Sponsorship Update 2021 - English

SPONSORSHIP UPDATE 2021

2021 has been a year filled with challenge, sorrow, hope, and reenvisioning.

Our team has stayed very busy distributing food, calling families to check in on their physical and mental health, and providing remote education through work packets and video lessons. Your support this year as a sponsor has allowed students and families to stay healthy and keep learning, and as a result, kids will be welcomed back to their classrooms in 2022 to begin hybrid learning. Thank you for providing students in Guatemala City’s garbage dump community with access to continued education, allowing them to remain on pathways to better opportunities.

COVID-19 IN GUATEMALA The Guatemalan health authorities publish a daily update of the active cases in the country. The most recent update shows that the number of active Covid-19 cases decreased to approximately 2,000, compared to 6,000 in August and September when the rate of positive test results was also higher.

This chart is updated every two weeks and the alerts indicate the following risk levels: Red - Maximum Orange - High Yellow - Moderate Green - New normal

According to the health authorities, the As of November 12, the municipality number of severe cases decreased after where our school is located has an vaccines started to become available. orange alert. The occupancy in public places and public transportation must The Ministry of Health implemented an be capped at 50% capacity, appropriate Alert Chart based on a color system social distancing and face masks are to identify how each municipality is required, and use of hand sanitizer and constant hand washing should be doing. Based on the level of alert, the restrictions vary. practiced.

VACCINATIONS The vaccination process in Guatemala has been slow, however as of November, over 4 million eligible people have been fully vaccinated, from age 12 to senior citizens.

Vaccinations on Campus We held a vaccination clinic on September 28 on campus, and together with the Ministry of Health and La Red (a group formed by the different community organizations that serve the population around the dump), we were able to vaccinate 648 people with their first shot. This activity required teamwork and dedication, and we are grateful for having the opportunity to help the community we serve access vaccines!

Photo Credit: José Ramírez

The second date of our vaccination clinic was on November 30. On this date we were able to vaccinate 366 persons, including 12 adolescents who received their first Pfizer shot.

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES

October 5 - Children’s Day celebration with all the families that are part of Safe Passage.

September 25 and October 2 Children’s day celebration with the families from Safe Passage that are part of our Family Nurturing Program.

Photo Credit: José Ramírez

Children’s Day In Guatemala we celebrate Children’s Day on October 1. At Safe Passage we divided our celebrations into three dates:

Return to Campus It has been more than a year and a half of not being able to see our students in our facilities for regular classes. After receiving approval from the Ministry of Education, we were finally able to welcome them back to school the first week of November for psychological and academic assessments.

Our teachers and staff learned the many protocols that will need to be taken when the students come to school, during classes, and while they are in common areas. We will be constantly monitoring signs and symptoms of illness in order to identify possible cases and prevent spread.

The return to campus was marked by the use of facemasks, social distancing, and hygiene and safety standards. This was mixed with shyness, curiosity, and so much joy and happiness (of course) from our teachers and students to be able to gather! Listening to the students say “my school is so big” when they saw their new classrooms was so heartwarming, and their reactions encourage us as we go into a new school year.

It is worth mentioning that our school reopening in November happened when Guatemala City was under an orange Covid alert. We hope to continue under the same alert so we are able to welcome our students back for the 2022 school year. If we are under red alert, education will need to be remote with the continued delivery of homework, study guides, and follow-up from our teacher ambassadors.

ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS Our Oportunidades and Próximo Paso programs provide our older students with opportunities for work experience and mentorship, as well as support with their classes and school work. This year, we had many special projects thanks to partnerships with private companies such as EPA and TELUS. We are on track to collaborate with many more in 2022.

Adaptation Course - VisualK Group Due to the crisis caused by Covid-19, we were forced to close our facilities and cancel our activities. This included our innovative technology course, which gave easy access to technology for our students. Instead our students have been limited to printed study guides, putting technology aside.

In order to address this need and give our students the opportunity to become more familiar with technology, we created an adaptation course in partnership with VisualK Group.

The content studied during this time helped students adapt and acquire basic knowledge of new platforms and apps. They also received academic support in math and language.

The participants are very happy to have had this opportunity and to have learned new and valuable skills.

Construction Diploma - EPA Thanks to the initiative “Ayudar es sencillo” by EPA Guatemala, our current and former Oportunidades students started a construction certificate program on July 31, 2021.

During this time, the students have acquired basic knowledge in topics related to construction. Additionally they received a kit that includes a shovel, measuring tape, safety gloves and glasses, among other tools. The participants of the certificate also visited an EPA store where they could see the store, learn about the different services that EPA provides to its customers, and share and learn from the cashiers about the fundraising activity for this project to be executed.

GRADUATIONS We are so happy to share that November 10 and December 3 were special days because we celebrated the graduation of our students: from Jardín (Kindergarten) who next year will begin elementary school, our 6th graders who next year will continue their education in junior high, and with much joy we celebrated the first class of 9th graders, who next year will start their high school education. We also celebrated the graduation of our Oportunidades high school students.

Due to the current situation and following all the prevention protocols, the ceremony for Jardín and Colegio students took place only with the participation of the parents present, who were so proud and happy to receive their sons’ and daughters’ diplomas.

For the graduation of Oportunidades students we were able to have parents and students with us at the ceremony.

Congratulations to the students and parents, and we hope that these academic achievements are just the beginning of a promising future and opportunities for our students and for their families.

IN GRATITUDE “I want to thank the sponsors who make the reopening possible, without your help, the dream of seeing our students come back to school wouldn’t be happening”

-Yeni Sanum (Colegio Teacher)

“Thanks for the effort you make to improve the life of all the students, because they really value and appreciate the love and unconditional support from each of you.”

-Nohemy Marroquín (8th Grade Teacher)

FROM OUR TEACHERS AND MOMS

“The school reopening has been meaningful in the lives of our students, and for us, the teachers who are part of Safe Passage. We appreciate the support you give so this can be possible.”

-Blanca Pedroza (7th Grade Teacher)

“We are so happy to be in the classrooms and see how much our students have grown, listen to their laughs and hear their anecdotes, some happy, others sad. It was beautiful to share with them the excitement of being together.”

-Johanna Nisthal (Colegio Teacher)

Safe Passage Camino Seguro

¡Muchas Gracias! to all of our sponsors who supported students in 2021! You have made all of this and more possible.

What motivated me to become a sponsor for Safe Passage is the fact of knowing that not all children have the opportunity to study and use the gifts and talents that God gave them. I like being a sponsor for Safe Passage because it is a program that takes care of each child, and through sponsorship we can help children to become better men and women and be a valuable part of the future of our country.

-Ana Luisa (Guatemalan Sponsor) I signed up to sponsor a student and made plans to visit Safe Passage and my student. I was very impressed with the school and support services that are provided to the community and the staff’s commitment and work...I like that she is a part of my life—that she is my friend and that I have a commitment to her.

-Gayle Turner (United States Sponsor) 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