The new academic year begins in January in Guatemala, so our staff has been busy distributing supplies in advance of the first day of school. Common Hope makes a celebration of it, with activities, raffles, and skits. Our first school supply fair was held in Antigua on January 8. Another was held in New Hope on January 15, and a third will be held in San Rafael on January 22.

Handing out supplies and some fun, too
On January 8, families arrived at the Antigua site as early as 6:30 a.m., eagerly waiting outside for our doors to open. More than 1,603 bags full of school supplies were handed out to students that day. In addition, the library hosted reading promotion activities, donated goods were raffled off to families, and the education promoters put on a skit, dressed up as school supplies like crayons and scissors. The performance was meant to entertain families but also to increase awareness on the importance of attending school regularly and taking care of school supplies.

From modeling clay to scientific calculators
The school supply bags were personalized with the specific materials that each student needed according to his/her grade. Kindergarten bags included colorful modeling clay, while high school bags included scientific calculators. In addition, school uniforms, black shoes and tennis shoes were distributed, because many schools mandate uniforms but do not provide them.

Common Hope staff and volunteers worked hard to create a special day for families and to ensure that each student had all the supplies they needed for this new academic year.

We look forward to some exciting plans for 2012. Our biggest resolution: expand our school partner initiative into two new schools, bringing our total partner schools to six. One school is the afternoon program in San Miguel Escobar, where we already partner with the morning school. The second school is in San Cristobal el Bajo, a community where we have many sponsored students but where we will be introducing our education promoters for the first time.

San Miguel Escobar Vespertina
Like the morning school in San Miguel Escobar, the afternoon school has a very large student body — 600 students — that will benefit greatly from the extra classroom support. By partnering with a second school in this community, we will be able to share and leverage staff, resources, and facilities, including the homework center space that we have already rented for the morning school.

San Cristobal el Bajo
San Cristobal is a small village that is close to our Antigua family development center. The community still has great need — many more children and families could use the support of Common Hope. The school is very eager to partner with us, and they have a long-standing principal who is a strong leader and will be a great facilitator of the education promoters’ efforts in the school.

Hitting the ground running
This month, our education promoters have a full to-do list to lay the groundwork for the new school year. All schools will be in session by the end of January. One item on the to-do list is to review the school’s strategic plans with the faculty and staff to re-energize them around their goals for the year. Another task for the promoters is to share the results of last year’s standardized tests, so schools have a clear sense of how students did in 2011 and to provide a gauge for their work in 2012.

Common Hope was very fortunate to be chosen as a beneficiary of the Best Buy employee art fair this holiday season. This is only the second time in 15 years that a charity besides the Best Buy Children’s Foundation was chosen.

Education that paid off in overwhelming support
The Best Buy volunteers did a great job of raising awareness about Common Hope during the silent auction period, creating informational materials to display at the sale, playing a video about Common Hope, and staffing a table to speak personally about Common Hope’s work.

Their education paid off — an overwhelming percentage of winning bids went to Common Hope. Not only that, the fair had a record number of pieces this year and an all-time high
return. Says Best Buy team member Jodi Hoffman, “I really attribute the success to the level of engagement of the Vision Teams, from planning to execution.”

Thanks to the Best Buy leadership
The team’s work would not be possible without the support of Best Buy’s leadership. Says Jodi, “The team is grateful that Best Buy has given us the opportunity to participate and to travel. My leadership has graciously supported our efforts and will continue to as we travel.”

A chance to stretch themselves, share their passion
When asked what Best Buy’s involvement with Common Hope brings, Jodi says, “We have all stretched ourselves beyond our normal capabilities and achieved things that we weren’t sure we could. Each of my team members created a piece of art for the auction and many of us never considered ourselves artists or even creative. We have a passion for Common Hope’s work and are not shy about sharing that in our individual ways.”

Follow the Best Buy teams
Two Vision Teams from Best Buy will travel to Guatemala this year. The first will be in Guatemala from February 4-11, the second from March 24-31. To follow their trips, visit the Vision Team photo diary throughout those weeks.

The gift catalog is the perfect way to celebrate the blessings in our lives by sharing with those in need. Honor your friends and family by making a gift in their name to someone living in poverty.

Visit our gift catalog here

Please join us for our annual holiday open house on Tues., Dec. 6th from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Whether you stop by just to say hello, browse our Guatemalan market, or share in holiday cheer, we will welcome you, and your friends, with open arms. Hot cider, coffee, treats and good news from Guatemala will be served!

Directions to our office.

Out of 3,978 nonprofits, many much bigger than us, it’s pretty remarkable to come in 11th during Give to the Max Day. You launched us right up there with the big guys. Thank you for believing in Common Hope.

Para leer en español, haga click aqui.

This November, we celebrate the graduation of 66 high school students who have worked so hard to reach this milestone. Among them is our 1,000th high school graduate. In addition, we celebrate our first female student to graduate from medical school. On November 4th, Marianela Pec Garcia graduated from the University of San Carlos medical school as an obstetrician.

We featured Marianela in our eNews two years ago, when she had just begun her residency. At that time, she wrote to her sponsors to tell them about the experience.

I have almost realized my goal of becoming a doctor. … I have already attended my rounds, and it was such a beautiful experience to witness the birth of a new being that will one day be a grown adult, only I am very tired and there are times when we do not sleep while on our rounds. In any case, it is no great sacrifice in comparison to the experience of witnessing a new life being born.

Marianela is the eldest of six siblings. Her mother, a primary school teacher, and her father, a waiter, have clearly stressed the importance of education. All of her siblings presently attend school or hold professional degrees. Yet Marianela’s family has endured a number of adversities along the way, particularly health-related. Social worker Don Gumer remembers that ever since she was little, Mariela has shown a keen interest in medicine. She was always happy to take care of her parents and siblings when they were sick.

During her graduation ceremony, Marianela acknowledged the support of her family, her sponsors and Common Hope for making her dreams true. She said that thanks to the support of Common Hope and her sponsors she is now a medical doctor, and that she will serve as a role model for her siblings and other children living in vulnerable communities.

Two years ago, Marianela wrote about the difference her sponsors made:

Today I know that there are good people out there like yourselves that create change in the future even in the face of a society that is ailing, that no matter the circumstances, we can change what is happening in our lives and our country.

Congratulations to Marianela and all of the graduates of 2011. And a special thanks to all of you who helped them get there.

Success! All 17 students who are SO close to the finish line now have sponsors, thanks to you. These juniors and seniors are working toward graduation in 2012 and 2013, but they face incredible odds. Now, they each have a sponsor to provide the moral and financial support to get that last inch of the way. Many thanks to all of you who donated, sponsored, spread the word, or otherwise lent your support.

Below, several sponsors share why they signed on to this cause.

My daughter and I share a strong belief in the importance of education and a vision for a future world devoid of poverty. Sponsoring a young man who is working hard to complete his high school education provides us with a wonderful opportunity to take action on these values. Common Hope also gives us the chance to share the satisfaction of contributing to its mission. ––Kathy Paden and Kendra Thornbury

We were going through a grieving process the past few months after our sponsored child left the program due to needing to work to support his family. We knew we wanted to sponsor another child but just didn’t feel ready to make a decision as to which specific child until we saw your So Close campaign. Instantly we felt compelled to sponsor one of these high school students and knew God was telling us this was what we had been waiting for and the decision was made. –Mary and Pete Budner

One of the reasons I considered sponsoring one of the “almost there” kids is that these young adults have already proven themselves. They really are already winners. All they are asking for is a little support in their sprint to the finish line. When I sponsor a student, I am making an investment. The investment is first and foremost in the student, secondarily in their family and finally it is an investment in the future of Guatemala. Kedwin, or Alex as he is known, has his sights set on University. Way to go Alex!! To sponsor one of these “almost there” kids is really a small investment with big returns. I couldn’t say no. —Sandy Field

We chose Oseas because what he had written moved us. He is studying accounting, which is Bill’s field. In addition, he is the only son of a tailor—Suzanne’s grandfather was a tailor and her father learned the trade. Her father chose not to pursue that career, but he did make a coat for his first granddaughter. There seemed to be a connection and someone that we could truly help. —Bill and Suzanne Knopf

I love Common Hope and love what you do.  I have a six-year-old son that I would like to take to Guatemala someday and this seemed like a great way to get us down there when she graduates in a couple years.  I am an educator and really believe in the work that you do.  I feel useless in the world and Common Hope gives me a real tangible way to help others in need. —Marcia Kochel

After sponsoring other children over the past 20+ years and visiting the center in Antigua, we totally support the work that Common Hope is doing.  We have been meaning to “adopt” another child at Common Hope and this request via e-mail was compelling.  It’s sad to think that a child in high school would have to drop out due to lack of finances.  Ronald looks like he is a serious student and we would like to support that. —Lynn and Fred Engman

I saw the So Close campaign on Facebook and dismissed it thinking “Eh,we have four children already (including my third grade class’s boy). The next day, we  received a letter from Common Hope saying that Johana is graduating in November. BAM, it made sense to us to turn our sponsorship over to another high schooler, especially because they urgently need our prayers, support, and good wishes. Maybe Mario has never been sponsored before or his sponsor had to end the support. It would be nice to graduate  knowing a stranger cared. —Betty Kowalski

I sponsored Rene because he is so close to success so I wanted to ensure he makes it to the finish line. I an sponsoring six kids because I can do it and why not. —Patrick Walters

I was inspired to sponsor Oliver for a couple of reasons. First of all, I have a 16-year-old son, so I suppose I feel that I relate to boys of that age. It also struck me that he had never had a sponsor. I think that the teenage years are tough for any child, but for children with such extreme poverty, it has to be so much more difficult. I would hate to see someone so close to finishing his education have to drop out of school solely because his family couldn’t afford it. That would be a huge travesty, and anything we, who have so much, could do to help prevent that situation would be worth it.  My wish is that he is encouraged to stay in school and continue his education so he will have the hope of a better life.  —Evelyn Bailey

When the plea came out for the fall campaign, I asked a group of fellow teachers at Union Mill if they would consider sponsoring a kid. We decided to choose Adasila because we are all educators, and we want to give encouragement to a young person wanting to enter the teaching profession.  —Sara Kennedy and the Union Mill Elementary School Teachers

I chose to sponsor Edgar so I could help give him the same advantages I have been given. I’m a student at Oberlin College, and I have struggled to justify staying in school when there are so many injustices to go fight instead. But I love it here so much, and I’ve come to the conclusion that school is worth my time and my parents’ money—I am broadening my horizons and engaging with issues I’m passionate about so that I can effect change here and abroad. I saw that Edgar was at risk of leaving school, too, and I wanted to give him the same encouragement that I have had to stay. I want the doors that education opens to be thrown wide for both of us.  —Griff Radulski

We decided to sponsor Joseline for the following reasons:  Her smile in the photograph, being first-time sponsors who wanted to help someone finish high school, and the fact that it is a limited initial sponsorship that will 1-2 years versus many. —Mark and Kathleen Foresman

We wanted to sponsor a couple kids that could use that extra support as they neared graduation. Becky had visited Common Hope in Antigua and was inspired to extend our level of sponsorship to two more kids. When we are there, it is all the more evident how important even a high school education is in determining a person’s future. We are committed to sponsoring the students through university if they pursue this track. ––Rand and Becky Stolee 

We decided to sponsor an older child for a few reasons. Most important, we felt that it is crucial, given the current economic situation around the world, that young men and women finish their high school studies and go on to become not only self-reliant but also contributors to the future economic success of Guatemala. These young high school students must have the opportunity to provide a better future for themselves and their families, and in turn they will be part of the greater solution of worldwide ecomonic stability and growth so urgently needed today. ––Liz and Robert Backie

Special thanks to all 17 sponsors who committed to the cause, including Carol Wood and another anonymous sponsor. Thanks as well to the sponsors above who shared their stories.

by Mariah Quinn Duffy, library volunteer

en español

The newly renovated library has opened its doors to a host of new activities to promote reading and literacy. Mariah Quinn Duffy, library volunteer, describes a new initiative she has been helping lead, called Passport to Reading.

On a recent trip to Guatemala, executive director Shari Blindt donated several packs of brightly colored pencils and asked that they be distributed to children in the library. The library staff created a crossword puzzle about animals and announced that all library visitors who completed the crossword could earn a pencil. To our surprise, 50 children participated in the activity! And the library’s regular visitors were soon clamoring for more activities.

To capitalize on this enthusiasm, the library launched the Passport to Reading Initiative. The activities aim to encourage kids to explore new books, to read carefully and critically, and to discover new ways of having fun while learning.

Homework that’s fun

Each week, visitors to the library are invited to participate in a new activity, ranging from crossword puzzles to reading comprehension quizzes to math puzzles. This week, we’re working on writing our own Corduroy story. Each completed activity earns the children a stamp in their passport. The children’s enthusiasm for these activities is really quite incredible, especially considering that the worksheets are rather like homework!

What children like best about the library

Each traveler is given a “souvenir folder” to store their passport and worksheets. We ask the children to decorate their folder by sharing what they like best about the library. Some say they come for “the many beautiful books,” others because they “learn a lot and have fun.” Claudia explained that she likes to read because it helps her to have a big imagination.

Favorite games in the library include Bingo, puzzles, Bananagrams, and crossword puzzles. We also asked the children what they wished they knew more about: Reyna is interested in flowers, Carlos enjoys ghost stories, and Luis, an aspiring doctor, looks forward to learning more about the human body.

Sharing interests, impressions, and aspirations

The Passport to Reading Initiative began as a means of encouraging children to engage in enriching play and to think critically when reading. However, through these activities, the children are also able to share about their own lives, interests, and impressions.

We recently learned, for example, that Emelin hopes to be a veterinarian, while Dani aspires to be an artist. We learned that if Leidy could travel anywhere in the world, she would like to visit a place where there are monkeys like Curious George. After explaining that Curious George is happy when he reunites with the Man with the Big Yellow Hat, Reyna shared that she is happy when her father brings home oranges. Kelly dreams of visiting her sponsor in the United States, José Luis is happy when he earns good grades, and a Mirsa is happy just being in the library.

For more photos of children and families enjoying the library and books, click here.

Though we are close to the end of the rainy season, the rains have been very heavy over the last week in Guatemala, and more rain is expected for the weekend. Should there be any major issues or damage in the areas where our families live, we will post updates on Facebook and our website. Please keep Guatemala in your thoughts and prayers.

According to the tropical storm alert map below, from CONRED (The National Coordinator for the Reduction of Disasters in Guatemala), the departments of Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, Escuintla, Huehuetenango, Jutiapa, Quiché, Santa Rosa y Suchitepéquez are in the Red Alert zone for Tropical Depression 12-E. Most of Common Hope’s families live in the department of Sacatapéquez.