Part 23 "Many Worthwhile Projects"

Michelle writes:

There are many, many worthwhile projects here. There is a library here that was the dream of a gal from California who had been a Peace Corps volunteer here eight years ago. These children aren't accustomed to books. Most come from homes where the parents are illiterate. They speak a dialect of Mayan and some Spanish, but the Mayan language is not a predominantly-written language. A priest (who was later murdered) had translated the New Testament into this language. The library is a bright cheery space where students come to study and have access to resources like maps which, due to lack of funding, aren't available in the classroom. 

I also visited a school that received funds from "Sharing the Dream" to assist with construction. The parents had come and hand-dug the side of a mountain to create a flat spot. A cinder block retaining wall had been built below to hold the dirt during the rainy season. This year's project is building a retaining wall to prevent a home above the school from washing down. Fathers of the students stay at the school each night to prevent vandalism. The mothers prepare and serve the snacks and meal. The few students who receive scholarships are interviewed, assuring that the student and parents are committed to the success of the student. The student must do community service to give back to the village. This is an integral part of "Sharing the Dream." Every recipient of monetary support must perform community service for the betterment of the village. I really love this philosophy.

Here's some information from their website: 

"Sharing the Dream in Guatemala is a non-profit organization that promotes fair trade with cooperatives and small businesses in Guatemala. We are committed to providing fair wages and employment opportunities to low-income artisans, which will result in creating sustainable markets for their products. Our craft products are handmade by Mayan artisans using many traditional techniques. Purchasing these crafts not only provides work for these artisans, but the profits go to support community development projects in Guatemala. Friends of Sharing the Dream is a 501c(3) organization which accepts donations to be used for projects helping the artisans and their families."

If you want to know more about "Sharing the Dream" in Guatemala, go to http://www.sharingthedream.org/