There are many things you learn when you build a library at a girl’s orphanage in a remote part of Guatemala. The first is that it is not easy to drill into cement. The second is the unimaginable joy of delivering books to girls who have not had the pleasure of accessing them. The Novica team experienced this firsthand during one of the most gratifying Happiness Projects to date. The journey there took months to coordinate, thanks to generous individuals who donated their time, money and books, and an incredible group of young women who touch the lives of everyone they meet.
To arrive at El Hogar Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios, you must traverse a treacherous mountain pass where visitors often don’t go. The orphanage houses around 110 girls between the ages of two and 21, who have been referred by the courts for domestic violence, physical and psychological abuse, incest, rape or neglect. Under the tutelage of benevolent nuns — and Chicago artist Clare Kunkel, who began working with the girls in 2007 to help provide a means by which to support themselves — many of the young graduates of the orphanage become jewelry artisans in their own right, channeling their creativity into gorgeous works of silver, gemstones and leather to support the orphanage.
This past year, Ana Luiza Milk, daughter of Novica founders Roberto and Milena, launched a club at her high school, called Thrive Beyond Borders, to teach English to the Jalapa Girl Jewelsmiths over Zoom. This essential skill opens up a world of opportunities that might otherwise not be available. It soon blossomed into a Kickstarter to raise money to support the orphanage and build a library where the girls could access books, a scarce resource for young Guatemalan women in their situation. The Kickstarter was wildly successful — with donations and well-wishes pouring in. Even celebrities Selena Gomez and B.J. Novak helped spread the word. Once the Kickstarter was finished, Novica matched all the funds raised.
So, in April 2022, Ana Luiza, Roberto, Milena and their entire family set out for Guatemala, loaded down with suitcases of donated clothing for the girls. There, they met up with members of Novica’s Central America team, along with many local artisans who also generously donated time and many more books to El Hogar.
That’s when the physical labor began. Everyone got down to work, clearing a storeroom to make space for the new library. Novica team members picked up the tools at hand and began the intensive process of building. Milena wielded a drill, whose bit smoked as it bored holes into the cement for the bookshelves. Tita, Alejandra and other members of the team focused on every small detail to create a warm and inviting place in which to read and learn. It was amazing to watch the transformation of that storage space into a beautiful library full of books. But it was even more inspiring to see the faces of the girls as they perused the shelves for the first time, excited to begin an incredible new journey into the rich world of literature. |
