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Vision Team Openings
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Join a team of individuals over Labor Day, September 4-10.
For more info, visit our trip calendar here or contact Kristin Henderson at (651) 917-0250.
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Notes from the Field
Check out the latest posts on our blog.
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| Most Needed Supplies | MAY
recess toys (jump ropes, soccer balls, etc.)
JUNE
full-size bars of soap, hand towels, and wash cloths
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Greetings!
There's Josúe, striving to become an architect. There's Ronaldo, working hard to succeed in first grade. There's Mary, sharing knowledge about creative math education, and Kerry, donating her hard-earned babysitting money. Hundreds of changemakers are transforming poverty in Guatemala because of your support. We are happy to share just a handful of their stories this month.Para leer las noticias en español, haga click aqui.
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Meet architect in training Josué Martínez
Josue with Margarita, coordinator of our PODER employment program
 | "I think architecture interests me because in my life, we have
always lived in houses made of scrap metal. I never
had a house with a floor and walls." That's how Josué Martínez, 28, explains his passion for architecture.
Meeting Josué for the first time, you would
never guess this clean-cut, well-spoken young man grew up in such a house.
Beating the odds, Josué was able to graduate from high school in 2001
with the help of Common Hope, and he went on to study four years of
architecture with a Common Hope scholarship.
Although he had to put his university degree on hold due to
his family's economic problems, Josué has continued to receive support
through PODER, Common Hope's employment program.
Josué currently supports himself by making architectural blueprints
and at times supervising construction jobs. He looks to Margarita
Díaz, Common Hope's employment program coordinator, for references
and possible job opportunities. "Margarita taught me how to do a
resume," he says, "even how to write a letter to ask for a job."
Josué hopes to eventually finish his university degree, but in the
meantime he is helping support his family with his work. We are
confident that Josué will succeed, as his passion for architecture runs
deep.
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Ronaldo needs a Sponsor
Ronaldo, from San Rafael, needs a Sponsor.
 | Ronaldo Suruy, age 7, is studying in the first grade in San Rafael. He lives with his three siblings and parents in a cornstalk home with an earthen floor and steel roof. The family grows corn and raises several pigs, earning less than $5 a day. If you can contribute $1 or $2 per day to see Ronaldo through school, please click here or contact
Jessie at jessies@us.commonhope.org or (651)
917-1045. |
Education promoters receive training in creative methods for teaching mathMary teaches a math exercise while education promoter Ligia Pol looks on.
 | Mary Van Valin, a retired math education consultant from Traverse City,
MI, spent several weeks volunteering her skills in Guatemala. She conducted a series of
math trainings with our education promoters, especially important because math scores are chronically low in Guatemala. The promoters were very appreciative of the training, saying
they learned a lot of new games and activities for teaching math, which
they are excited to implement in the classrooms.
Said Elly Estrada, promoter in San Miguel,
"the activities were easy to understand and different than any we had
seen before. They will make learning easier for the students." As Ligia Pol, promoter in San Rafael,
put it, the activities were "practical ... you don't need a lot of
materials, just construction paper." Ligia particularly enjoyed the
exercise that teaches fractions using dice. She said it made fractions
so much easier to understand.
To continue reading, including an interview with Mary, click here.
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15-year-old donates babysitting money to sponsor a child in San RafaelKerry visited César in San Rafael this April.
 | At the young age of 15, Kerry Grove already has a strong
commitment to giving back. The teenager and her parents, Louise and
Keith Grove, from Brookline, MA, sponsor a young boy named César from San Rafael. Kerry uses her babysitting money to pay half of the sponsorship.
Kerry and her father traveled to Guatemala on a Vision
Team last month. They had a very moving experience visiting their
sponsored student and set an ambitious goal for themselves after they
returned: to find 100 Sponsors for San Rafael children among their
friends and family.
Visit our blog for a brief video of Kerry talking about her sponsorship and her visit with
César.
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Occupational therapy class learns life skills through arts and crafts
Krista (far right), construction staff member Pablo, and a recent team.
 | Some of you may know Krista Lengacher, a long-term volunteer who has coordinated Vision Teams in Guatemala. She recently had the opportunity to help out with Common Hope's occupational therapy class and wrote about her experience on our blog: My real profession (no, I'm not a trained hospitality coordinator or
professional blogger) is speech-pathology. Beginning in January, I
took over as "teacher" of an occupational therapy class that was
originally developed for young adults with moderate to severe cognitive
and/or learning disabilities.
Because special education in Guatemala does not exist in public
schools, often times students with special needs end up leaving school
at a young age. [read more...]
What are your memories from your volunteer experience? Send Kate Lucas an email if you would like to share your story in our eNews or on our blog. |
Global Giving UK success Common Hope had an incredible showing of support from our friends in the UK for the April Global Giving UK Project Challenge. We raised nearly £4,000
from 66 generous souls toward education for impoverished Guatemalan youth --
more than any other participating charity. This not only met the challenge but
put us in first place, earning a £1,000 bonus prize!
Marcus du Sautoy raised a large portion of the funds through his Naming Symmetries for Charity project. Jeremy Masters and Roger Hornett of The Crown and Punch Bowldisplayed information through their pub and collected donations on our behalf. And a last minute
push by board members Tom Joyce and Annette Atkins put us in first
place,
earning us a bonus prize of £1000!
Thanks to all who made this campaign a success. Your enthusiasm and generosity made all the difference!
Photo Caption: Shirley's story was featured on Common Hope's Global Giving UK Project Challenge page.
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Recess toys needed
Our May need of the month is recess toys: jump ropes, soccer balls, sidewalk chalk, etc. A big thank you to all who have already dropped off blankets and other supplies! Your supply collections help Common Hope to provide opportunities for students and families in Guatemala while saving thousands of dollars that can be directed toward other pressing program needs. Please help us reach our goal. |
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Long-term volunteers needed
Common Hope is currently seeking four full-time, long-term volunteers to support our programs in Guatemala. The following positions are yearlong commitments:
For more information or to apply, visit our website.
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Bilingual teachers neededPre-school and primary school teachers, bilingual or with intermediate Spanish skills, are needed this summer to work with our partner organization, Let's Be Ready, featured in our last eNews and on our blog. The organization works to prepare impoverished Guatemalan children for first grade. The time commitment is at least three weeks. If interested,
contact Fred Zambroski via email.
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