ICO GUATEMALA Updates from the ground
So here we had $15,000 worth of medicines (which, to tell you the truth, isn’t quite as much as you would think) to give to Dr. Mayron from San Pedro, to be distributed to 6 health clinics around the lake. The health team arrived at the hotel and we opened up one of the boxes so that they could leave half of its contents with our nurse in San Antonio. The team was so, so excited by the sight of all these boxes and bottles of coveted medicines. It turned out that these medicines were all that they expected to receive during the entire year … not nearly enough for the 310,000 people in the region. Next year, we will try to bring twice as much.
Guatemalan Education System In Guatemala, educators work in difficult circumstances. Schooling, like most social services, is chronically underfunded here. The school supplies promised by the government don’t arrive, and nobody is surprised. School is ready to start, and many teachers have no contract, not having received the pay-raise they were promised last year. Odilio, the principal of one of San Antonio’s schools, is paid to work the morning shift, but there’s no money forthcoming for the afternoon shift which he works anyway. Vicente, the principal of the other school, has begged roofing material from a Swiss friend, and when we arrive is supervising construction; the government has no money to repair leaky roofs. Both men ask us for help in constructing additional classrooms; the schools are filled to bursting. We ask for detailed budgets, and in the meantime work with both principals to draw up a list of essential school supplies. Kathy and I spend a hectic day in the nearby town of Panajachel ordering school supplies to deliver to both of San Anto-
nio’s schools -- supplies that will ensure that every child arriving at school will have pencils or pens, a notebook, paper and crayons. 100% of Donatations go to Initiavtives. Accounts are 100% Transparent. Dontate now at www.innovativecommunities.org.