The work continues...
Education
I want to read - 2006
The library our members funded for middle school and adult education - 2008
Literacy
We're very grateful for the changes we have been a part of in Santa Cruz in the area of education. We want to keep inspiring the desire for continued education!
We are pleased to report that we have also established two libraries in the village - one for grades 1-6, the other for the middle school and adult learners.
We are pleased to report that we have also established two libraries in the village - one for grades 1-6, the other for the middle school and adult learners.
Middle School and High School
The middle school, Casa de Luz, is not free. Teachers (6 of them) need to be paid, books and supplies need to be purchased. In total, it costs about $50 a month to attend middle school. An organization in Guatemala has been sponsoring most of the children for middle school at $40 per month, but now there are too many of them to fund completely. In one way, that's a nice problem to have - too many children in school! We are working to make up the shortfall of about $5,000 this year (50 students x $10 x 10 months).
The middle school, Casa de Luz, is not free. Teachers (6 of them) need to be paid, books and supplies need to be purchased. In total, it costs about $50 a month to attend middle school. An organization in Guatemala has been sponsoring most of the children for middle school at $40 per month, but now there are too many of them to fund completely. In one way, that's a nice problem to have - too many children in school! We are working to make up the shortfall of about $5,000 this year (50 students x $10 x 10 months).
Health
Santa Cruz water source
Catchment of run-off water
Holding tank above Santa Cruz
Water tests in 2008
Pure Water
Drinking water is comes from the runoff that feeds into the local streams.
Some years ago a small dam was built with United Nations funding to capture this water for distribution to the village. This dam is a difficult 2-3 hour walk up the mountain above the village. The area around the catchment is forest or grazing area. A simple filter as constructed to keep large debris out of the pipe. But bacteria enters the water system from runoff contaminated but animal feces. This area is so remote that it is very difficult to install and operate any purification process at the source.
Pipes carry the water for about 4 miles from the catchment to a holding tank just over 700 feet elevation above the village. The holding tank is able to store up to 45,000 gallons, and the water runs an additional 100-200 feet from the tank to the homes in the villages. A small pipe with single access can be found in the front yard of the homes. Initial reactions were that this is an excellent water system for Santa Cruz.There is plenty of water for their current population with a supply from the surrounding mountains to the homes. But …
Tests conducted in 2008 by the engineering department of our partner college, John Brown University, indicate that this water is unfit for human consumption. This water is a direct cause of some of the most significant illness in the community – dysentery and diarrhea. These illnesses impact the village with lost work time for adults, missed days in school for students and even death that primarily impacts children, elderly, and those with secondary complications.
Estimates for installation of the much needed water purification system for Santa Cruz come in at $15,000. We are working to help raise these funds.
Toothbrushes and toothpaste for everyone!
Dental Hygiene
Dental hygiene continues to be an important part of our project. We hope to encourage brushing and flossing for every village resident, not just the children. Cavities are bad enough, but we all know that without proper brushing, other more serious health conditions can occur.
Beautiful child - with dental issues in her smile
Economics
Bike repair tools
'Fried chicken lady' - with her loan, she bought a used commercial fryer. She has 23 grandchildren, by the way!
Micro-lending
Micro-lending is an excellent way to help people in poverty ridden areas advance their life sitations. What seems to us like a small amount of money-- sometimes as little as $25--is all it takes to help someone start or expand a business. We will continue this effort in Santa Cruz. Hugo and Susana handle the loans in the village for us. We do not receive the money as loans are paid back; the money stays in Santa Cruz as a source for additional loans.
We are investigating other business options that can be conducted outside Santa Cruz, bringing in revenue from outside the village. We are also looking into whether or not the middle school business competition team winners --Paca used clothing business -- can begin selling in neighboring villages.
Pharmacy
Co-op auiflower crop, almost ready for harvest!
Reproducing Ourselves
One of the things our team is doing during the 2010 Guatemala trip is investigating if all we've done in Santa Cruz can be repeated in a nearby village, Purulha. All the villages around Santa Cruz share the same challenges in health, education, and economics. We hope to expand our efforts by extending the project into these villages.
Next stop - Purulha!
