CLICK ON THE HIGHLIGHTED ITEM OF YOUR INTEREST
or SCROLL DOWN FOR THE September report
"I am only one, but I am one.
or SCROLL DOWN FOR THE September report
"I am only one, but I am one.
I can't do everything, but I can do something.
What I can do, I ought to do,
And...
What I ought to do.....
...by the grace of God, I SHALL DO!"
By Edward Everett Hale
THE PROJECTS FROM SANTA CRUZ VERAPAZ and COBAN
PROJECT FINISHED TO REPLACE "DON BENITO'S" SHACK FOR A HOME ...FOR HIM, WIFE AND LITTLE CHILDREN
This project began helping Don Benito, a father, who became an invalid due to an accident 7 years ago with new crutches. We then began an effort to help improve his very poor home where he lives with his wife and several small children you see below.
This stage of the construction follows traditional methods using wood uprights that won't rot in the humidity, and eventually will have a cement floor and porch.
No electricity in the area, and even if there were, hand tools are the only tools had by native carpenters.
THE INAUGURATION of the COMPLETED HOME
It was held up for a few weeks as Benito all of a sudden got sick and we had to help him recover his health. Finally on September 5th municipal leaders from Santa Cruz and from the village gathered with family and friends to bless the new simple home, present the keys to Benito, and present Diplomas of gratitude for the simple project as we see in the following photographs.
Benito and one of his children waiting for the inauguration to begin.
A local pastor offering a prayer to bless the new home.
Santa Cruz Verapaz' mayor speaking and thanking Federico and the Foundation for the project to help another of the most needy families.
Federico then spoke representing the GUATEMALAN FOUNDATION, and presented the keys to Benito.
Then followed the tradition of presenting diplomas of recognition and gratitude to Federico and to the Foundation....the diploma shown sort of taking us way back to 1969 when originally our organization was called The Cordell Andersen Foundation, changed soon afterwards to The Foundation for Indian Development, and then a few years ago to The GUATEMALAN FOUNDATION.
Last of all the Municipal Secretary finished the historical entry in the Official Municipal record, and all the important authorities present signed...some as you see with a thumb print.
A KITCHEN FOR THE SANTA ELENA VILLAGE SCHOOL
Last of all we picture below the Director of the Santa Elena Village School presenting a request to Federico, asking our help to build them a kitchen for their very large school, an urgent need to prepare the daily nutritional supplement for all the children. I'll insert below a picture of said school that is requesting our help.
PLEASE HELP US ALL YOU CAN SO THAT DURING THE UPCOMING VACATION SEASON--November and December, we can get this project finished and ready to begin the New 2016 School Year
THE "ARIEL and INES ANDERSEN" CHULUC VILLAGE SCHOOL
Many of the Andersen family were there at the inaguration, and soon after our long time Trustee, Toby Pingree, paid a visit and generously, along with his brother, George, helped realize all the wonderful progress at the school and in the village.
Now, in September 2015 we are approaching the end of the school year in October and are happy to report great progress this year in all areas of development, like the daily Nutrition Program in which mothers and grandmothers as volunteers take their turns doing the preparation....often as you see below with their babies on their backs.
The children anxiously line up for their nutritious drink of Incaparina, and are then served as some traditionally sit on the tile floor......
....while others sit at a long table. This little daily shot of good nutrition helps them not only be healthier, but of course has them much more mentally alert to be able to learn.
Mario, our Regional Director, and the teacher, whose wage we pay, is keeping track of their progress during the year.
Mario is pressuring the government to begin fulfilling its responsibility to pay the wages of all the teachers, and thus free up the Foundation's funds to help more in other critical needs, such as the Scholarship Program to help graduates continue their education.
PLEASE HELP ALL YOU CAN TO HELP US FINISH THE SCHOOL YEAR SUCCESSFULLY and BE READY FOR AN EVEN BETTER 2016.
And, yes, we still have hopes by Christmas of having enough money to provide Maximo, the village leader from the beginning in 1986, with an electric chair/cart to help make his life a lot better as he has become crippled in recent years. $700 of extra funds are needed for this--a small reward for this wonderful community leader who led the effort in 1986-87 to build the school and who has dedicated his life helping his rural community.
PLEASE HELP ALL YOU CAN AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE and FIND A FEW FRIENDS and RELATIVES AND GET THEM ON BOARD TOO!
"I am only one, but I am one.
I can't do everything, but I can do something.
What I can do, I ought to do,
And...
What I ought to do.....
...by the grace of God, I SHALL DO!"
By Edward Everett Hale
At the head of the page click on DONATE...or
Send your donations to:
THE GUATEMALAN FOUNDATION
P.O. Box 1296
American Fork, UTAH 84003