Jane Garcia
jane.antigua@gmail.com
Jane Garcia is an official Inguat Guide specializing in historical Antigua and in both antique and modern Mayan weavings. She moved from Great Britain to Guatemala eight years ago and is married to Niños del Lago board member Alfredo Garcia. The couple have two children.

Since moving to Guatemala Jane has grown to intimately understand the local traditions, customs, and current way of life. Jane's personal desire to share her knowledge and experience of the culture of Guatemala is what inspired her to become a certified, nationally recognized guide (Inguat).

We feel fortunate that Jane has joined Niños del Lago Travel. She is guiding tour groups throughout Colonial Antigua and further on to Chichicastenango where her knowledge of textiles and folkloric art greatly enriches each tour experience.

Ana-Maria Ackermans
www.stichtinglosninos.nl
In July, 2001, after 17 years working for a major insurance company in Holland, Ana-Maria Ackermans, departed from the Netherlands to
search for new challenges. After exploring Latin America, she arrived in Antigua, Guatemala. That November she was introduced to a fellow Dutch woman. The two became instant friends as they discovered shared goals and ideals. They set out to work with open hearts and focused plans, and as a result the projects they have supported are many and varied, the majority focusing on education which both women believe is the key to the future of Guatemala's impoverished children. Ana-Marie has also worked at Foster Parents Plan in Ecuador where she accompanied foster parents to visit their foster children.

Today, just 5 years later, the largest project they support in Guatemala, Bendicion de Dios, is a private school with a carpentry workshop and library. Located in the village of Alotenango this wonderful project schools and nourishes 285 impoverished children. We are so pleased that Ana-Maria is willing to volunteer her time and guide our group on a short ride via chicken bus to visit the school in Alotenango. Full of passion and energy, Ana-Maria has won the hearts of the Guatemalan people and this tour to Alotenango might win yours.

Arlaine Cervantes
ArlaineC@ninosdellago.org
Since 1986, Arlaine Cervantes, an American, has been living and working in La Paz, BCS Mexico.
In 1990, she visited Guatemala for the first time and instantly fell in love with the country and its people. Inspired, Arlaine began to study the social and political history of the region. Since 1990, Arlaine has returned nearly every year to Guatemala, and in 2003, supported by friends, Arlaine founded Niños del Lago - Guatemala.

Niños del Lago is a camp facility currently under construction, located in a beautiful, natural forest on the southern canyon edge overlooking Lake Atitlan. The Niños del Lago project will benefit thousands of impoverished Guatemalan children in the near future. Arlaine has passionately pursued the dream of Niños del Lago and many people sharing her vision have joined the organization and have generously offered their skills and talents. It is projected that Niños del Lago will receive the first group of 108 children campers in the fall of 2008. In 2007, Arlaine plans to establish her year-round home in Panajachel by Lake Atitlan.

Insight tours were another inspiration. In 2003 Arlaine began inviting friends to join her on small group tours of the Guatemalan Highlands. The tours were so successful that Arlaine realized touring could be offered to the general public as a way of generating funds to support development of Niños del Lago. Now, in 2007, the way has been provided whereby 'tourists' may experience the beauty and grandeur of Guatemala while, at the same time (and at no extra cost) make a large tax-deductible IRS contribution to Niños del Lago. In Arlaine's own words...