Candace, Mark & Chris Lee and Debbie Bushnell will travel to Guatemala on February 29th and return March 5th.
Tierra Linda (appropriately translated as ‘Beautiful Land’) is a small village in the mountains of Guatemala. The indigenous students’ native language is Katchiquel, but their schools are taught in Spanish. This presents a significant challenge in an impoverished area.
I have had the blessing to work with a wonderful group called Mayan Families, a fantastic 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in rural Guatemala. This is unlike any other organization. In 2009 I had the privilege to visit and witness firsthand how 100% of my donations went directly to the family we sponsored. I witness the joy on their faces, the excitement in the children’s eyes and the hope of a better future. It was an experience that left me humbled, thankful and desperate to share their stories.
In the past years, through generous fund raising efforts of supporters of Mayan Families, in addition to their elementary school, Tierra Linda now has a preschool, a middle school and a small library open for community use. Unfortunately education is not free in Guatemala. Often time’s parents are forced to choose between sending their children to school and feeding their families. They simply cannot do both and survive. Guatemala has one of the highest illiteracy and lowest school enrollment rates in Latin America. This is primarily due to the high cost of attending school which prevents many indigenous families from receiving an education.
This is where we can help. Education is key in breaking the cycle of poverty and can create a better future for the children and their families. Fronteras, students from both Colony and Wasilla High School, Wasilla Sunrise Rotary and other community members are collecting items to take down to distribute in Guatemala in February 2016. We are requesting the following donations:
-Books in Spanish
-School supplies
- And of course, monetary donations toward sponsorship of students* at Tierra Linda
* To sponsor a student the cost of one full year is $360. Tierra Linda has 12 students that need sponsorship. Student sponsorship covers the cost of enrollment fees, requisite school materials, supplies and uniforms, regular monitoring of school work and progress by a Mayan Families Social Worker, and provides students with access to the Charlie Gomez Medical Clinic as well as general educational support as needed.
To learn more, please go to Mayanfamilies.org or contact Candace Cieslo at Candace.cieslo@yahoo.com. If you are interested in traveling to Guatemala in February with our group, we would be happy to give you more information. This is a great opportunity to meet the students you sponsor!
Thank you so much for your help and consideration.
Article from WSR FB by Matt Stielstra
What an honor to be part of chartering a new Interact Club! To compliment the community based Wasilla Interact Club, the Colony High School Interact Club was formed. Thank you to the Palmer Rotary Club for helping the Wasilla Sunrise Rotary Club sponsor this group of outstanding students and future community leaders. Thank you to the Colony High School administration for supporting the development of a new service organization at your school, and special thanks to Morgan Chapman for being the Colony High School Interact champion. #Interact #rotaryyouthservices
We have secured a special conference rate at Talkeetna Lodge, our conference location. Just $135 per night, first come first serve on the room type. This should incentivize everyone to book early to get Mountain Side and Main Lodge rooms! Once these rooms are filled, reservations will flow to the exterior lodge rooms. Please request the room type preferred when making reservations.
You may begin to reserve rooms now. Please call 866-845-6338 toll free, or 907-777-2806 local. You may also email: groupsales@ciri.com. Either by phone or email, simply say that you are with the Rotary Conference, and the discounted rate applies.
An exciting, fun and informative conference is being planned! District conference provides an ideal opportunity for new members & friends to learn more about Rotary International, our District 5010, leadership and service opportunities- plus creating new friendships. Watch your email for other details to follow.
Eagle River Club - meets Thursday morning 7am at Bear Mountain Grill, Eagle River and Thursday noon at Picollino's Restaurant, Eagle River - Facebook.com/eagleriverarearotary - www.eagleriverrotary.org
Rotaract - See Mat-Su Rotaract on FB
Interact - See Mat-Su Interact on FB - or contact Dan Kennedy at kennedy@kennedycpas.com