Local students Skype with Guatemalan children

CROWN POINT | Students at St. Mary Catholic Community School were treated to a unique educational experience Oct. 25. They communicated via Skype with children in who live at an orphanage in Guatemala.

For several years, students at St. Mary's have supported Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (Our Little Brothers and Sisters) Orphanage through a variety of efforts.

The Skype connection was made possible thanks to  Jeanne Anderson, who was spending the week at the NPH orphanage with the Rev. Pat Kalich, paster of St. Mary Church, and a work group from St. Mary's.

Skype allowed the children to not only speak to one another, but also to see each other via video screen. The children asked each other many questions about food, weather, sports, school, favorite activities and more.

Several missionaries, young people who have devoted a year or more of their lives to the children of the orphanage, also spoke to the St. Mary's students. These inspiring young people may have planted seeds that eventually lead some of the St. Mary's students to make a similar journey.

"The face to face experience allowed the St. Mary's students to appreciate in a deeper way, the importance of helping others, especially their friends in Guatemala," said Principal Tom Ruiz.