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Did You Know?

Guatemalan adults (age 21-65) have an average of 5.4 years of education and the average is just 1.9 for indigenous populations.


(World Bank)


Sponsors Needed
We are currently searching for more than 700 Sponsors.  Do you know someone who could help sponsor Victor (right), or one of the many other students?  Forward this e-news or a link to our website.  Thank you!



 Interested in Organizing a Vision Team?
The 2009 calendar has openings in April, May and September! 

Interesting in Joining a Vision Team? 

Teams have open spots in 2009. 

For more info contact Kristin via email or at
(651) 917-0250.


Did You Know?

In 2008 Students at New Hope School outperformed all other schools assessed at district and national levels for reading and math in grades 1, 3, and 6.



Most Needed Supplies
JANUARY

Math Supplies

FEBRUARY

Hats, Mittens, and Gloves

For details contact Andrew Allen via email or at
(651) 917-0917.



Save the Date!
Noche de Colores will be held on Friday
May 1, 2009 at International Market Square in MInneapolis.



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!
News from Guatemala
Celebrating the holidays with Basket Day
On December 21, Common Hope held its annual Christmas Basket Day in Guatemala.  Bursting at the seams with color, music, and smiles, it was a welcome relief for everyone, following a difficult period of high food and transportation costs.

More than 985 families arrived for the day and were treated to two plays Girls at Basket Dayput on by the staff - one for the children and one for the adults.  As families prepared to leave, each received a Christmas basket filled with essentials like soap, shampoo, and toothpaste and a few goodies, including a blanket, a storybook, and a cuddly toy for the children. This year Common Hope was able to economize and compile these baskets primarily from in-kind supplies, thanks to a steady stream of donations from our generous supporters.
Reaching out in Guatemala
On December 10, a special picnic was held for our Guatemala-based Sponsors.  They spent some quality time with their sponsored children and learned more about our programs.
 
PicnicAfter being welcomed by staff, the visitors were addressed by Vivian Gonz�lez, an affiliated university student, who spoke about the opportunities her sponsorship has given her and the important role her Sponsors have played in her life.  Visitors were also addressed by avid Common Hope supporters Tom and Jenny Cernikovsky, whose Antigua DVD store donates all of its profits to Common Hope.  They spoke of their satisfaction knowing the positive impact they are having on the lives of their four sponsored children. 
 
Finally, Sponsors and affiliated families - many of whom were meeting for the first time - enjoyed a picnic in the Common Hope garden.  We hope this will be the first of many such meetings!
Meet aspiring teacher Victor Manuel
Victor lives in the village of San Rafael with his mother, father, and four siblings.  His family grows corn and raises severVictor Manuelal chickens and a pig.  While the family does have electricity and a wood stove, the furniture in their home consists of just three chairs, with only mats for sleeping. 

Victor wants to be a teacher when he grows up.  He did well in preschool last year and will be starting first grade next month.  If you can support his dream with a monthly gift of $30 or $60, please email or call Jessie in our sponsorship department at (651) 917-1045.
Weathering the economy
You may be wondering how the year ended financially for Common Hope, given this difficult economy.  In a Minnesota Council of Nonprofits survey conducted in December, only 30 percent of 660 nonprofits expected to come within ten percent of their 2008 revenue target. 

Common Hope missed its revenue target by only four percent (about $156,000) so we are starting the year on a relatively strong note.  Thank you! We are so grateful to our donors for their faithful support.  We ask that you continue to do what you can during these tough economic times.  It will ensure that we can keep our promises to the families in Guatemala, so that they can continue to improve their own lives. 
Supporters in Action
Volunteer translators speed up holiday mail
Volunteer TranslatorsFor the first time ever, over a dozen supporters volunteered their time to translate sponsorship mail during the busy holiday season.  Working from home or coming in on Monday nights, they translated over 800 letters and cards from Sponsors to their students.  We are so grateful for their efforts!
University of Minnesota lends a hand
The University of Minnesota has recently accepted Common Hope as one of its recommended international volunteer programs through the Learning Abroad Center.  Emelee Volden, Resource Center Advisor, recently visited us in Guatemala to learn first-hand about our volunteer opportunities.

Martha Johnson, Associate Director, found a creative way to support Common Hope by challenging staff at their holiday party to get up and perform to karaoke.  For every person who sang, Martha promised to personally donate $5.  By the end of the party, 24 people had taken the challenge.  Thanks, Martha, for a fun way to support the kids in Guatemala!
Featured in NEED Magazine blog
Need MagazineCommon Hope was featured in the NEED Magazine blog thanks to a recent visit by Play it Forward, a travel company that is about both adventure and giving back.  In addition to intense biking and kayaking, the travelers also hauled materials up a hillside to build a home for an affiliated family.  You can read the full blog entry here.
You Can Help
Got any calculators or compasses?
Our January need of the month is math supplies: flashcards, solar-powered scientific calculators, compasses, and rulers.  Visit our website for more details about this and upcoming needs.

A huge thanks to the many donors who kept a steady stream of in-kind supplies coming into the US office in 2008.  When it came time to purchase the remaining school supplies for the 2009 school year, we saved over $24,000!

Share the wealth on your cereal box
Box Tops 4 EducationHere's another way to support Common Hope with items you already have around your house.  Clip and save UPC labels and box tops for General Mills, Campbells, and Kemps products.  Long-time supporter Ann Didier has been a committed fundraiser for Common Hope through these programs.  Over the years she has raised thousands of dollars in donations and school supplies.
 
You can mail your labels to the US office, or drop them off, and we will collect and submit them.  Check out the full lists of eligible products at the following links: General Mills, Campbells, and Kemps or call our office at (651) 917-0917 for more information.
Volunteers needed in US and Guatemala

Guatemala:
  A long-term volunteer is needed to work in Guatemala for a year or more in housing construction.

Dentists and hygienists are needed who would be interested in joining a Vision Team in May 2009.

US:
  Volunteers are needed to help with a new initiative to promote Common Hope through photo exhibits in coffee shops across the country.  We most urgently need a volunteer for the Twin Cities metro area, but volunteers in other regions of the country are also encouraged.

Please visit our website for more info or contact Louise Lundgren via email or at (651) 917-0250.