IMPACT NEWSLETTER
Photo Credit: José Ramírez
Spring 2022: Investing in the Future After almost two years of mandated government closure, we finally welcomed our students back to in-person learning in January! This return also marked our first 9th grade class on campus. Despite adding our final grade last year during our fully remote learning program, this was the first time having them in person with us. This is the culmination of a long-term vision for Safe Passage seeing students reach this critical point in their education. And it is very timely, as we prepare for our new middle school, the Innovative Learning Center, which will provide the space and resources for our older students. Thank you for helping us reach this important milestone and in allowing us to continue providing education for our students. While the road ahead will not be easy, considering the academic and health setbacks from the shutdown, we have a lot to celebrate this year and we couldn’t have done it without you.
CREATING LASTING OPPORTUNITIES Professional & Work Development Programs
During the pandemic, we were able to continue opening doors for our students through our Oportunidades and Próximo Paso programs. This included a partnership with Guatemalan business, EPA, which has been extended and will wrap up this summer. Not only did we raise money through donations from EPA’s clients and cashiers, but several of our students were also able to participate in a mentorship program, where they will earn a diploma in construction at the end. Some of the hands-on skills taught include the general process of construction, proper use of materials, and project budgeting. This knowledge will enable them to find employment outside of the garbage dump or even become entrepreneurs themselves later on. Learn more about our Professional & Work Development Programs by visiting www.safepassage.org/ourprograms/professional-and-work-development.
AND BUILDING FOR TOMORROW Last year we raised the funds for the bricks and mortar of our new middle school, the
The Innovative Learning Center
Innovative Learning Center. Since then, we have been working hard to make this dream a reality and break ground on this project. While we have encountered a delay of approximately 3-5 months, due to permitting issues, we are still ahead of most other similar projects in the area and hope to move ahead in the near future. We will keep everyone updated on the progress and are looking forward to providing our teens with the quality schooling that they deserve. Learn more about our new middle school, or take a virtual tour, by visiting www.safepassage.org/innovative-learning-center. Photo credit: José Ramírez
MEMORIAL TRIBUTE - A LIFE WELL LIVED The entire Safe Passage family was saddened by the news of Carolyn Montgomery’s passing. When we reflect for even a moment on the fact that she has been a supporter and friend to our community for over fourteen years, it is impossible to describe the power of such care and love… She will always be a member of our family. - Thomas Holland (Safe Passage, Executive Director) Carolyn (Carol) Montgomery was
included China, Costa Rica, Honduras,
born April 7th, 1930 and passed on
the Philippines and many others). She
Christmas Day, 2020 at the age of
had a special love for Latin cultures,
90. Carol lived a joyful and purpose
regions and people and taught
driven life, as evidenced by the
herself Spanish while supporting two
personal mission statement she
neighbors who were learning English.
created for herself. Carol built friendships wherever “...Always have a goal to work
she went; having an uncanny ability
towards…Do something to help
to spot connections with folks and
someone else everyday…use my
invite them into her life. Upon Carol’s
money, time and talents to make life
passing she left significant gifts to
more pleasant for others…”
over 36 beneficiaries; including Safe Passage and roughly 5-6 other non-profit organizations.
These principles guided Carol daily.
She also left funds earmarked to support the educational endeavors of many friends she called family.
Born in Tulsa, OK, she graduated from high school there and went on to receive a degree from Arizona State
Carol became a long-time supporter of Safe Passage in
University. Carol worked in the field of phlebotomy,
2004, giving on a monthly basis, after she made a trip
and retired as an Outreach Supervisor at St. Joseph’s
to Antigua and visited the garbage dump neighborhood
Hospital in Houston, TX. Her retirement ended Carol’s
while there. She had heard about our work from a
service to others in a professional capacity, but was just
friend and although she was never able to visit campus
the start to many selfless and service driven adventures
directly, she said she had “first hand knowledge of what
for Carol over the next 16 years.
a wonderful organization you have.” Her consistent generosity for so many years touched countless
In 2004 Carol left Houston and settled on 32 acres of
individuals. Like Hanley’s own legacy, Carol’s incredible
farmland nestled between Carmine and Burton, TX. There
bequest to Safe Passage will continue to impact so many
she launched herself into service to the community of
lives in our community and her gift will live on, long after
Burton in numerous ways. Through the Warmshowers
her.
cycling community, she welcomed over 1,100 cyclists passing through to utilize a loft space on her property,
For the full memorial tribute, or if you are interested in
was a founding member of the Bridge Ministry of Burton,
including Safe Passage in your estate plans, please visit:
a pillar in her church community, and an active member of Habitat for Humanity (where her travels with them
www.safepassage.org/legacy.
SAFE PASSAGE GLOBAL HAPPENINGS Week of Caring We recently held our annual Week of Caring, where ANY GIFT GIVEN (outside of existing pledges or current recurring gifts) were DOUBLED, up to $30,000! Thanks to you, we raised $44,388, in addition to the matching funds. Also, special thanks to generous donors, Heather Garni and Daniel Pozen, for making this Match Challenge possible. Dan and I first learned of Safe Passage while we were working at the American School of Guatemala almost 20 years ago. We were acutely aware that the resources available to our students was not the norm for the majority of Guatemalan students. Eager to donate both time and money, we were told about Hanley and the amazing things she was doing in the dump. The rest is history, as we have held this organization near and dear to our hearts through the years. We continue to be both inspired and motivated by all that Safe Passage has been able to accomplish since its inception and look forward to watching it grow even more!
- Heather Garni & Dan Pozen
September 9-18, 2022 Join us for our 18th Annual 5K. You can participate virtually from anywhere in the world and can run, walk, skip, or jump to support our students! Head to www.safepassage.org/our-events to sign-up and consider sharing this event with your friends and neighbors by creating a peer-to-peer fundraising page when you register.
Join us Online! As many supporters already know, we recently started a new Facebook page. What many don’t know are the reasons behind this change, after building our online network for over 13 years. To provide more insight, we decided to partner with Chris Burnham from Sonar Digital, a local Maine marketing company. Head to www.safepassage.org/what-happened-to-facebook to read more about what happened to us and many other NGOs like ours. You can also like, follow, and share our new page. Or join us on our new LinkedIn and TikTok accounts!
Safe Passage/Camino Seguro U.S. 49 Farm View Dr, Suite 302, New Gloucester, ME 04260 | 207-846-1188 Guatemala 6a. Avenida 11-95, Zona 7 Colonia Landivar, Ciudad de Guatemala | 502-2440-4388 www.safepassage.org | info@safepassage.org