not seem to surface any fear. This was all quite brave of him and his return now reflects a much broader horizon.
Ricardo had signed up to be a tutor at Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie)-one of Brisbane’s and Queensland’s most important and prestigious independent schools. Ricardo had to sign a contract with the school committing to the parameters of his position-it was all very official and exciting.
BHGHNY’s Executive Director, Brad Zervas, has stated that “much of the leap of faith was mitigated through my professional relationship with the school’s Headmaster, Jonathan Hensman-Jonathan is a quality school leader and a quality human being and I knew that Ricardo would be well taken care of.” Nevertheless, for a young man Ricardo’s age and from the rather complicated streets of Brooklyn’s Bedford Stuyvesant, Ricardo’s journey was much further away than the miles traveled. In his own words, "When Mr. Zervas first approached me with this offer, I instantly agreed. This has been an unbelievable experience and I humbly thank BHGHNY and Churchie. The world is becoming even more interconnected and BHGHNY is giving students the chance to experience this directly.”
It was immediately clear to BHGHNY staff that Ricardo’s return was marked by a greater appreciation of the world he currently lives in. He spoke with genuine enthusiasm of the new friends that he had made; of a country that he had never before imagined; of generosity, a commitment to excellence and the belief that there is more that unites us than divides us.
July 2011
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
On July 18th a small team of BHGHNY scholars and staff traveled to Guatemala to partner with our sister affiliate, Esperanza Juvenil. Prior to our departure, there was regular contact between our two organizations and the leadership at each location planned a program that would encourage close contact between our respective scholars along with several opportunities to learn something about the unique history of Guatemala and the current challenges it is facing. As is often the case, unintended consequences surfaced during our journey and while we adjusted to our new surroundings, it became very clear very quickly that our expectations were to be dramatically changed as a result of what we were to eventually encounter.
To better understand what we ultimately were to face, one really does need to understand something about the geopolitical and social restraints that currently has the country nearly paralyzed. The drama that began nearly 500 years ago with the arrival of Spanish Conquistadors is still unfolding in very real and palpable ways. As a developing country, Guatemala is one of the very poorest in the Western Hemisphere and the majority of its population struggles to secure much of what our own scholars take for granted. Public transportation, a transparent judicial system, clean water, electricity, food and education are afforded to few. While there is evidence of genuine wealth, this is the dominion of an elite class of landowners, bankers and corrupt politicians. Guatemala is also a country with important traditions and customs and its Mayan population represents over twenty distinct groups and over 65% of the nation’s citizenry. It is a country of sharp contrasts.
Our initial arrival was punctuated by a parade of small arms and police and private security holding vigilance in front of businesses, banks and on various street corners. Merchants and storekeepers did their business behind a shroud of steel bars, locks and chains—a strange mix of commerce and fear. Having been rocked by civil war and assault on its native population that resulted in the loss of 250,000 lives, it has yet to experience the dawn of its own pending light—a light that could shine brilliantly if the right measure of social justice was exercised.
There are not many tourists in Guatemala City and our group drew guarded stares of curiosity and interest. It made us all feel somewhat vulnerable. After just a half hour walking in the center of the city, we retreated to our hotel—it seemed like the safest thing to do. After inquiring about the City’s general safety, we were repeatedly warned that street crime, both organized and random, had become a significant dilemma for residents. We had very little interest in testing these waters and reminded ourselves that great care would need to be taken when we did venture outside.
For nearly two weeks, our friends from Esperanza Juvenil (EJ) would pick us up in the morning and then bring us to its school. With limited resources and with very modest facilities, the leadership at EJ has created a community of young scholars (some as young as five years old), teachers, counselors and caregivers that have achieved a family paradigm that none of us had ever witnessed before.
Divided into five houses, 75 EJ scholars work together to make sure that their basic needs are met. Older scholars help with the younger ones and while they do experience occasional shortages of supplies and materials, they invent ways to overcome some of their needs and do so with a genuine sense of joy. EJ scholars are resourceful, patient, resilient, eager to learn, and kind. The adults in their lives exhibit these very same qualities. They welcomed us without hesitation. They embraced us. They asked a million questions. They shared their dinner table with us and meals that were simple and modest.
The BHGHNY scholars who joined us for this historic exchange, represent a profile that is consistent throughout the movement. Most of our scholars reside in single parent female-headed households. Most of our scholars receive some form of public assistance and reside in some of the poorest congressional districts in the United States. In short, they live the hard-scrabble lives of our own country’s poor, and as poor as they are, when juxtaposed among children from around the world, they are among some of the planets wealthiest.
Our work at EJ included tutoring and teaching, classes in dance, English and regional cooking. We played soccer, hide and seek, learned schoolyard hand-clapping rituals that all young girls seem to know. We skipped rope, spent two days painting and in between all of this, established strong bonds with the entire EJ family. In fact, were made to feel a part of their family. EJ’s Executive Director, Lucas Pinzon, reminded us all that we were united under a common banner and as Boys Hope Girls Hope Scholars, we should take comfort in knowing that our struggles are not determined or limited by boarders and that sometimes we need to first suffer before we can experience greatness.
Our departure from Guatemala City and our travels to Lake Atitlan gave us the opportunity to broaden our context and to experience some of the country’s natural beauty. We visited Maya villages, hiked through a nature preserve and braved a very fast series of zip-line runs with some over 300 feet above the forest’s canopy. We motored across and around Lake Atitlan-the deepest lake in Central America. We shared insights with one another and discovered in ourselves things that we had yet to experience and conditions that we had yet to consider.
Throughout our travels in Guatemala, we made a special effort to document and chronicle our experiences. As our visit drew to a close, we asked each of our scholars what they had learned and what was they had found to be the most significant lesson(s) realized. To a scholar, they each expressed the need to be more appreciative of the things they had and of those individuals most responsible for their care. They each made a pledge to complain less and to be more thankful. They each pointed to their EJ brothers and sisters and acknowledged that they had much to learn from them.
It’s hard to measure the impact of a trip like this. International travel and exchange for young people is a powerful learning tool. As we know, the distractions here are complicated and it’s easy to forget a lesson leaned weeks and months ago in land so far away. We can though comment on our return—a grateful arrival to that which is most familiar and the recognition that we do indeed have much to be thankful for.
Please watch a documentary film produced by BHGHNY special projects coordinator, Sam Powers chronicling our trip to Guatemala.
June 2011
Our Journey to Atitlan--The Planning Stages
The beginning of every journey is accompanied by excitement, apprehension and a full-measure of wonder. For the six Boys Hope Girls Hope of New York Scholars who are about to embark on their own journey to Guatemala and its almost mythical like region surrounding El Lago de Atitlan, it represents a chance to expand horizons; to meet new friends; to explore a country’s history that is still connected to its Maya past; and to serve others who are less fortunate to no fault of their own.
BHGHNY scholar profiles reflect the needs and aspirations of many of our most vulnerable children. As secondary school age students, the relief, instruction and support that they receive while enrolled in its programs provide the bedrock from which they can build lives that are imbued with dignity and self-respect.
Although BHGHNY’s scholars reside in a city that many would consider to be the world’s most preeminent economic and cultural center, they seldom venture out beyond their immediate boroughs and often live lives that are insulated and isolated. BHGHNY officials believe that international travel and exchange can provide a young person with an expanded context when considering their own lives. As a result, officials from BHGHNY have reached-out to the Boys Hope Girls Hope affiliate in Guatemala to suggest a possible exchange between the two programs and the suggestion was received with great enthusiasm.
Boys Hope Girls Hope of New York scholars and staff are currently preparing for their departure to Guatemala. Their time there will include a comprehensive service-learning project and a legacy initiative to help improve conditions for the Guatemalan youth that they will be working with. They will later travel on to El Lago de Atitlan to explore more deeply the culture and social fabric that defines Guatemala today. As community workers, young writers and reporters, BHGHNY scholars will record their efforts and will return to New York prepared to share their new insights and to illustrate first-hand what the experience meant to each.
BHGHNY is actively seeking the support of area educators, business leaders and others who share in its mission and belief that international travel is and should be an integral feature of a young person’s education and in creating a more inter-dependent and cooperative world.
May 2011:
To simplify and streamline its application process, BHGHNY joined the Secondary School Admissions Testing Board (SSATB) in the spring of 2011. We will now require all incoming students to take the SSATB exam and fill out the Standard Application online. SSAT (link to website) is a non-profit membership organization whose mission is “to advance and add value to the private school admission process for schools, students, and families”. The SSATB network comprises more than 800 international schools and educational consultants and organizations.
-
BHGHNY held its Graduation Ceremony followed by dinner at McAuley Hall to celebrate the accomplishments of the class of 2011 and some staff members. Click here to read the whole story!
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