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.
See results...
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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 Esvin ( 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 for new teams in May, June, and September.
Interesting in Joining a Vision Team?
Some 2009 teams have room for more members. For more info contact Kristin via email or at (651)
917-0250.
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Did You Know?
Guatemalans
living abroad sent $3.6 billion back home, which is more than the
country earned from sugar or coffee, the two biggest export crops.
Bank of Guatemala
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Most Needed Supplies
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FEBRUARY
Hats, Mittens, and Gloves MARCH
Children's ponchos & raincoats
For details send an email or call (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!
High school students give back, our website launches a new way to contact your sponsored student, New Hope School students outperform their peers ... these are just a few of the latest updates from Common Hope. Read on to learn more.
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Students receive supplies to start new year
 Last month
Common Hope handed out over 2,300 bags of school supplies to eager school
children in Antigua, New Hope, and San Rafael. Each
child received pens, pencils, notebooks, and other supplies
appropriate for their grade to prepare them for the 2009 school
year.
Common Hope
would like to give a special thanks to Target for the donation of 150
backpacks filled with supplies. Students at San Rafael received them on January 29. Thee students lined up and
waited quietly as the backpacks were handed out, but their excitement was
evident in their wide eyes and gracious smiles!
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Meet hard working Esvin Antonio Perez
 Esvin lives in San Juan Gascón with his
parents, brother, and sister. The 13-year-old currently studies in seventh grade and says he wants to be a hard
worker when he grows up. While his
family owns only a bicycle for transportation, Esvin says he likes to tinker
with cars. Perhaps he'll be a mechanic or engineer one day.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find Sponsors
for children over the age of 12. If you can support Esvin'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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A creative fundraiser in Antigua
 Common Hope
joined nine other Antigua NGOs this February for a creative fundraising event. Organized by the local Antigua Network,
guests were invited to play Vegas-style games like poker, blackjack, and bingo as well as participate
in a silent auction -- all designed to raise funds for the participating non-profits. Over 100 guests attended the event, including our very own program development manager, Renato
Westby, who turned out to be quite the card shark! We are grateful to the Antigua Network for
their initiative in organizing this event.
A big thank you to the following businesses for their generous
donations to our auction: Mayan Petit Spa, Bello Capello Salon, Micho's Cafe, and Club Ecuestre La Ronda (La Ronda Equestrian Club).
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Volunteers transform the US office
 Thanks
to many generous and skilled volunteers, the US office in St. Paul is almost finished with a much
needed facelift. After years of covering the holes in the carpet with duct tape and working to ensure the office temperature didn't dip below 50
degrees in the winter, Common Hope's volunteers rallied
together and created a more pleasant and workable space for staff and volunteers.
Led
by Jim McDonald, owner of McDonald Remodeling and former Common Hope board chair, volunteers and subcontractors worked to create a remodel valued at roughly
$140,000 that cost Common Hope than $2,000. Carpet, furniture, and other supplies were donated by a variety of companies.
One of the greatest changes, Common Hope now has a much
improved volunteer area, providing a roomier workspace and a more
central location in the office. Plus, we now have a separate, finished meeting room where we can hold board and committee meetings on-site. Thank
you to all volunteers and companies who helped to make this remodel possible. For a full list of those involved, click here. |
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New way to connect with your student
Attention all Sponsors, we are
pleased to announce that you can now write letters to your students from
our website. These email letters will be translated by volunteers
from across the country and emailed to Guatemala instead of hand-carried in suitcases. Emails will be printed in Guatemala and picked up by students at our project
sites like before. Most students don't have regular access to computers, so we can't forward your email to them directly. Students will hand write a letter back to you, which we will
deliver as soon as possible.
To try out the new email form, click here. If you would
like to volunteer to translate letters from the
comfort of your computer, please email Kate Heider.
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Thank you to the students of Totino-Grace
A big thank you to Totino-Grace High School in Fridley,
MN for their support of the children
of Guatemala.
Not only does each homeroom class at the high school sponsor a different student, but the administrative staff sponsors 14-year-old Mabi as well. The school has onducted many creative fundraisers to fund their sponsorships. And their support doesn't end with their sponsorships, either.
Students held a very successful supply drive before Christmas, resulting in thousands of
dollars of in-kind donations. Students also tied fleece blankets to share with families
in need, and they volunteered in Common Hope's warehouse. We are so grateful for the efforts of the students and staff of Totino-Grace -- and inspired by their commitment to help their peers across the globe.
If you are interested in starting a partnership like Totino-Grace at your school, contact Kate Heider via email or at (651) 917-1045.
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Got any extra hats and mittens?
We are collecting 1,500 new or gently used hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves in Feburary. Visit our website
for more details about this and upcoming needs.
Guatemala is sometimes called the Land of Eternal Spring because of its consistent 70 degree days. But in the
highlands,
the temperature always drops at night. With
so many cornstalk houses and no heat, families need warm
layers to cover up from the cold. These are hard to come by in Guatemala,
and even harder to afford.
Because of your generosity last year, we
collected even more than 1,600 warm hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves. With your help, we can surpass our goal again this year! |
 Donate your car to Common Hope
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Help tell the story of Guatemala
Do you know of a new audience at your workplace, faith community, or school? Invite a member of the Common Hope community to speak about our work. One of the best ways to get new people involved is for them to hear Common Hope's story.
Our circle of speakers includes staff as well as volunteers across the country who have traveled to Guatemala and can speak firsthand about the needs of Guatemalan families. Presentations are tailored to the group, and activities encouraging cultural and poverty awareness can be included with the presentation.
For more information, contact Mary Gautschi at (651) 917-0243 or maryg@us.commonhope.org. |
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