Education Guatemala Project #52000

Build lunchroom, feed poor students in Guatemala

by El Lustrador Foundation Inc

Summary

The families in this community scratch out a living by scavenging at the landfill, and their children attend the local school, Manuel Marcos Martinez. However, even though the school serves deeply impoverished children in Guatemala City, it receives little governmental support. It lacks basic infrastructure that brings dignity and safety for the kids. With your help we will feed the children regularly and build a room for them to eat in, and gather during hurricanes and other times.

$50,000
total goal

$37,350
remaining

87
donors

7
monthly donors

8
months

Challenge

Children from this community go to the elementary school adjacent to the landfill, but the school, and the families, lack almost all basic necessities. The school is the conduit to get these necessities covered. This year, food and a room are the highest priorities.The school lacks basic infrastructure for dignity and safety: ELF has repaired many broken windows in the classrooms, and now wants to build a cafeteria and assembly room for students to gather during hurricanes and other times.

Solution

Parents are not able to provide enough food for the children because part of the landfill is closed. This will help keep children from hunger and healthier during the pandemic, during which many have died. This project will solve the immediate problem of hunger, but we also need a room for kids to eat in that has a good roof for protection during hurricanes and winter storms.

Long-Term Impact

The project can keep families fed this fall, and keep children protected long-term. The school will better protect children with the new lunchroom, and we will see more kids staying in school. I was one of the children who grew up in the streets of Guatemala, and food donations can be the difference between life and death. Also, children will be attracted to stay in this school and have a better chance of escaping poverty as I did, from a shoeshine boy eating from the trash to a biologist.