February 2023
My wife, Brenda and I recently returned from a visit to Chocolá. In many ways it was the “usual” meeting of our students, school directors, teachers, community leaders and other friends. It is always uplifting to meet with most of our scholarship students and many of their parents. They all tell us how grateful they are for the scholarship support. More importantly, they all now recognize the importance of pursuing an education and earning a graduation certificate. In years past, many of these parents would have insisted that their sons work in the fields and their daughters stay at home to learn how to take care of the family. Such limiting vision for their children fostered more of the same poverty and social darkness that they faced as kids. The change has been remarkable, and we are proud to proclaim that accomplishment.
We now support 68 students with scholarships to attend middle school or high school. An additional 4 students are earning college degrees thanks to our Leland Chambers Memorial Scholarship Fund support. The number of students who have already requested assistance to attend college after graduating high school is growing. Unfortunately, we can’t commit to each request for funds, but it is heartening to see the keen interest in higher education among our students. They fully understand the difference an education can make for themselves and their families.
We discovered that several students we supported over the past few years are now working in jobs that were previously unavailable to them without at least a high school degree. Three of our 2022 high school graduates are now eagerly asking to provide mentoring and tutoring for our current students as a form of community service. We are glad to have them continue as part of our community service program and stay involved with our students in this way. One of those former students works part time as a hair stylist (with equipment provided by an Amigos donor), while the other two are still searching for their first job. It won’t be long until they are employed with the determination and spirit they display!
Students in high school and middle school returned to the classroom for the first time since the spread of COVID in 2020. We were greeted at both schools in Chocolá by smiling students, faculty and administrators, all excited to be back together in a learning environment. The energy was palpable and gave us a greater motivation to continue our work to “Overcome Poverty Through Education”.
We are fortunate to have three of our Amigos board members residing in Guatemala. They are Anne Kraemer, Victor Diaz Can and Oscar Pablo Segundo. They along with our Administrator Lety Yaxon met with us in Chocolá to exchange ideas about Amigos’ vision going forward. We are enriched by the familiarity with local cultural norms and wisdom in charitable organizations these folks provide. I am confident that our vision for educational opportunities in Chocolá is not only in good hands in Guatemala, but is moving forward at a pace that will make a difference for that community.
Thanks for your support of our mission!
John Hill, CEO