Our Proposal To You
Donation protected
Twenty-two of us from Augustana College went to Guatemala with the purpose to learn about the effect of culture on child development. In preparation for this trip we learned about developing countries and the poverty faced in these areas. However, no preparation in the world could have completely prepared us for what we encountered while visiting a community called Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan. We were welcomed, like family, into a community where most of us could not communicate with them. There was music. There was dancing. And there were the smiling faces of men, women and children who were very happy to see us--so happy that they took the time to give us each a gift of a shawl that was woven by the women in the community.
We were escorted to the community center where community leaders gave a short presentation about their association, el Buen Sembrador (The Good Sower) which is dedicated to growing food for the 90% of the people in their area who are either in poverty or extreme poverty ["extreme poverty" is defined by the U.N. as a family living on less than $1 US per day]. This area of Guatemala has been severely hit by Hurricanes Mitch (1998) and Stan (2005) as well as Tropical Storm Agatha (2010). Although the Guatemalan government relocated some of the people affected by these storms, no help has been given to those who remained in their homes. In fact, these communities have been completely ignored by the Guatemalan government.
Their presentation ended with a formal proposal to us to help their effort in meeting the needs of the poor in their community. They wanted us to share their story and help raise awareness about the poverty these communities are facing. We have taken this proposal seriously. The communities that this money will be helping are those who do not live in adequate shelter, do not have a sufficient food supply nor do they have the opportunity to receive an education. Poverty to us is a picture on a page or a scene in a movie, but to them it is their everyday life.
We were presented with a formal proposal and this is our proposal to you. Please consider donating to this cause. $12.50 can support a child by providing food, water, etc. for one month. We can never eliminate poverty, but we can certainly reduce it.
If you have any questions about our mission please feel free to contact Katie Weiss ([email redacted]) or Leah Baumgart ([email redacted]).
We were escorted to the community center where community leaders gave a short presentation about their association, el Buen Sembrador (The Good Sower) which is dedicated to growing food for the 90% of the people in their area who are either in poverty or extreme poverty ["extreme poverty" is defined by the U.N. as a family living on less than $1 US per day]. This area of Guatemala has been severely hit by Hurricanes Mitch (1998) and Stan (2005) as well as Tropical Storm Agatha (2010). Although the Guatemalan government relocated some of the people affected by these storms, no help has been given to those who remained in their homes. In fact, these communities have been completely ignored by the Guatemalan government.
Their presentation ended with a formal proposal to us to help their effort in meeting the needs of the poor in their community. They wanted us to share their story and help raise awareness about the poverty these communities are facing. We have taken this proposal seriously. The communities that this money will be helping are those who do not live in adequate shelter, do not have a sufficient food supply nor do they have the opportunity to receive an education. Poverty to us is a picture on a page or a scene in a movie, but to them it is their everyday life.
We were presented with a formal proposal and this is our proposal to you. Please consider donating to this cause. $12.50 can support a child by providing food, water, etc. for one month. We can never eliminate poverty, but we can certainly reduce it.
If you have any questions about our mission please feel free to contact Katie Weiss ([email redacted]) or Leah Baumgart ([email redacted]).
Organiser
Katie Weiss
Organiser
Rock Island, IL
