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Guatemala Friendship School Foundation
Newsletter |
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Hello supporters! Friendship Week is coming! As you may know, this
is our most important fundraising event of the year; it is where we raise
close to 90% of what it takes to keep our dream of education alive. And this
year, more rests on our Friendship Week success than ever before. Today, we have over 50 students attending Instituto K’amawanik’.
In addition to basico (high) we now offer the first four years of primaria
(elementary school), offering both basic education and high school
preparation. We employ six teachers (two full-time and four part-time) and
have a growing computer lab and library. But we need your help to keep the
dream of education alive for our native Mayan students! Below is our schedule for Friendship Week. Look forward to the
festivities and remember: we are a 501c3 non-profit so all of your donations
are fully tax-deductible! Donations are also accepted through PayPal on our
web site www.gfsf.org
as well as through the mail. Friday, 3/10 Kick Off Assembly at
Dickinson/Explorer Elementary from 9:30-10:15am Monday, 3/13 Coin and Dollar Drive begins Tuesday, 3/14 Friendship Grams (notes sent within the
school) sold at lunch for $1; Friendship Bracelets on sale at lunch for $2-$3
Wednesday, 3/15 Friendship Grams and Bracelets on sale;
Dinner Out! 6-8pm at Ruby’s at Redmond Town Center Thursday, 3/16 Friendship Grams and Bracelets on sale- last
day! Friday, 3/17 Coin and Dollar Drive- last day!; Crazy Hair
Day- come to school with your most wild hair! Wear your t-shirt! Friday night Friendship Fiesta Dance and Silent Auction, 7
to 9pm in the Dickinson Gym Commons; suggested donation: $2/person or
$6/family
On behalf of the students and staff of Instututo K’amawanik’ in
Guatemala, thank you for your support of our school. With your help, we’re
keeping the dream of education alive. ¡Gracias!
EHS International, Inc.: Jim and Susan O’Malley
traveled to Momostenango this past December to visit our school, Instituto
K’amawanik’. While there, Jim discovered a construction problem causing water
intrusion. His employer, EHS International Inc., a Bellevue engineering firm,
donated $300.00 to the Foundation to rebuild and reinforce the problem wall
behind the school. The company also honored Jim and Susan O’Malley as the
recipients of the Service Above Self Award, given by the
Seattle Chapter of Rotary International. Cartridge World: A big thank you to Michael
VanDaveer, owner of Cartridge World in Redmond, for supplying our school with
printer cartridges at his cost. Be sure to check out the great prices and
quality at Cartridge World: www.cartridgeworldusa.com
For the friends in the United States: Attentively,
Dear Friends, Thank you very much.
Alex was in the 5th grade when he began his volunteer work for
IK. He attended an after-school meeting to hear his former teacher, Doug
Johnson, share his story of traveling in Guatemala and meeting Abraham Calel.
The people at that meeting decided they could do something to help Abraham
achieve his dream of building a free school. Alex’s first volunteer jobs were
making presentations to other classes at Emily Dickinson Elementary and
working on fund-raising projects. After the Foundation was created in 2002 and Alex was elected to
the Board of Directors, he continued working on fund-raising projects and
helped make decisions about support for the school. In the summer of 2004,
Alex had the thrilling experience of seeing the results of those years of
work; he traveled to Guatemala to see IK for himself. While there, Alex
worked on construction projects at the school, taught English to the
students, and enjoyed playing soccer with his new Guatemalan friends. GFSF has given Alex a worldview that most Americans don’t
develop until much later in life, if at all. He’s had a first-hand look at
the gulf between middle-class America and common people in a developing
country. “It’s hard to see how we have so much and they have so little, and
not give some of what we have to them,” said Alex. And he’s trying to do his
part to give; as his senior project, Alex is organizing a golf tournament as
a fund-raiser for GFSF. Alex’s work with GFSF has opened his eyes to the world; he feels
it has made him a less selfish person. He wants to return to Central America,
maybe on a study-abroad program or maybe to do more volunteer work. His
fellow board members wish him well; they’ll miss his presence at board
meetings but are happy to know that he plans to continue his support of IK.
Several members of the Guatemala Friendship School Foundation
spent the holidays with family and friends at Instituto K'amawanik',
experiencing the true meaning of the season. Jim and Susan O’Malley, Hal and
Joanie Espy and David, Linda, Jacob (age 8) and Amaya (age 5) Dennis
delivered books, teacher gifts, classroom/computer supplies and presents to
Abraham’s family and the school. While spending time in Momostenango the team
made repairs to the classrooms and roof, organized the library, completed
administrative planning and hooked up a flushing toilet to the new sewer
system. A part-time teacher was hired into a full-time assignment, including
a role as administrative assistant. It was a rewarding and successful
adventure!
GFSF is looking to expand its Board of Directors. The Foundation
can use the help of a few good people to continue the fund-raising activities
at Emily Dickinson/Explorer Schools, to expand the project to the new Redmond
Ridge School, and to work on public relations. We especially need the help of
a board member with some experience in grant writing. If you’re interested in
serving, please contact one of the board members. (Doug Johnson at dougj@gfsf.org or 425-868-6814; Carolyn
Hitter at carolynh@gfsf.org or
425-803-0590)
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contact us at: news@gfsf.org |
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