Education & food for 500 children in Guatemala

As we come close to US Mother's Day on May 12, we are focusing on supporting our Moms in Guatemala!

Ex-volunteer Lisa Bailey brought four friends with her to Guatemala this week, her third visit, to run our very first Breast Health Workshop in Santa Maria.

Lisa, a specialist in breast cancer surgery and prevention at the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center in California, gave the first ever workshop on Breast Health to more than 80 Mothers in Santa Maria. The community was really interested and the talk was given in Spanish and Kaqchikel to ensure everyone understood the information that was being provided. The workshop covered the importance of breast health and how to check and monitor breast health and included the opportunity for a health check from one of the team.

We also launched Plan Iron Woman this week with the same team, distributing seeds of iron-rich vegetables. The plan is specifically aimed at expectant mothers and young mothers to improve nutrition in a child’s first 1000 days of life, the time deemed most important for a child's development.

We are part of GlobalGiving's Mother's Day campaign this year, celebrating Moms in the US and Guatemala through one gift. If you would like to support Mom's in Guatemala, whilst gifting your Mom a handmade scarf and set of worry dolls then please take a look at our gift:

http://www.globalgiving.org/dy/v2/gifts-for-good/detail.html?projectGift.id=124

Thank you

Links:

• US Mother's Day Gifts
• Latest News
• Our website

Thanks to the continued support in the past, present and future, of you our donors, our 10 locally paid teachers worked hard to produce amazing results in our school in Itzapa, of over 200 indigenous children. What is even more special about these results is that many of our teachers came through the ranks of our school since the start back in 2002 and we helped them through teaching college to get where they are today, teaching their fellow community, thanks to donations.

Over all the subjects, including Spanish, Kaqchikel, English, maths, sciences, dance and theatre and PE the averages were very good; kinder: 77%, 1st grade: 84%, 2nd grade: 79%, 3rd grade (photo of José Angel – his class has 38 students): 80%, 4th grade: 71%, 5th grade: 77% and 6th grade: 79%. One must bear in mind that 4th grade is a huge step up from third grade, so an average of 71% is very respectable.

The fact that the school exists at all is a huge pat on the back for you, our donors, and we thankyou now and in the future for your continued support - cheers

Links:

• Latest news from Guatemala

Global Giving’s first bonus day of the year starts NOW, 9am EST!

Global Giving are matching donations at 30% from right now! There is $50,000 available in matching so if you would like to donate to the project plans below for 2013 please so do now so we can benefit from the extra donation!

As I mentioned in my last report, schools are open, offering excellent education from our 11 teachers and food and fruit thanks to our generous donors. These weeks become more nerve-wracking for our children as we get closer to their first round of exams.  Classes are focusing on revision and exam preparation for all the children but there is always time for fun!

This year, we want to keep our doors open, build more classrooms, a football field for the children to play in Itzapa and continue our food and fruit plan. All of this can be done thanks to our generous donations so please, consider a donation today and let us benefit from a further 30% on top of your donation COMPLETELY FREE!

Don't delay, donate now!

Thank you.

Hi there!

This Wednesday, get ready for an exciting way to make your donation BIG. Keep an eye on your emails on Wednesday morning for an announcement on how to make your donation grow!

Last month was Carnival here in Guatemala and celebrated in traditional style in Itzapa, confetti thrown absolutely everywhere! At 8am the battle started and lasted for four hours followed by snacks including hot dogs for everyone! Of course, after the festivities only lasted a day as focus returned to study and food and fruit continues to be provided on a daily basis.

In Santa Maria doors re-opened on 4 February to 140 children and their three teachers working hard reinforcing the curriculum, 40 children are brand new, enjoying learning what school life is like!

Look out for our next report on Wednesday morning, with our exciting announcement and plans for 2013 in Guatemala!

Thank you for your continued support.

The new school has started in both our schools in Guatemala, with 15 local teachers now being employed thanks to donations, giving education to over 500 children in both primary and secondary school.

This February, The Phoenix Projects and our charity Fly The Phoenix are launching Corporate February, where we are aiming to create partnerships with the Corporate Social Responsibility programs of large and small businesses, so we can work together for the future of all our projects in Latin America.

Business can play a huge role in educating children and supporting communities and we would love to expand our portfolio of like-minded companies working with us to achieve our longterm goals of sustainable education in marginalised communities in Latin America.

If you, family and friends are part of any business who would like to get involved, please do donate, and share the link of our program for Guatemala. Even a phonecall to your manager or Head Office can make all the difference!

cheers

Links:

• Corporate Social Responsibility