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)
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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 Victor ( right), or one of the many other students? Forward this e-news or a link to our website. Thank you!
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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.
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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.
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Most Needed Supplies
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JANUARY
Math Supplies FEBRUARY
Hats, Mittens, and Gloves
For details contact Andrew Allen via email or at (651) 917-0917.
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Save the Date!
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Noche de Colores will be held on Friday May 1, 2009 at International Market Square in MInneapolis.
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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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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 put 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.
After 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!
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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 several 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.
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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. |
Volunteer translators speed up holiday mail
For
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!
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Featured in NEED Magazine blog
Common 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.
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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!
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Share the wealth on your cereal box
Here'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.
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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. |
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