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A grad student from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
conducts developmental tests with a student.
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Measuring the effects of books and words
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Perhaps the single best predictor of a child's success in school is the number of words he or she knows. The greater a child's vocab, the better a child does academically and, later on, professionally. This is a key understanding of our reading promotion initiative, which helps parents develop their children's vocabulary before they get to school, setting them on the path to success. Parents learn how to enjoy books with their children -- even parents who cannot read -- to converse, ask questions, and tell stories together.
The project is off to a great start this year with the visit of eight graduate students from the communication sciences and disorders program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In Guatemala for a week and a half, the group is running developmental evaluations on 80 children ages 3 and 4.
The testing will help ensure our reading initiative is making a difference for children. Half of the children being evaluated were in the program last year, so we can measure what progress they've made. The other half will participate in the program this year, so we'll have a baseline to compare to as they develop. Strategic planning director Jeff Barnes says this is part of the serious effort we are putting into monitoring and evaluating the program. "We're not just trying to help people, we want to know that we are," he says, "and learn how we can do better."
We're very fortunate to have graduate students from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which has one of the best communication sciences and disorders programs in the country. Continue reading...
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A brother and sister pick up their supplies in San Rafael.
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3,268 bags of school supplies
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It's the season of school supply festivals for Common Hope. Students come to collect all the pencils, books, and other supplies they'll need for the new school year, which begins this month. Over four days in four different communities (Antigua, San Rafael, San Miguel Milpas Altas, and New Hope), 3,268 students came to pick up their school supply bags. Congrats to all staff involved in this organizational and logistical feat.
To view more photos from the school supply days, click here.
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 | Children from SCOPE Academy held a bake sale for students in Guatemala.
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Bake sale for Guatemala, art sale to come
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Preschool students from SCOPE Academy in Ohio recently put on a bake sale to raise money for children in San Rafael. Anne Reiman, a teacher and former volunteer for Common Hope in Guatemala, worked with her class to raise money on behalf of Susana, the Guatemalan student that Anne sponsors. With their bake sale, the class raised $374 to be put toward San Rafael education and food baskets for Susana's family. Students also made some fun, crafty letters to send to Susana.
Later this year, SCOPE Academy will hold a student art auction, with proceeds going to Common Hope. Many thanks to Anne and her SCOPE preschoolers for the creative fundraising!
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Each year we need to translate approximately 11,000 sponsorship letters.
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¿Habla Español? Looking for translators...
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Our sponsorship staff are in need of translators to help with the 11,000 letters that are written between sponsors and students each year. We have some need for translation of electronic letters, a task that can be done remotely from anywhere in the world. Our greater need is for translation of hard copy letters, either working at the St. Paul office or taking letters home to translate. Some people like to translate together to bounce ideas off each other if they get stuck. Consider hosting a translating get-together with Spanish-speaking friends and see how many you can get done.
If interested, please contact Kate Heider or Jessie Szopinski at (651) 917-1045 or send an email.
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 | | Maynor, who is starting 10th grade in February, needs a sponsor. |
Leader in San Rafael needs a sponsor
| Maynor lives in San Rafael and is part of the small but growing number of students in the community who are continuing on to secondary school. He will start the 10th grade this February. Maynor is doing well in his studies and says he is learning a lot. "Sometimes school is difficult," he says, "but I am studying hard and I do not give up easily." In his free time, Maynor likes to play soccer and spend time with his friends, and he also likes to study. His goals for after high school are to find a job and to continue playing soccer on a team.
If you can support Maynor on his journey to high school graduation, please contact Jessie Szopinski via email, call (651) 917-0917, or sponsor him online. Thank you! |
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 Openings for Vision Teams | Interested in planning a vacation with a vision? In 2013, we have the following openings:
- April 13-20
- August 25-September 1
- Sep 8-15
- Sep 22-29
- Dec 1-8
You can check out the trip calendar on our website. Talk to your friends, family, and co-workers, and start planning your trip of a lifetime. |
 Looking for office & warehouse space | Common Hope's lease is expiring at the end of September, and we have learned from our landlord that we will need to vacate our current space. We are reviewing our options and prefer to remain in the St. Paul Midway area. We need approximately 3500-4000 sq. ft.
If you know of available space that is reasonably priced, please contact Colleen Tracy at 651-917-0917 or send an email. |
 Notes from the Field | | Want to have a closer look at what's happening in Guatemala? Check out our blog, Notes from the Field, where recent stories include a reflection from US staff member Brianna Jensen on her recent trip to Guatemala, 1.5 years after she served as a long-term volunteer. |
 Save the date for Noche de Colores |
Our biennial benefit Noche de Colores will be held in Minneapolis on Friday, May 10 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center and in Chicago on Friday, September 27 at the Union League Club of Chicago. Supporters in the Twin Cities area, look for invitations in March. For those in the Chicago area, look for invitations this summer.
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 Work for Common Hope in Guatemala | We have a number of long-term volunteer openings in Guatemala. These positions come with a living stipend and additional benefits. Long-term volunteering can be a great way to experience life in another country and contribute to a cause you believe in. Open positions include a Vision Team Coordinator, Housing Program Assistant, Mathematics Coordinator, and a Physician.
Details and requirements here. |
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