Education for 400 children in Guatemala

Guatemala is still struggling to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic with cases remaining stubbornly high and hospitals close to breaking point. Limited testing, a slow vaccine roll-out and fragmented adherence to safety protocols compound the problems already faced in the country, especially in rural areas.

Our fifty secondary school and college scholarship students from six different communities around Lake Atitlán continue to learn from home with no classroom-based teaching during the first half of the year. They have been unable to receive virtual classes due to lack of internet so walk to the school regularly to pick up and drop off homework. Due to their parents’ literacy capabilities being limited to none, especially in further education, these visits are their only opportunity to ask questions. Teachers are due to start being vaccinated over the next few weeks so it is hoped that some degree of group learning will be allowed in the second half of the year and final exams.

The sewing business we implemented last year continues to be a success and we have added more single mothers over the past few months, including mothers of the recipients of our scholarships. We even have some elderly members of the community keen to learn new techniques to be able to generate their own income.

This year’s GlobalGiving Bonus Day will be celebrated is on 14th July where donations between $100 and $1,000 will be matched at varying levels whilst funds remain from 9am Eastern Time. The following matching structure will apply:

Donations of $100 - $499 will be matched at 15%

Donations of $500 - $749 will be matched at 30%

Donations of $750 - $1,000 will be matched at 50%

With fundraising events having been put on hold for the past year and half this is a fantastic way to help us raise the extra funds we need to keep the projects and education going in all our countries. If you can, please do donate early from 9am ET on 14^th July to take advantage of the matching bonusses as the extra funds tend to go quite quickly and thank you so much in advance!

We are also looking for partnerships with businesses as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility programs as we look to implement more sustainable income plans in all our communities over the coming years. If you know of a company looking to expand their own CSR program and wanting to support projects in Latin America, please do email me on info@thephoenixprojects.org By using the tax benefits for all US taxpaying companies by donating through GlobalGiving it is a CSR program which is beneficial to all parties, especially if the donation is made on the July 14^th Bonus Day!

Thanks again for all your support and all the best for the second half of 2021

Cheers

Links:

• Corporate Social Responsibility

I hope all is well. The Covid-19 pandemic still rages in Latin America though vaccination programmes are beginning to be rolled out with front-line health workers slated to be the first recipients. Many restrictions are still in place and full-time classroom-based teaching is still some way off. 

We have given out fifty secondary school and college scholarships for students from four different communities at the lake in Guatemala. Due to lack of internet at home the school will be open a couple of days a week for the students to receive brief teaching sessions and homework. Due to the geography of the lake and the school many of our students have to walk long distances each way to study though they are well aware of the importance of an education, especially in a country where competition for employment is extremely high and dependent on levels of education. This is why we intend to concentrate on secondary and college education over the next few years. By implementing family sustainable plans (see below) they can then cover University costs themselves.

We are expanding the sewing project to include many more mothers this year to help them generate income for their fledgling families. The majority of the mothers are young and single without education so giving them this opportunity to generate some household income is paramount. Other mothers have several children to feed and clothe so this sustainable plan really does help.  

This week – Monday 8^th to Friday 12^th March - GlobalGiving are 50% matching all small individual donations from $10 to $50 as part of their Little By Little Campaign. We want to take this opportunity to add one of each of all our sustainable plans with your 50% matched donation going towards the total cost of setting up each plan. These plans will then provide sustainable income for the local families and the schools well into the future. 

Many of you were extremely generous in the recent Appeal so we understand if this isn't possible right now though if you do have some spare change rattling around please do donate to this page to help us take full advantage of this fantastic matching campaign.  

Please note, the matching will only be applied once per person though feel free to share this with friends, family and work colleagues and club together to fund your own plan. 

The amounts shown below are the total costs of each plan to give you an idea of how your 50% matched donation plays a vital part. For example it could be used for seeds or piping in Plan Huerto (vegetable gardens – the total cost is $200 with rain-capture irrigation and poly-tunnels); chicks or feed for Plan Pollo (chickens - $200 including coop and feed); gas or hobs for an industrial stove in Plan Negocio (cottage industries from $250) or needles, thread and materials in Plan Costura (sewing machines - $250). 

Despite Covid restrictions being lifted slowly this year the thought of international travel is still far from many people's plans though when that itch demands to be scratched it would be brilliant if you could join our Charity Challenges in Perú and Ecuador in 2022.

The dates for the Inca Trail in Perú are Saturday 21st to Saturday 28th May with the itinerary for Ecuador still to be confirmed. There is still plenty of time to decide though feel free to get in touch on info@thephoenixprojects.org

Thank you all for your amazing support as ever and have a great March.

Cheers

Links:

• Charity Challenges Peru and Ecuador 2022
• Sustainable Income Plans