Casa Xelajú Donates Computer Equipment for an Electronic Library

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. July 24, 2008.

Casa Xelajú recently donated 14 new computers, a network switch, and the hardware (dish and modem) for an internet connection to Cantón Francisco Vela's Community Development Council (COCODE).  With this donation, COCODE will be able to create an electronic library benefitting the approximately 3,000 rural inhabitants of Cantón Vela.

Representatives of COCODE and Casa Xelajú met in Quetzaltenango. Photo by Jaime Fernandez

A short ceremony in honor of the equipment donation was held in the main office of Casa Xelajú and included the participation of Julio E. Batres, Casa Xelajú's general director, Lourdes Xicará, the academic director, Jaime Fernandez, Casa Xelajú's accountant, and seven members of the Cantón Vela community. On behalf of Casa Xelajú, Lourdes Xicará, the academic director, officially gave the computers and other electronic hardware to the COCODE.

Mr. Batres emphasized the importance of this donation to the continued social goals of Casa Xelajú, stating during the ceremony that the donation was "part of Casa Xelajú's philosophy of social responsibility" and that its purpose was to "help struggling communities in the country." He continued by noting that "this equipment will help children and teens to improve their educational knowledge in computer science, which will translate into better opportunities for finding higher paying jobs in the national market."

Julio E. Batres has an especially strong link to this particular community because he was, in fact, born in Cantón Vela and spent his youth in the area, developing his connection to social activism in that part of Guatemala.

One of the seven members of Cantón Vela’s COCODE delegation said that this donation will create "a positive change in the life of Cantón Vela and other small communities in the area" as people learn to effectively use the equipment and gain access to vast supplies of electronic information. The members of COCODE who came to Xela to receive the donation included Herman, the group's president, Eleazar Batres, Hugo Batres, and Karen Batres.

The electronic library (above) will create new opportunities for the community of Cantón Vela.