<div>My name is Karen Wilke Alvarez, and I live in Vuelta Grande, a small rural village tucked high in the hills about 30 minutes outside of Antigua, Guatemala. My good friend, Rose Deroos, and I have been working alongside community leaders here to create an afterschool and vacation program for local children--and we need your help to make it possible.
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<div><strong>What We’re Doing</strong>
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<div>This four-week program is completely volunteer-run and was requested by local leaders and parents who want more opportunities for their children — especially in learning English.
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<div>Afterschool Program: 2 weeks (2:00–5:00 PM)
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<div>Vacation Program: 2 weeks (9:00–12:00 PM)
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<div>The program includes English classes, hands-on art activities, and team sports designed to build confidence, English literacy, and creativity.
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<div><strong>Our Goal</strong>
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<div>We’re raising $400 USD to cover:
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<li>Snacks for every child (juice box + banana daily, cookies for special days)
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<li>Class materials: markers, construction paper, scissors, glue, notebooks, pencils, crayons
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<li>Arts &amp; crafts supplies to make the learning fun and hands-on
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<div>Every dollar goes directly to the children’s experience and learning.
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<div><strong>About Vuelta Grande</strong>
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<div>Vuelta Grande is a tight-knit Mayan community surrounded by fields of flowers, corn, and beans–the main crops that sustain most families here. Life in the village is peaceful but challenging. The steep roads make it difficult for larger transportation vehicles to reach, which means few outside programs make it here.
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<div>Families work incredibly hard, often selling flowers in the markets of Antigua or doing agricultural work nearby. Most households don’t have access to books, and English is not taught in the school because there are no English teachers available.
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<div>Yet the children are eager to learn. They come to class smiling, full of curiosity, and ready to take on the world.
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<div><strong>Why English Matters</strong>
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<div>In an area where tourism plays a huge role in employment, learning English can truly change a child’s future. It can open doors to better jobs, higher education, and communication beyond the borders of their small village.
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<div>This program is just the first step toward a larger dream — funding a full-time English teacher for Vuelta Grande.
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<div><strong>Why Your Help Matters</strong>
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<div>For $400, we can give dozens of children their first chance to learn English, express themselves creatively, and see that people care about their potential. We’ll be using your donations to purchase one juice box and one banana per day for each child (and cookies for special days) as well as the materials we’ll need to sustain the arts and English programs.
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<div>It’s a small investment with a huge ripple effect–empowering children, inspiring parents, and strengthening an entire community.
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<div>Thank you for helping us make this happen. Your support means the world to the kids of Vuelta Grande.
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<div><strong>Please spread the word!</strong>
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<div>Together, we can build brighter futures — one banana, one notebook, one smile at a time.
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Jay Rey

Erika Wilke

Tracy Wagley

Steven Bavaria

Molly Malone

Suzy Lewicki

Mary Anne Wilke

Leann McKeown

Amy Lipowski

Fay & Joe Menkin

Tara Taylor

Mary Ann Bavaria

Donate to Empower Vuelta Grande's Kids

Just $443$ to go! Make an impact.

Donate to Empower Vuelta Grande's Kids

Just $443 to go!
Make an impact.