By Lois Werner | President
Schools are out in Guatemala, rainy season has ended, and the harvest will soon begin. The growing season this year was plagued with dry weather so crops have been damaged putting a strain on the food supply for the next six months. When this happens the cost of corn and beans escalates putting additional hardships on parents trying to feed their families. But parents are determine to help their kids see a brighter future and are willing to commit to supporting our computer projects.More teachers and parents are asking for help.
During school vacation is an excellent time for the parents’ committees to spruce up the classrooms where computers will be installed in early January. In San Bartolome, a small village about 25 minutes from our field office in San Martin, the parents worked to clean and paint the classroom, however, the roof is 18 years old and has gaping holes so a new roof will have to be installed before we can supply the computers. The cost of the roof is $2,000 and we need to raise the funds for this project.
Another school slated for computers in early January is the elementary school in the village of Santo Domingo. Adults in this community remember the earthquake on February 4, 1976, that devastated most of Guatemala. Antonio, now 45, told us, “After the earthquake, I can remember sitting on a cement block and balancing my tablet on my leg to write the letters.” His dad allowed the teachers and students to use his porch for classes because the school was destroyed. Thirty eight years later the students in Santo Domingo will learn how to use a computer and enhance their studies using pre-loaded educational software. Antonio said “Computers for Santo Domingo school is a gift. It will prepare them for secondary school. Thanks to People for Guatemala, their futures will be different.” 95 kids attend this school.
The majority of the students in classrooms in the United States have computers and internet. Some fortunate school districts provide tablets for every student. What a dream for the teachers and students in rural Guatemala. An unbelievable fact is that 70% of the teachers in remote villages have never used a computer. None of the kids have ever seen a computer, much less know the power of learning a computer can provide. They are not prepared to compete for scholarships for secondary education. We aim to change that, one school at a time.
With your help we can continue to provide technology and training for teachers and students and unleash all of the possibilities for the people living in remote villages in San Martin, Jilotepeque.
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