We measure our short term success in terms of:
- Numbers of new students attending school
- Numbers of students graduating grade six
- More students seeking higher education
- Improved literacy rates
- Increased community involvement in education
- New constructive international friendships
Ultimately, we seek:
- Increased self sufficiency of individuals and
decreased unemployment
- Reduced poverty
- Improved social and economic conditions in affected
local communities
| Our
first students are graduating High School... |
| San Pedro
|
 San
Pedro was the flag-ship school for this program.
It serves the children of field workers who live
on a mountainside just outside Guatemala City.
Thirteen years ago when the school was first built,
the illiteracy rate in the community was almost
100%.
Through our program the school was built and furnished.
Its students were fed and provided with books
and teachers. They flourished and one student
even won a national scholarship.
From its opening when only three students turned
up, the school has grown to serve around 40-50
students at a time. The community and the Guatemalan
government have taken over the funding and management
of this school.
Today our program provides scholarships that allow
thirteen San Pedro’s graduates to continue
their education. This year the first students
will graduate from High School. They have ambitions
to become teachers, lawyers and architects. One
shyly even suggested he would like to be President. |
| A new
school is being constructed currently... |
| Yalchajti
- Coban |
 Yalchacti
is located in the jungle about 45 minutes drive
from Coban. It is off the highway, 8km down a
washboard gravel road and a two-rut track. The
area is home to non-Spanish speaking indigenous
people. Poverty is reputed to be greater than
in Haiti. Illiteracy officially exceeds 43%.
Today, construction is well underway to build
a new four room school The current school can
only accommodate about half of the students wishing
to attend. Given that most people in the community
lack mechanized transport, access to more distant
schools was difficult; moreover, there was little
likelihood that other schools in the area would
be able to handle an influx of students from Yalchajti. |
| Young
people have been helping build schools and new
relationships... |
| Building
Goodwill |
 Every second year for the past 8 years, St. Andrew's United Church Youth Group of Winnipeg, headed by Kim Hannam, has visited the students of San Pedro School.
This was the first school funded by Kim and this year (2008) it is being upgraded. A Kindergarten and library will also be added.
Since their inaugural trip during spring break in 2003, St. Andrew’s River Heights United Church Youth group, headed by Rev. Janet Walker, Kim Hannam and Jeff Ward, have visited the students of San Pedro School every two years. A kindergarten and library will also be added.
Approximately 13 students go on each trip. They assist in the construction of new schools, meet students, learn about the Guatemalan culture and share their Canadian experience with the Guatemalans. Between 10 to 20 youth go on each trip. They assist in construction of new schools, build lasting relationships with the Guatemalan children and communities and look for opportunities to grow their faith by serving God and others.
The Youth Group raises funds to support school projects in Guatemala in partnership with the Ripple Effect Program. The group donates upwards of $15,000 each year and during travel years they raise additional funds to offset travel costs. Fundraising is done primarily through the selling of Christmas wreaths and swags, an annual spaghetti dinner and rent-a-youth work projects.
The support of this group of young Canadians has extended to three more schools; the Pezzarossi School in Escuintla, Santa Cruz School and Las Victorias School in Mexico, where their Church contributed $60,000 toward the building on a new School.
The next trip planned for the St. Andrew’s River Heights United Church Youth Group is in March 2009 when they will assist with the building of another school in partnership with the Ripple Effect Program.
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To date, we have touched over 6,000 children's lives; assisting more than 30 schools. |
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