IMPACT NEWSLETTER FALL 2023 We Are Safe Passage—Stories of what drives us. In the nearly 25 years in which Safe Passage has been operating, we have seen a remarkable amount of change and growth—from the programming and services we offer, to our leadership, staff, supporters and the community itself. Throughout all these changes, we have kept the community and their needs and strengths at the center of our work, and have stayed mission focused. While supporters, students, volunteers, and staff have come and gone—they have each left an indelible mark on our community and work through their indi-
vidual contributions. Those that have moved on remain a part of the Safe Passage family, in how they share our story and work with future supporters. We recently asked some of these members of our community how Safe Passage has impacted them personally; what they are proud of, what struck them most about their experiences on campus, and what they have achieved as part of this community. We hope you will read on, as they share their stories.
SAFE PASSAGE THROUGH THE YEARS
WORDS FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear Friends, In an ever more complicated world, we are grateful to the devoted community that makes Safe Passage’s work possible. Guatemala is facing some painful challenges right now and our staff and students are directly impacted. I hope that you can stay abreast of what is happening and keep Safe Passage and Guatemala in your heart as we, like so many other places in the world, struggle for peace.
1999 – With local support, Hanley Denning opens a dropin center for children in the garbage dump community.
In my very short tenure, it is clear to me that Safe Passage is a truly special community— built with immense love. Despite a long history marked with change, loss, growth, and challenges, that love is woven throughout the organization and is a fundamental part of our immeasurable impact on students.
2000-2001 – Safe Passage becomes a registered 501(c) (3) organization and a formal board is established.
Over the next couple of months, we will be sharing individual stories from within our community. You will hear directly from students, teachers, staff, families, and donors about what makes our work important and special. I think that you will see and feel the love that intertwines throughout—across language, culture, and countries—to lift up, strengthen and center the power of our students, staff, and supporters to create lasting change together.
2004 – The Educational Reinforcement Center opens.
I hope that these narratives will inspire and elevate you. Our students and families face unbelievable systemic challenges and barriers which they work so hard to overcome, and our work needs your generous support. Thank you for all that you do. Please be well. Sincerely,
Erin Mooney
2007 – Safe Passage mourns the loss of founder Hanley Denning. 2008-2009 – Local staff, families, board of directors, and donors from around the world continue to drive our mission and work. 2012 – Safe Passage adopts the vision to become a fullday Pre-K through 9th grade accredited school. 2023 – Our students return to campus full-time post pandemic and we relaunch our visitor and support team programming.
Julio René González Father of two Safe Passage Students
This is the first year that we are part of Safe Passage. We feel very proud because my daughter started in her first year of preschool (six years old) and we have already seen how she has evolved and learned. She has made great progress…We are very proud to see that she is already writing her first and last name… The most beautiful thing has been the activities that my children have had at Safe Passage. The Crianza con Cariño Program was a very good experience, because they taught us about ourselves; how to help us advance economically, the importance of living together as a family unit, and getting to know each other better. For example, previously my son was more communicative with his mother and not so much with me, but we have learned to communicate better with one another.
Dharen Ramos Psychologist with Safe Passage
What caught my attention the most was the dedication and commitment that Safe Passage has to serving the community around the Guatemala City garbage dump. When I learned about the psychology department’s interventions, I completely fell in love with the services provided by focusing on the emotional well-being of the students… The way in which Safe Passage intervenes holistically motivated me to join this team. The psychology department goes far beyond providing psychological therapy, they also identify other specific needs that require referrals to other specialists or identify the need for some parents to be referred to a parenting program (Crianza con Cariño), thus having an impact on the entire community.
Ruby Hoose
Volunteer and Supporter – New York, NY
I was in awe when I first visited Safe Passage in 2006: How could so many giggling, nourished students be running around a school located directly next to a 40-acre garbage dump? 17 years and four trips to Guatemala later, I get it. Safe Passage pours nonstop love, homecooked meals, and rigorous academics into the dump community. Every dollar we donate to Safe Passage is stretched as far as it can be, and plays a critical role in reversing the cycle of poverty.
Tamika Garrison
Pastor, Rotary Club Member and Supporter – Valdese, NC
When the Safe Passage executive director gave a talk at our regional Rotary Club meeting early in 2022, I had never heard of Safe Passage. But I was blown away and thought, “This is Little Guatemala is a coffee exactly what I want to get behind.” I went to exchange, cafe, and store located my Rotary Club president and said, “I want to in Morganton, NC, which also celebrate my 40th birthday this year by having serves as a community center for a fundraiser for Safe Passage.” So we went to many Guatemalans in the area. For my friends, Christian and Erica Ramazzini, more information about the 2nd who own and operate Little Guatemala here Annual Christmas Cup Tournament in Morganton, and said, “We want to do to benefit Safe Passage, scheduled a fundraiser for this Guatemalan organizafor Saturday, December 9th, please tion…” They were already familiar with Safe email: valdeserotaryclub@gmail.com Passage—Christian is from Guatemala and or check out their Facebook Page: without hesitation he said, “Oh, that’s easy. We Rotary Club of Valdese. can do it. We can have a soccer tournament.” He added, “You know…this is my passion since we moved to the United States: bridging the cultural gap here in this small town in North Carolina. The gap still exists, but the bridge is under construction.” Together, Rotary Club of Valdese and Little Guatemala helped raise about $10,000 last year and we are making it an annual fundraiser. And that’s just one, they do it all year long for other nonprofits and community initiatives. We are all together making the whole community—local and global—stronger. Let’s pull our resources together with our hearts, our minds, our spirits, and work together and show the Guatemalan community here and within the dump community in Guatemala City that we care about them, because we are all human beings. Our hearts beat the same.
Marvin
Student in the Safe Passage Oportunidades (High School) Program
I have been part of Safe Passage for 11 years, I joined when I was 6 or 7 seven years old. When I finished middle school at Safe Passage, I wanted to continue because of the great support they have provided and the environment of teamwork, which has been valuable to me. The help from Oportunidades is very useful. The access to technology and complementary courses continues to help me advance successfully in my high school classes. I feel proud to continue reaching my goals— no matter what happens—I continue to improve and I strive to make that happen. I feel proud and grateful for the Oportunidades Program and Safe Passage, which have given me the tools to continue achieving my goals.
I feel proud to continue reaching my goals—no matter what happens—I continue to improve and I strive to make that happen.
BY THE NUMBERS Long-term supporters sustain the important mission and work of Safe Passage. Of the donors who have been contributing on an annual basis for 5 or more years:
167
257
have given for
5+
have given for
15+
Years
Years
Stephanie Lopez Psychologist at Safe Passage
Being part of Safe Passage has been a great opportunity to serve, and to learn how to value and take advantage of all the tools and resources available. Personally, it has taught me to see my life differently, to see beyond, and to be grateful. I have grown as a professional, but the greatest growth has been personal—having the opportunity to share, to be enthusiastic, and to know how to wait for the advances in each process. I also recognize the importance of my role—that in my hands is the ability to guide the student and teachers about what is best for that boy or girl. Identifying the favorable factors, and thus becoming the voice of that person. I am excited to complement the other services provided to students. Safe Passage motivates me in the professional sense, in that I want to continue studying and expanding my academic preparation, but not because it is for my own benefit, but because it means that I will be able to provide better care to these children. If I study or train in any subject, it is for them! [Stephanie tried to do her internship at Safe Passage, but wasn’t able to set it up. It wasn’t until a few years later that she came across the job opportunity with us. Stephanie has now been with Safe Passage for three and a half years and she believes that she has learned more at Safe Passage than she ever learned or experienced in college.]
150
76
have given for
have given for
10+
20+
Years
Years
527
Donors who have a recurring pledge
115 Staff members in the US and Guatemala keep Safe Passage running smoothly every day.
11 Safe Passage graduates are enrolled in University.
¡Ojo!
We currently have 527 donors giving on a recurring basis (they have pledged support either on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis). Did you know that recurring donations help stabilize our budget and project for the year ahead? If you are interested in setting up your own recurring gift visit: www.safepassage.org/recurring-giving/ or contact us at info@ safepassage.org.
Rev. Brian Gregory Volunteer and Supporter – Kirkland, WA
Luvia Hurtarte de Cabrera Executive Assistant at Safe Passage
I have been contributing to this excellent work for 10 years and my commitment is even greater since I have been able to see and be part of the change in the quality of life in our community—Safe Passage is really transforming lives and building a deserving future for our students. The love and dedication with which the educational staff teaches, the commitment of each of the departments, and the care and generosity of each of our donors are my daily motivation—together we continue to expand our programs and carry on the legacy of Hanley Denning. Education is the essential tool for meaningful change in the lives of our students. Hand in hand, we promote the values and principles that strengthen the institutional culture, which is reflected in the conduct and performance of every member of the Safe Passage community. Through the power of education and a wide range of support services, we know that every student has a better chance to succeed, so we are committed to providing the tools necessary for them to have a better future for themselves, their families, and their community.
Education is the essential tool for meaningful change in the lives of our students.
I first encountered Safe Passage on a halfday tour to see the program, facilities, and learn about the community surrounding the Guatemala City garbage dump. It was a whirlwind of information and emotions but the thing that stuck with me was the overwhelming sense of palpable hope. That hope—and a desire to see more of it—stuck with me and drew me in. At the time, I was the director of a youth program and brought a group the following year as a Support Team. If I’m honest, organizing that Support Team was more for me to see, experience, and participate more in the work of Safe Passage, though I knew the experience would make a lasting impact on the whole of our group...and it did. Support Teams have become a regular part of that organization and the stories of hope are passed down through individuals and families who have made Safe Passage a part of their stories. For me, every experience I had at Safe Passage only grew in me a desire to know and do more. After leading my second Support Team, one of the first things I said to my wife after leaving the airport was, “Would you ever consider moving to Guatemala?” It is important to note, we had a newborn at home and were moving into a new house the following day. The timing was certainly wrong to ask that question
but, the sense of “I can do more” was so strong in me that I had to say it. Skipping to the end of the story, it took two years for us to work through the question of whether we could move to Guatemala and make arrangements. In August of 2019, we moved to Guatemala with our 2 and 4-year-old children to volunteer for a year. Although that year was cut short by Covid, the hope I first encountered when touring Safe Passage five years prior has only grown—both in the community around the Guatemala City dump and in me to continue supporting the work of Safe Passage.
In August of 2019, we moved to Guatemala with our 2 and 4-yearold children to volunteer for a year.
Ky, second from left, with a Support Team in 2023.
WAYS TO GIVE RECURRING GIFT Education takes sustained support and your ongoing gift helps us plan our programs for the future. Just sign up once and your gifts, made on a recurring basis of your choosing, will help us maintain stability and more accurately budget for our programs.
Sign up
Ky Wolterbeek
MAKE AN ONLINE DONATION
Team Leader and Supporter since 2000 – Kittery, ME
Safe Passage accepts online donations with credit cards, and cryptocurrencies using BitPay.
Safe Passage embodies everything I believe in; to eradicate poverty through education. I have been on seven Support Teams. I think the team leader for six of them. Every trip I have taken, the most recent this past July, has shown the dedication of the staff and team that leads Safe Passage. I have seen the transformation from the small church which provided an educational reinforcement center to a fully accredited school that has grown not only with the education provided but the beautiful campus that continues to grow. What hasn’t changed is the incredible success they have had to improve the lives of the families they serve. I am overwhelmed on each trip to the project. The past couple of trips I have told a dear friend, who travels with me, that “this is my last trip” but each trip chips away at that thought and she tells me, “no it isn’t”. After returning in July, and seeing the amazing environment and opportunity Safe Passage provides for the students and families, I know she is right—I will keep going back. I am drawn to continue to spread the word about this organization—to keep it growing and providing the services to the Safe Passage community.
Today!
PLANNED GIVING Visit our Planned Giving page: www.safepassage. org/legacy/ to learn more about how you can become a Safe Passage Visionary!
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
Katerin
Student in the Safe Passage Oportunidades (High School) Program
My mom enrolled me at Safe Passage when I was 5 years old. What has motivated me to continue to be a part of Safe Passage every year are the teachers—who are not just teachers, but supportive and caring mentors. And my classmates who have become my life-long friends. I am graduating this year and am taking my university exams, but I still need to take a specialized exam, because I want to go to law school. My goal is to work throughout law school, in order to pay for my own expenses and not depend on my parents. But I already see myself as a lawyer.
JOIN A SUPPORT TEAM Stay in nearby Antigua and come help out at Safe Passage during a one-week visit. W W W. S A F E PA S S A G E . O R G / V O L U N T E E R /
Follow us on Social
RECENT EVENTS 5K Wrap-up
Superintendent’s Hangout Our Senior Director of Education, Patty Barneond, was recently featured on the Superintendent’s Hangout podcast series, hosted by Dr. David Sciarretta: spotify.link/w4svnjFtuDb
Our 19th Annual 5K Event (held Virtually from September 29th – October 1st, 2023) was a success. Individuals and teams from 18 US states and 6 countries participated. Together we raised roughly $28,000!
Northeast Credit Union’s Nourish Network
On November 5th, Northeast Credit Union’s Road Race Series culminated in a 5K Run/Walk Quarryside at Rock Row in Westbrook, ME. Safe Passage was one of three nonprofits to receive the Nourish Network Award and a check in support of our work. www.necu.org/race
WWW.SAFEPASSAGE.ORG
German Friends Group
In September, our friends in Germany celebrated 20 years of supporting our mission and work, with a special gathering held in Berlin. Over the years, the group has sent roughly 167 volunteers to Guatemala and raised over $1 million for Safe Passage.
U.S. 49 Farm View Dr, Suite 302, New Gloucester, ME 04260 207-846-1188 info@safepassage.org
Guatemala 6a. Avenida 11-95, Zona 7 Colonia Landivar, Ciudad de Guatemala 502-2440-4388 infoguate@safepassage.org