Did You Know?
Graduation rates in Guatemala are among the lowest in Latin America: only 58 percent graduate from primary school, 33 percent from junior high, and a mere 25 percent from high school.
(UNESCO)
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Sponsors Needed
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We are currently searching for more than 700 Sponsors. Do you know someone who could help sponsor Osman ( see right), or one of the many other students? If so, forward this e-news or send them to our website. Thank you! |
Vision Team Openings
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The following Vision Teams are currently open for 2008/09: Room
for others: Nov 15-22, 2008 Mar 10-19, 2009
Lead a team:Feb 24-Mar 5, 2009 Apr 28-May 7, 2009
If interested, please email Kristin or call (651)
917-0250. |
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Did You Know?
Our programs have demonstrated a significant improvement in retention rates over the national average; 87 percent of our students were promoted to the next grade in 2007, compared to the national average of 75 percent.
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Current and
Upcoming Needs of the Month
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Save the Date!
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Common Hope's Holiday Open House
will be on December 9
from
11am - 7pm.
If you are unable to attend, consider hosting your own
holiday party for Common Hope.
Gift
Catalogs filled with alternative gift ideas will be available in mid-November.
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Greetings!
Below are some of the latest updates about students, families, and members of the Common Hope community. Thank you for all of the good work that you make possible!
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Association of Central American Schools
Common Hope wishes to thank
the Association of American Schools of Central America (AASCA) for its valuable
support of our work. On September 6, more than 80 high school juniors and
seniors from AASCA schools all over Central America
joined us at our Antigua site to learn about Common
Hope, develop their leadership skills, and contribute a hard
day's work. With such great numbers and enthusiasm, much was
accomplished -- from painting, cleaning,
and gardening to room design and decoration. The students also expressed
their support for our own sponsored students by creating cards for all 2008
graduates, ready for November's graduation ceremony.
At a banquet later that evening, the students were addressed
by former Guatemalan president Alvaro Arzú. He spoke to the students
about the tremendous value of the quality education they are receiving, and
reminded them of their responsibility to help bridge the gap for those who do
not yet have this opportunity. Thank you
to the AASCA students for doing just that!
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Independence day at New Hope School
 Independence Day is celebrated in Guatemala with a national holiday on September 15. New Hope School, however, celebrated all week long with events that encouraged
students to reflect on their country, culture, and responsibilities as
citizens.
A great deal of work went
into planning the celebration, which highlighted a different
aspect of Guatemalan culture each day, including the national
anthem, folkloric songs, and patriotic poems.
Students researched and presented on national symbols such
as the Quetzal, Guatemala's national bird, which represents freedom because it cannot
be kept in captivity.
Students also honored the
rare orchid known as the Monja Blanca, which is the national flower of
Guatemala; and the national flag, with two blue stripes representing
the Pacific and Caribbean oceans. Typical
Guatemalan foods such as tamales,
chuchitos, rellenitos and pan dulce
were the focus of other presentations, while still others focused on
the
natural beauty of the country known as "the land of eternal spring."
The week closed with dancing and gymnastic performances by the
students.
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Meet seventh grader Osman Morales
 Osman wants to be an electrician when
he grows up. His favorite color is
red, and he likes playing
soccer in his free time. Osman and his family live in a home is made of wood, roofing steel and an earthen floor.
If you can support Osman's education with a monthly gift of $30 or $60, please email or call Jessie in our sponsorship department at (651) 917-1045.
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MAKE Magazine article
 Tim Anderson recently found several mediums through which to promote Common Hope. An inventor of sorts, Tim has been working most recently to document "the world's ancient and traditional methods," known as heirloom technologies. While visiting Common Hope in Guatemala, Tim recorded and documented a few of the heirloom technologies he observed in the country. He wrote about them, and mentioned Common Hope, in a recent article for MAKE: Magazine (reprinted with permission here). Tim published another piece inspired by his trip on a website called Instructables.
While in Guatemala, Tim shared some of his own technology ideas with the Common Hope staff, helping them to construct a compost sifter designed to get stones, bigger wood pieces, and plastic out of the compost. Before the sifter, at least two people were needed to sift the compost. With the new device, just one person is needed to complete the job. Thanks, Tim, for your multi-faceted support for Common Hope!
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A benefit concert for Common Hope
 Carrie Wilson will be performing in a benefit concert for Common Hope on October 26 at 4:30pm at the Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor, MI. Carrie and her husband, Dr. Magnus Wilson, are the adoptive parents of two Guatemalan children. In 2005 the Wilson family returned to Guatemala to visit Common Hope's operations. "There," says Carrie, "we saw first-hand the difference this organization is making in the lives of, truly, the poorest of the poor."
Carrie is an acclaimed vocalist and actress in a variety of genres including art song, opera, oratorio, and musical theater. She is a professional cantor at St. Francis of Assisi in Ann Arbor and currently studies with celebrated tenor, George Shirley, Professor Emeritus of Voice at the University of Michigan.
The program will include musical theater favorites and works by Dowland, Mozart, Faure, Schubert, Gounod, Franck, and Villa-Lobos.
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Legacy Circle Luncheon
 Ron and Merle Kelly helped Common Hope to officially kick off the Legacy Circle with an inaugural luncheon on October 2nd in downtown Minneapolis. The Legacy Circle recognizes those who have chosen to include
Common Hope in their planned giving. Approximately 40 individuals were invited to the event, to enjoy a catered lunch and a program that included Maria
Sara Dunbar, a Common Hope graduate, sharing her story. The group also heard from Executive Director, Shari Blindt, and watched a video presentation narrated by Renato Westby in Guatemala. The Legacy Circle includes individuals
who have told us they have included Common Hope as a beneficiary in their
will or estate plan. If you should be a part
of this group, please contact Joanne Griffin via email or at (651) 917-0243. |
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Recent Vision Teamers in Action
Beth Kathan, a Cargill employee and Vision Team member in January 2008, helped Common Hope to receive a $1,000 grant from Cargill. The grant was awarded to recognize Beth's volunteer involvement with Common Hope.
Sandy Smith and her Vision Team from California, Massachusetts, and Illinois raised an impressive $9,000 from friends and family members before they even left. The funds went to children's books in Spanish and other educational supplies.
Thanks to our Vision Team members for all of your hard work!
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October need of the month
Our October need of the month is hygiene supplies: full-size shampoo bottles and hair accessories like combs, brushes, hair ties, and barrettes. You can view the full list of needs on our website.
Check out the status of all of our supply drives on our website.
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Conference phones needed
Common Hope needs two conference phones to facilitate meetings between staff in the US and Guatemala. If you can help to obtain these, please call Andrew Allen at (651) 917-0917 or send him an email. |
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Mailing list cleanup notice
Common Hope is cleaning up our mailing list, in an effort to conserve printing and mailing costs and resources. Starting with our Winter 2009 Newsletter, we will be mailing primarily to those who are actively involved with Common Hope -- those who have given of themselves through donations or volunteering in the last three years. If you think you may fall into the inactive category and would like to continue receiving the quarterly newsletter, or if you would like to receive an electronic version via email instead, please email Kate Lucas, or call her at (651) 917-0917.
(Our e-newsletter list will remain unaffected, so you can continue to expect an eNews in your inbox each month!)
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Save the date
 Mark your calendars for Common Hope's Holiday Open House, which is scheduled for December 9, from 11am-7pm at our St. Paul office. Shop for Guatemalan market goods, visit with staff, and eat some holiday goodies -- all the while raising a bit of money for Common Hope. For our friends in other parts of the country, please consider hosting a holiday party in your area to raise awareness and funds for Common Hope. Our Gift Catalogs, filled with alternative gift ideas will be available in mid-November!
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