Change a Life: School Sponsorship

Can you imagine not being able to send your child to school?  School is something we take for granted – but is not a given in many parts of the world.  I have been asked many times what I think will lift Guatemala out of poverty.  Education.  It is simple, children will have a much better chance of breaking the cycle of poverty the more choices they have in life.  They will be more confident and able to seize opportunities.  Each year of schooling allows for more choices.

Though education is supposed to be free – it truly isn’t.  There is an enrollment fee and other essential items needed.  For many families, the cost is prohibitive when you can’t even feed your children – or only make $20-50 a month.  There are many families that value it & hope for the chance for their children.  I have heard about a family that sent one child on certain days and the second child on the other days.  The reason they both couldn’t attend at the same time is that they only had 1 pair of shoes – and that was a requirement for going to school. 

What is amazing is an elementary child can be sponsored for school for just $180 a year.  This fee covers:

·         The enrollment fee,

·         School uniform,

·         Backpack,

·         School Supplies,

·         School Shoes & Sports Shoes,

·         T-shirt & shorts for gym.

To think, this $180 divided across 12 months is just $15 a month – or 4 specialty coffees a month – or less than one fast food meal for a family of 4 per month.  Quite amazing… 

A basico education (7^th-9^th grades) costs $380, and a diversificado education (10^th-12^th) costs $480.  Families can even co-sponsor a child together…

What I love is that with our partner non-profit, Mayan Families, you get updates on your sponsored child.  Mayan Families is all encompassing and trying to help the family survive.  I have just been going through and viewing all of the pictures of the children receiving their school supplies – what strikes me are the smiles.  http://picasaweb.google.com/mayanfamilies.  School signifies hope.

School is starting right now.  The year goes from January to October.  Historically, it has to do with the fact that coffee is harvested in November & December – so that was the school break.  There are over 1,600 students already sponsored, but there are still more that would love the opportunity to attend school.

Two are listed below….  If you are interested, please let me know and I will be glad to help you set it up.  And there are many more children like these two…  I will post more in a few days – or just contact me if you are interested in hearing about other children.

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Student #1667 Name: Lina Sucely Status: Needs Sponsor School Level: Elementary School Sponsorship Fee: $180

Lina Sucely is 6 years old.  She will be in first grade in 2011. She lives with her father, Jorge 36yrs old and her mother,Maria, is 40yrs old. She has two sisters: Wendy is 12 yrs old. She is studying Gricelda Noemi (student #497) was born on November 26, 2000. In Jan. 2011 she will be going into 3rd grade. The father works as a day laborer which means that he takes whatever work is available. He earns $33 US per week. The father is the only one working to cover all the costs that they have but what he earns is not enough to cover all that they need. They own their house. It is made of cement block. The roof is tin sheeting and the floor is cement. They have three rooms and a small kitchen. They do not have an onil stove. They do not have a water filter. They have a pila. They have two beds. They have one closet. They have water connected. They have electricity connected and pay $12 US per month.

Student #1676Name: Andres Status: Needs Sponsor School Level: Elementary School Sponsorship Fee: $180 <><> <> <><> <> Andres will be in elementary school in 2011. He lives in Panajachel with his mother and father and five siblings. His father does not have a job. Sometimes his mother sells handicrafts, when she does that she earns $4 U.S. a day but this is not regular work and she is lucky when she can sell things.  It is difficult for this family to be able to afford to send their children to school. Andres has 4 brothers and 1 sister. They are: Miguel 19yrs old is working as a builders assistant. What he earns is just enough to buy his own clothes and pay his transport costs, he is able to give his parents a very small amount. Tiburcio is 17yrs old and is working as a waiter in a restaurant. He earns very little. Manuel is 13yrs old and was not able to continue studying for lack of finances. He is working with his brother in a restaurant. Marvin is 12yrs old and also was not able to continue studying. He helps his mother around the house, washing clothes, going to the mill to grind the corn, taking his father lunch etc. Marta Cristina (student #163) was born on July 27, 2000.  She is in 5th grade in 2011. A one year old brother. They do not own their own house,. They rent a house. The house has three rooms. They have electricity. They do not have filtered water. They have one bed. They do not have a closet. They  keep their clothes in a cardboard box. They do not have a pila. (concrete sink) They do not have a stove. They would like one. They need help with food. They do  not have enough food right now because her father is not working and the mother does not make very much money.