Notes from the Field
Check out the new photos on our blog.
Computer classes, eye clinics, New Hope students enjoying a summer day, and more.
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New Video Footage
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Have you seen the new videos from Noche de Colores yet? We have great new footage, filmed by Buck Holzemer Productions. Check them out here.
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Did You Know?
The World Bank cites a sizeable rise in school attendance and decrease in
drop-out rates for students involved in social safety net programs like Common Hope.
Visit our blog for more info and a link to the World Bank release.
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Did You Know?
Since
opening our satellite in San Rafael in 2007, there has been a considerable increase in interest and attendance at
the school.
Visit our blog for more info and a link to a World Bank release discussing social safety net programs like Common Hope.
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Most Needed Supplies
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JUNE
Soap
Wash Cloths
Hand TowelsJULY
Arts and Craft Supplies AUGUSTSchool SuppliesPlease see details of supply needs here.
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Greetings!
New Hope students visit a museum and enjoy some participatory learning, student Jorge Mendoza improves his public speaking, computer classes help high school graduates to improve their job prospects... Read on to learn more about the latest news from Common Hope.
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New Hope students celebrate National Museum Month with a field trip to the city
 March 19 was a special day for the students at New Hope School. That morning, 269 giddy students boarded five buses bound for the city. Teachers and staff had arranged a field trip to the Children's Museum in Guatemala City, to celebrate "Museum Month" in Guatemala.
"You should have seen their faces -- they were so excited," said Mayra Gonzalez, administrative assistant at New Hope School. This was a unique experience for the majority of students, as museum visits are not common because of the expenses involved.
For the students, the trip may have seemed like all fun and games, but
for the teachers there was another purpose. [Continued...]
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Mentorship and Cinderella: Jorge Mendoza improves his public speaking
 In our print newsletter, which arrived in mailboxes last week, we included a story about Blanca Choc and the difference the mentorship program made in her life. We interviewed another student, Jorge Mendoza, and wanted to share his story as well.
Seventeen years old, Jorge is preparing to study accounting next year. He started the mentorship program to improve his public speaking abilities, and he says it has helped him a lot. He is no longer afraid to express himself in public. The program has also helped him to be better about doing his homework.
Jorge said he realized how much the mentorship program has helped him with public speaking when he was in a production of Cinderella at his school. He had to memorize seven or eight lines -- which probably would have been a big challenge in the past -- and it went very well. He was a little nervous in the beginning, but then he calmed down. When asked if he was going to continue with the program, Jorge said yes. "It has helped me," he said. "We gain confidence, and they support us."
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Computer classes improve high school students' job prospects
 Staff member
Lucía
Estacuy recently sat down with communications coordinator Caroline McGee to talk about the computer lab in Antigua, called the CDI, the Spanish acronym for Center of Investigation.
Lucía has been heartened by the high level of interest in the classes, especially given the big difference computer skills can make in landing a job. She also describes a few students in her class who show particular promise. To read the interview, click here. |
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Student promotion rates for 2008 are in
Studying
student promotion rates helps us to gauge the efficacy of our programs in providing the
support students need to be successful in school. We have just finished compiling the 2008 results, and the numbers are promising.
For all
Common Hope students in grades K-12, 88 percent advanced to the next grade -- far above the national promotion rate, which was 79 percent, and a slight increase from
last year. One
of the most promising figures is the 1st grade promotion rate. Common Hope 1st graders increased their rate of promotion over last year by more than five percentage
points. This is especially significant because students in 1st grade have a very high
likelihood of failing, due to the lack of
early childhood education.
And finally, perhaps the most impressive statistic: Common Hope 7th graders surpassed the
national average for their age group -- by more than 30 percent. Congrats to all affiliated students for the great work!
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California photo event spreads the word and finds many new Sponsors
Supporters in northern California held a special event in early June to raise awareness and Sponsors for Common Hope. The group displayed beautiful portraits, taken by Buck Holzemer and Patti Petrich, of students who need Sponsors. Guests who sponsored a student th at night got to take home the portrait of their student.
The event was extremely successful -- nearly 40 students were sponsored that
night. This puts a significant dent in our Sponsor Challenge of
finding 700 Sponsors in 2009. Our new number to reach: 486 Sponsors.
Special thanks to the volunteer leadership team of the Friends of Common Hope - Northern California for organizing the event. Thanks as well to former sponsored student Maria Sara Dunbar, Sponsor Sylvia King, and emcee Dick Severy for their contributions to the program.
If you have an idea to help us reach our Sponsor Challenge, please contact our
sponsorship staff at (651) 917-1045 or sponsorship@us.commonhope.org.
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Adoptive families invite Common Hope to share our story in Colorado
 Later this month, Executive Director Shari Blindt and Country Director Tamalyn Gutierrez will travel to the Colorado Heritage Camp. It's a week-long event that helps adoptive children to learn about their home countries. Tamalyn will be a keynote speaker, sharing about Common Hope's efforts to provide education and opportunity in Guatemala. This is the second year that Common Hope has been invited to present at the event.
Thanks to the Colorado Heritage Camp for this opportunity, and to all adoptive families who have been loyal supporters of our work! If you are an adoptive family who would like to connect with other adoptive families involved with Common Hope, contact Kate Heider via email or at (651) 917-1045.
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Collect soap, wash cloths, and hand towels  Our June need of the month is 1,500 bars of soap, wash cloths, and hand towels. These supplies support our health care clinic's preventive health
education. Our community health promoter visits schools to educate
students about the importance of various preventive health activities,
including personal hygiene. From time to time, Common Hope distributes
supplies to families to help them meet these kinds of basic needs.
We still have a ways to go with several earlier needs, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, and children's books in Spanish. Help us reach our goals!
Your supply collections help Common Hope to do this work while saving
thousands of dollars, which can be directed to other pressing program
needs. Thank you!
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Have your gifts directly deposited and send more dollars to programs
Giving by direct deposit, or ACH, is the easiest and most cost effective way to give a donation. ACH donations are deducted from a checking or savings account on the 10th
of each month. This form of giving has the lowest amount of administrative fees (no credit card
fees, very little staff time), which allows more of your gift to go directly to programs.
To sign up, you need to fill out a simple form
and send it in along with a voided check. Please contact Jessie via email or at (651) 917-1045 for a copy of the form.
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Spread the word about our opening for a new Development Director As some of you know, Joanne Griffin, Development Director, and her husband Tim are expecting their first child in mid-July. She recently made the decision to stay home with the little one once she arrives. So, we have begun our search for her replacement.
You can view the position description here. We often find great staff through word of mouth, so if you know any family or friends who would be great for the position, do pass the info along!
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