Building Basic Education in Guatemala:

Report from Bill Lawless, December 2011

Building Basic Education in Guatemala started in 2007 when the presentation was made by Hearts and Hands. The project involves building new classroom additions onto current schools in the Municipality of Uspantan, Quiche, Guatemala. Bill has made three trips to Guatemala since 2008.

Since the start, there have been school additions built in 8 villages totaling 19 classrooms plus 3 play areas, 2 kitchens and 1 set of latrines. By spring time in 2013, 19 more classrooms will be finished in 8 more villages.

Each trip taken is in conjunction with the Hearts and Hands foundation which had an original focus on building stoves for the Mayan families to improve the health of the Mayans through eliminating smoke from their houses when using open fires to cook etc.

Each trip usually has a minimum of 10-12 volunteers from Canada and can range up to approximately 30 individuals. Hearts and Hands Foundation uses Peace Corps members from the U.S. to join the teams and act as interpreters while also very involved in the building of stoves.

Hearts and Hands are a very important partner in this project as they perform an enormous amount of leg work in oversight and coordination and liaison of the Building Basic Education in Guatemala project with the Municipal offices in Uspantan as well as the villages.

The multi-year project has stated goals and is as follows:
• To add classrooms onto existing schools for grades K - 6.
• To improve the learning environment.
• To reduce the overcrowding.
• To increase enrollment.
• Increase the number of kids attending and graduating from Grade 6.

These goals are closely aligned with the Ripple Effect Program from Manitoba district 5550. We consider ourselves as a branch of the Ripple Effect (REP) efforts in Guatemala. However, we operate slightly different from them as we focus only on the municipality of Uspantan whereas they can have projects all over Guatemala. Our selected villages do not come through the Guatemala Ripple effect committee and Rotary Clubs of Guatemala. Because of our focus we work with the Municipality, Hearts and Hands a Rotary Club in Guatemala to select, coordinate and execute our projects.

Working together the Rotary Clubs of Calgary West and Canmore have established a partnership in executing this project. We have partnered with other Rotary Clubs of District 5360, the Alberta Government through CIP, The Rotary Foundation, REP and their connection/ contract with CRCID, as well as Rotary Clubs of Guatemala. We have put together approximately $330,000 CND to complete the 38 classrooms by 2013. We have significantly addressed the first four objectives stated above however, it will take a few years address and measure the results of attendance and in particular the graduating numbers of students from Grade 6.

The villages we have completed:
(click the village name to see photos of the completed classrooms)

2008 - Los Chivitos
- 2 classrooms and a cement play area
2010 - Las Pacayas
- 3 classrooms
2010 - San Antonio Chiquito
- 2 classrooms, 1-kitchen, and a cement play area
2010 - Tierra Blanca Pericón
- 3 classrooms and a cement play area
2011 - Xejul
- 2 classrooms
2011 - Chipaj
- 2 classrooms
2011 - La Lagunita Chipaj
- 3 classrooms, latrines and a kitchen
2011 - Baxil
- 2 classrooms

If you would like to learn more about the project please contact Bill Lawless blawless@shaw.ca Rotary Club of Calgary West, and Doug Jones jones.treetops@shaw.ca Rotary Club of Canmore.

For information on this project from its beginning visit: Guatemala Project

Ensenada House Construction:

The project involves providing shelter (300 sq.ft. home) for a family in the Ensenada area of Mexico. These families are poor and live in squalor conditions. Each home furnished costs approx. $7,000. We have worked with YWAM of San Diego for the build and Rotary club of Ensenada.

The project has also provided an opportunity for kids from the Boys and Girls club of Calgary as well as kids from the Kids Cancer Care Foundation to participate in the build as well. To date the club has funded 4 homes since our initial involvement.

pictures of the project coming soon!

Micro-credit Banking:

Providing loans to allow women to become self-reliant in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ghana, and Malawi

2010 Calgary Microcredit Conference

Hawkers Market:

Provided $6,000 in funding to build and supply a facility for Girls off the streets in Nairobi, Kenya to learn skills and that will allow them to move onto secondary education. The funds were used for Solar Panels, Sewing Machines, and supplies for sewing such as threads and materials.

Malawi School for Girls:

We provided funding of $6,000 to the Malawi School. Of this $1,000 was used for a bursary to send Msatida Richard, the other $5,000 was used for construction of a dormitory area for the school.

• Photos from the : 2011 Graduation Ceremony
• We are currently sponsoring Egritter Mnokote
• Marie Rickard's photos: 2010 visiting Malawi School for Girls
• Learn more at www.MalawiGirlsOnTheMove.com

Embocraft South Africa:

We provided $4,000 in funding to provide supplies to be purchased for classes held to teach Grandmothers to sew and sell their material. All of the Grandmothers are raising their grandchildren who are orphans because of the AIDS epidemic in this country.

Fandic Columbia:

FANDIC is a non-profit organization in Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia with the mission to integrate children with severe disability into family and community life. Their programs include physical, occupational and speech therapy, educational preparation and tutoring, folk dancing and other recreational activities, a community kitchen and training sessions for parents of children with disability.

Their average attendance is 40 children but the number of children and families with whom they have contact in the community is greater. We committed $5,000 to the purchase of equipment for a center for the handicapped to enjoy recreation and therapy.

Helping to End Polio:

Providing annual funding to suppport immunization campaigns in developing countries, where polio continues to infect and paralyze children.

Habitat for Humanity in Calgary:

Funded and provided volunteer support to help build 2 homes in Calgary. We have committed to a third home. We raise funds mainly through Casino nights.

Feed the Hungry:

Preparing and serving meals to the poor at St. Mary's Church Hall, and providing funding.

Calgary Military Museums:

Providing funding for educating Alberta's children on the History of WWII.

Rotary Challenger Park:

Ongoing support and funding of Calgary Rotary Challenger Park, a barrier-free meeting and recreational facility that is accessible to all people regardless of their age or ability.

Rotary Flames Partnership:

Supporting the medical community in Calgary including the children's hospice. We have donated funds to Build The Rotary Flames Children's Hospice as well as The Park at Ronald MacDonald House.

Art a la Carte:

Providing art and "Sky Windows" for patients at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre to help healing by transforming sterile, clinical hospital environments into places of comfort and warmth.

Additional Organizations Supported:

Accessible Housing
Alpha House
Back Door
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Boy Scouts
Calgary Drop-in Centre
Calgary Interfaith Food Bank
Calgary Meals on Wheels
Calgary Police Service - Simon the Safety Bear
Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter
Croation Relief Fund
Foothills Hospital Learning Centre
Kid's Cancer Care Foundation
Kirby Rotary House
Lord Shaughnessy High School
Motive-Action Youth Training Foundation
Native Outreach
Operation Eyesight Universal
Salvation Army
Schizophrenia Society Calgary Chapter
Street Kids International
Streetlights Youth Outreach
Tsunami Relief
William Roper Hull Home

Visit the Pictorials Page to see the Club in Action at local events