What We Have Accomplished
As of May 2010
BELIZE
Maya Centre Village School in the Stann Creek District
Project Components: Books, computer lab, school supplies and equipment.
1,700 Library Books – Donated by Friends of Peninsula Library, generous individuals and through our new Books for Belize project. Our goal is to ship at least 2,000 books per year to be distributed to Mayan schools in the Toledo and Stann Creek Districts of Belize, Central America. Donations to cover mailing of $15/box are gratefully appreciated.
See Books for Belize in the CTF Projects link for more information.
Maya Centre Village
Project Components: securing sewing machines, fabrics, and some related supplies.
Partners: S.H.A.R.E., Guelph, Canada has taken over this project. Two sewing machines and supplies were delivered to the village on February 5, 2009. From a phone conversation to the village in Fall 2009, we learned that two women had started a thriving sewing business. Villagers provide their own supplies and pay a modest fee to have their school uniforms and other sewing projects made. This helps boost the village economy and saves people traveling to other villages. www.shareagfoundation.org
Update on Sewing Machines
In Fall 2009, Marilyn called Maya Center Village and enjoyed a lively phone conversation with Aurora Saqui, a village leader and wife of the village chairman, Ernesto Saqui. All is jogging along well. Even with the world-wide economic downturn, Maya Center has continued to see a trickle of tourists, probably because accommodation and food prices here are modest. Villagers threw a party of celebration and appreciation for their alcalde of many years, Ernesto Saqui The two sewing machines, delivered by S.H.A.R.E., our Canadian friends, have fostered a steady sewing business for two women who now make the beautiful Mopan dresses, general clothing and school uniforms for villagers for a modest payment. This keeps the business in the village and saves traveling to other villages.
GUATEMALA
Student Scholarship
Juana is the first student the Compassionate Travel Foundation has sponsored through Sharing the Dream, a US nonprofit working in Guatemala. sharingthedream.org We have covered the first year of middle school tuition and will continue to cover her tuition until she graduates as long as she gets good grades and does her volunteer hours.
See Student Scholarship in the CTF Projects link for more information.
Lake Atitlan Resource Directory
Created the Lake Atitlan Resource Directory. It profiles non-profits, schools and social service agencies that serve the Lake Atitlan area.
See Lake Atitlan Resource Directory on the CTF Home Page link for more information.
Pig Purchase
We have also donated the money for two pigs to www.therippleeffectinc.blogspot.com
a local organization in Gig Harbor that is doing wonderful work with widows of the Ixil Mayans of Guatemala. The women and children were left unsupported when most of the men as well as women were brutally killed in the atrocities of the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.