Zulma is 13yrs old. She is photographed with her stepmother and step sister. She lives with her father, stepmother, and 2 step brothers and one step sister. Zulma's mother died when Zulma was 8 months old. Her father works taking sand out of the river. This is hard, low paid work. He makes $27 US a week. Zulma is going into 7th grade. She wants to keep studying and hopes to become a teacher. They own the house that they live in, the house is made of cement blocks, they have two rooms and one room made of wood planks that is used for a kitchen. They have a bed in each of the two rooms. It is difficult for this family to be able to afford the money for Zulma to be able to continue her education without help.

Margarita is 10 yrs old. She lives in the small village of San Jorge la Laguna. She is going into 3rd grade this year. Margarita lives with her mother, father and 4 siblings. Juan Carlos is the oldest brother, a teenager, and he is working. Then there is Walter, he is 12 yrs old and is in 6th grade, Aurora 11yrs is not going to school because the family did not have enough money to send her, German is 7yrs and is in first grade. Margarita's father is alcoholic and does not work. He is often physically abusive towards the mother. The mother takes in washing by hand and whatever other work that she can get. She does not have steady work, she makes $2-$3 U.S. a day when she can find work.

They live in a mud brick house which has one room and one small kitchen. The mother cooks over an open fire on the ground. They have two beds that they all share. They have water and electricity connected. The mother really wants the children to get an education so that they can have a better life but it is very difficult on the small amount of money that she earns.

Gloria is 13yrs old. She lives in Santa Caterina, a little village on Lake Atitlan. She lives with her mother and father and two sisters and one brother. She will be entering 7th grade this year.

Her father cannot work because he is very sick with diabetes. The family spends a lot of money on the medicine for the father. It doesn't leave enough money for the family to have enough to eat or sufficient to be able to buy the children's school supplies to go to school. The mother, Marcellina, looks for work but it is difficult for her to find because she does not read or write and she has the baby to take care of. The only work that she can find is going from house to house washing clothes by hand. When she gets this work she gets paid $2.00 U.S. a day, if they don't give her food or if they give her lunch then she only gets paid $1.50 a day. Sometimes she gets work making tortillas, but they do not pay her, she gets tortillas for her family. They live on land lent to them by a family member, the house is made of mud brick. Last year Hurricane Stan caused a huge amount of damage in this area. Their house was badly damaged and now is in danger of falling down. They live in only one room, they cook and sleep in this room. They cook over an open fire on the ground. They do not have any beds, they sleep on a sponge and woven straw mats. They have electricity but no water connected to the house. They have to go to a neighbors house to fetch water and carry it back to the house. Without help it will be very difficult for Gloria to go to school.

Juan Yovani is 14yrs old. He is going into 7th grade this year. He lives in San Juan la Laguna with his sister, Rosina 16yrs old. Rosina is going into 9th grade.

Their mother died 8 years ago of cancer. Their father has left them to live with a woman in another village. They rent a small house that they pay $66 US. a month. It is just a one room mud brick house with a small mud brick kitchen outside. It is very difficult for Juan Yovani and his sister to be able to pay all their costs plus be able to go to school this year. Both Rosina and Juan Yovani work before school and on the week ends.

Zulma Lorena is 10yrs old. She lives with her grandmother. Her mother left the father and Zulma when she was 2yrs old. The father then left and went to live with another woman. He has not been financially responsible for her since.

The grandmother does not have her own house, she and Zulma have moved in with her Aunt, Uncle and cousins. They all live in one room. Zulma sleeps in one bed with her grandmother. They keep all their clothes in a cardboard box. The uncle supports them but he does not have enough money to buy school supplies for Zulma. Zulma will be going into 3rd grade this year. They live in a small village called Patanatic.

Daniel is 8yrs old He lives with his mother and father and four other siblings. They live in a small village called Patanatic. Their house is a one roomed mud brick house. His father works as a builder's assistant and makes $27 US a week. His sister Sylvia 13 finished school in 6th grade, she wants to continue studying but the family cannot afford it. She has started working as a babysitter but doesn't know how much she will get paid as the woman has not told her how much she will pay her. Jayro 10 yrs old will be going into 3rd grade. Daniel 8yrs will be going into 3rd grade, the others stay at home with the mother. Ruth Noemi 4yrs and Dina 8 months old. The mother collects firewood and herbs from the mountains. These herbs she makes into soups. This family is very poor. They have a small kitchen made of mud brick - she cooks over an open fire on the ground.

Daniel would really like to go to school this year but the supplies are very difficult for his family to buy. His clothes were very ragged when he came to the house. He is photographed with his mother, brother Daniel and baby sister

Jayro is 10yrs old. He lives with his mother and father and four other siblings. They live in a small village called Patanatic. Their house is a one roomed mud brick house. His father works as a builder's assistant and makes $27 US a week. His sister Sylvia 13 finished school in 6th grade, she wants to continue studying but the family cannot afford it. She has started working as a babysitter but doesn't know how much she will get paid as the woman has not told her how much she will pay her. Daniel 8yrs will be going into 3rd grade, Ruth Noemi 4yrs and Dina 8 months old.

The mother stays at home looking after the younger children, she collects firewood and herbs from the mountain. They have a small kitchen made of mud brick - she cooks over an open fire on the ground. Jayro would really like to go to school this year but the supplies are very difficult for his family to buy. His clothes were very ragged when he came to the house.

Antonio is 8yrs old. He is the younger brother of #142 Sandra. He will be going into 2nd grade this year. He lives with his mother and father and 5 other siblings. They live in a little village called Patanatic. The teacher at her school sent their family to us for help. They are not able to buy their school supplies. They live in a one room made of tin sheets. They have only two beds, those that don't fit in the bed sleep on the dirt floor on woven straw mats.

The father works in the fields, he makes $27 U.S. a month. The mother stays at home minding the children, she goes to the mountains and collects firewoods and herbs that she makes into a soup. The other children in the family are Cecilia 18, who helps her father in the fields, Rudi Fernando 14 he has left school and also works in the fields, Sandra is 11yrs old , Antonio 8 who is going into 2nd grade and Marelena 5, and Susana 2yrs old. Antonio is photographed with his grandmother and cousins.

Sandra is 11yrs old. She will be going into 3rd grade this year. She lives with her mother and father and 5 other siblings. They live in a little village called Patanatic. The teacher at her school sent her family to us for help. They are not able to buy their school supplies. They live in a one room made of tin sheets. They have only two beds, those that don't fit in the bed sleep on the dirt floor on woven straw mats. The father works in the fields, he makes $27 U.S. a month. The mother stays at home minding the children, she goes to the mountains and collects firewood and herbs that she makes into a soup.

The other children in the family are Cecilia 18, who helps her father in the fields, Rudi Fernando 14 he has left school and also works in the fields, Antonio 8 who is going into 2nd grade and Marelena 5, and Susana 2yrs old. Sandra is photographed with her grandmother and cousins. Her mother was sick and unable to bring her to our house.

Gladis is 8 yrs old. She is going into second grade in Panajachel. Gladis lives with her mother and father and five other siblings. She has an older brother who is 18yrs, Misael, who is in first year of Junior High. He works during the week and goes to Jnr. High on week end school. He works taking sand out of the river during the week and he makes $20 US. a week if he has a good week. He does not have a fixed wage, it depends on how much he can dig and sift and how much demand there is for construction.

Her other brother is Rolando 15yrs, he is in first year of Jnr. High, Catalino 11yrs old is in 4th grade, then Gladis, then Fredy Jose who is 3yrs old and then Henri who is 1yr old. Her father works in the river digging and sifting sand. This is then sold to construction companies. If he has a good week he makes $27US. Often he does not make this amount. Marisella's mother takes in washing by hand when she can get it. She makes $2.00 U.S. a day when she can get that work. Often it is only once or twice a week. They own their land but they do not have money to construct. There house is made of sheets of corrugated iron. It is only one room, they have three beds that they all sleep in. They have one lean to outside that is used as a kitchen. It has a tin roof. Marisella's mother cooks over an open fire with a piece of tin.

The parent's are very interested in their children getting an education and want them to get ahead but they just do not have the possibility of being able to financially help them.

Byron is 9yrs old. He lives in Panajchel with his mother, father and four siblings. He is in third grade this year.

His father works as a builders assistant. He makes $33 U.S. a week. Byron's mother works at home. Byron has a younger brother, Ofni 8yrs, Denilson 5yrs Daina is 3yrs old, she is the only girl in the family and Moises is 2yrs old. They live in a one room house made of wooden planks. They have a kitchen outside . They cook on an open fire with a piece of tin. They have two beds for all the family to sleep on. They keep all their clothes and possessions in cardboard boxes under the bed.

Byron's mother is 26yrs old and the father is 33yrs old. The amount of money that the father brings home is barely enough for the whole family to be able to eat. Buying the school supplies and uniforms would create a great hardship on this family and would be impossible for them to do.

Ofni is 8yrs old. He lives in Panajachel with his mother, father and four siblings.

He is in 2nd grade this year. His father works as a builders assistant. He makes $33 U.S. a week.

Ofni's mother works at home. Ofni has an older brother, Bryon 9yrs old, Denilson 5yrs Daina is 3yrs old, she is the only girl in the family and Moises is 2yrs old. They live in a one room house made of wooden planks. They have a kitchen outside . They cook on an open fire with a piece of tin. They have two beds for all the family to sleep on. They keep all their clothes and possessions in cardboard boxes under the bed. Ofni's mother is 26yrs old and the father is 33yrs old. The amount of money that the father brings home is barely enough for the whole family to be able to eat. Buying the school supplies and uniforms would create a great hardship on this family and would be impossible for them to do.

Lidia is 8yrs old. She is going into first grade this year. She lives in the small village of San Jorge la Laguna. Her father sells ice cream in the street from a little cart that he pushes around. He makes $4.US. a day. The mother stays at home looking after the children. There are 7 children in this family. Juan 12yrs is in 3rd grade. Vilma 10yrs is in 4th grade. Elsira 6yrs old is not in school Maria 4yrs old is too young for school and the baby Santa is 2yrs old. The eldest daughter is 14yrs old , she only had one year in school. She lives with an unmarried aunt. They live in a mud brick house that has two rooms and a small outside kitchen. They have two beds for all of them. The rest of the children sleep on the floor on straw mats. The mother cooks on an open fire on the ground.

Maria is 10yrs old. She lives in the small village of San Jorge la Laguna. She is one of 7 children. She lives with her mother and father. Her father works as a builders assistant and makes $110 US. a month. Maria's mother is not in good health and is unable to work. There is only one child that this family has put in school this year, it is the youngest child who is 8yrs old. The rest of the children they have not been able to afford to put into school. Young Maria really wants to study and she says when she graduates she wants to be an accountant. They live in two rooms made of mud brick, they have a small outside kitchen. The mother cooks on an open fire. They have one bed in each of the two rooms. In each bed sleeps four children.

Maria sleeps on the floor on a woven straw mat with other siblings. The day we visited their family, her older brother who is 13yrs had graduated from 6th grade and he really wants to go onto 7th grade but the family cannot afford to send him. Her other brother was there who is 11yrs old, he wanted to go to 5th grade this year but the family could not afford to do it.

Adela is 6yrs old. She lives in San Jorge La Laguna with her mother and father, and her little brother, 3yrs old, and little sister 6 months old. She is going into first grade this year. Last year she started school but the family did not have enough money to keep her in school. They could not afford the school supplies. Adela 's father works as a day laborer. He works in fields when there is work.

He makes $3.00 US. a day. The house that they live in is made of cement block, it has only one room. They sleep and cook in this room. They have only one bed that they all sleep in. The mother cannot work as she has to look after the little ones. Without help little Adela will not be able to go to school this year either.

Renardo is 7yrs old. This will be his first year of going to school if he receives sponsorship. Renardo lives with his father, mother and6 siblings. He lives in two mud brick rooms of his grandparent's home that has no electricity. Water is very limited where they live so they have to carry water long distances back to their house.His father works as a unskilled day laborer. He does not have stable work. When he does get work, ie. cleaning fields, picking onions etc.he makes approx. $5.30 a day. Renardo's mother is 6 months pregnant and she works when she can get work as well. She washes clothes by hand or helps clean the onion/corn fields. For this work she earns $2.00 US. a day.

Renardo's two older sisters, 14yr Rosa and 13 yr old Patricia were only able to go to school for two years each. They now are working in a nearby town in a shop making tortillas. This is very low paid work and they earn $16 U.S. each a month.

Silvia Leticia is 8yrs old. She lives in Monte Mercedes with her 6 siblings. She will be entering 1st grade in school this year if she receives help. She lives with her mother, father and sisters and brothers in two mud brick rooms in her grandparents house. They have no electricity and the water connection to their house is very sparse, so they usually have to carry water long distances.

Her father works as an unskilled laborer, doing whatever work he can when he can get it but it is not stable work. He works for example, cleaning onions in the fields, cleaning the fields or whatever is available. When he works he makes $5.30 U.S. a day. Her mother who is 6 months pregnant, also works when there is work available. She cleans onions in the field and washes clothes. She makes $2.00 U.S. a day when she finds work. Silvia's two older sisters 14yrs old and 13yrs old left school in second grade. They now work in a nearby town in a shop making tortillas. This is very low paid and they earn $16 US. a month.

Without help it will be very difficult for Silvia's parents to buy her supplies to go to school this year.

Alicia is 9yrs old. She lives in a small village called Monte Mercedes with her mother, father and 6 siblings and her mother is expecting another baby in 3 months. Her father works as an unskilled laborer and doesn't have stable work.

When he does work he makes $5.33US. a day. They live in two rooms in the fathers family home. It is a mud brick house. They live without electricity. Alicia's mother also works when she can find work, when there is work in the field cleaning onions or washing clothes. When she can find work she makes $2.US. a day. Alicia has two older sisters, Rosa 14yrs and Patricia 13yrs, who only had two years of schooling and now are working in the nearby town of Solola. They work making tortillas in a small shop and make approx. $16 a month each. Alicia will be going into 5th grade this year but without sponsorship her parents are unable to buy her the supplies that she needs to go to school. Her other siblings are Silvia Leticia 8yrs, Renardo 7yrs, Marta Julia 3yrs , Roberto Carlos 2yrs.

Brenda is 13yrs old. She lives in the village of San Jorge La Laguna. She is going into 2nd year of Jnr. High. She goes to school in Solola. She lives with her mother, father and an 11yr old sister, Sylvia and her Mynor 7yrs old. Her mother is a nurses aide at the local hospital and her father is a tailor. The father does not have a fixed wage and it makes it difficult to afford all the expenses of three children in school.

Brenda has a dream of becoming a school teacher. Her parents want to encourage her to have this dream but financially it is very difficult for them to help her.

Vivian is 9 yrs old. She lives in Panajachel with her mother, father and 6 siblings. She will be going into 2nd grade this year. She is photographed with her mother and some of her brothers and sisters. Her sister Irma is 22yrs old and is married. Carlos 18yrs and is working. He works in the river digging out sand, which is then sifted and used for construction. He is going to night school and is in 8th grade. Rosilia is 17yrs old and is working in the day. She is also going to night school and is in 7th grade.

Elvin Frank is 7yrs old. Gloria is 13yrs old and is in 2nd grade. She did not have the opportunity to go to school earlier until last year. Elsa Carolina is 10yrs old and is in 2nd grade. Caterina is 3yrs old. The father, Alfonso, works driving a tuk tuk. a tiny 3 wheeler taxi. He cannot work long hours because he has diabetes and is not in good health. He makes $105 US. a month.

They live in a rented house. They are paying $67 U.S. a month. It is a mud brick house with two rooms and a small outside kitchen. They cook over an open fire on cement blocks. They have only 3 beds for all of them. They have electricity and water connected. This family is often without sufficient food to eat. Without help it will be very difficult for the children in this family to go to school.

Elsa Carolina is 10 yrs old. She lives in Panajachel with her mother, father and 6 siblings. She will be going into 2nd grade this year. She is photographed with her mother and some of her brothers and sisters. Her sister Irma is 22yrs old and is married.

Carlos 18yrs and is working. He works in the river digging out sand, which is then sifted and used for construction. He is going to night school and is in 8th grade. Rosilia is 17yrs old and is working in the day. She is also going to night school and is in 7th grade. Elvin Frank is 7yrs old. Gloria is 13yrs old and is in 2nd grade. She did not have the opportunity to go to school earlier until last year. Vivian is 9yrs old and is in 2nd grade. Caterina is 3yrs old

The father, Alfonso, works driving a tuk tuk. a tiny 3 wheeler taxi. He cannot work long hours because he has diabetes and is not in good health. He makes $105 US. a month. They live in a rented house. They are paying $67 us.a month. It is a mud brick house with two rooms and a small outside kitchen. They cook over an open fire on cement blocks.

They have only 3 beds for all of them. They have electricity and water connected. This family is often without sufficient food to eat. Without help it will be very difficult for the children in this family to go to school.

Jose is 10yrs old. He is going into third grade this year in Panajachel. Last year his family lost their home and all their possessions in Hurricane Stan which caused massive flooding here in Panajachel. The father works in the river digging and sifting sand to be used in construction. This is low paid hard work. It is tiring and dirty and does not pay very much. When they have a good week the father brings home $27 a week. Often he does not make this amount. They are now renting a house which they pay $20.00 US a month. They do not have a kitchen nor an outside sink which is called a pila. Nearly every house in Guatemala has a pila, this is used for washing dishes, washing clothes and for people to wash themselves. The house has only one room.

They have only 2 beds for the nine people in the house. The parents sleep on the floor and the children sleep in the beds. They do not have electricity connected to their house. They live by candlelight. They do not have anywhere to put their clothes and possessions. It is all kept in cardboard boxes. They do not have a table or chairs to sit at. The mother says they are often short of food. The mother also works very hard in the river helping her husband take out the sand. The eldest sister, Josefa 18yrs old is a single mother with a one year old baby, she is living at home with the family, Luis is 16yrs old,, Mario 13yrs, Sara Leticia 12, Josue Enrique 10yrs, Marta Julia 8yrs and Otoniel is 6yrs old.

They have had a particularly hard time these past few weeks because the company that was buying sand from them had all their money in one of the two banks that has just closed in Guatemala. Therefore they have not had any sales or money coming in. Added to this is that Josefa's baby has also been very sick and has been in hospital for a week so they have had to spend money on medicines.

Mario is 13yrs old. He will be entering 6th grade this year in Panajachel. Last year his family lost their home and all their possessions in Hurricane Stan which caused massive flooding here in Panajachel. The father works in the river digging and sifting sand to be used in construction. This is low paid hard work. It is tiring and dirty and does not pay very much. When they have a good week the father brings home $27 a week. Often he does not make this amount. They are now renting a house which they pay $20.00 US a month.

They do not have a kitchen nor an outside sink which is called a pila. Nearly every house in Guatemala has a pila, this is used for washing dishes, washing clothes and for people to wash themselves. The house has only one room. They have only 2 beds for the nine people in the house. The parents sleep on the floor and the children sleep in the beds. They do not have electricity connected to their house. They live by candlelight. They do not have anywhere to put their clothes and possessions. It is all kept in cardboard boxes. They do not have a table or chairs to sit at. The mother says they are often short of food. The mother also works very hard in the river helping her husband take out the sand.

The eldest sister, Josefa 18yrs old is a single mother with a one year old baby, she is living at home with the family, Luis is 16yrs old, Mario 13yrs, Sara Leticia 12, Josue Enrique 10yrs, Marta Julia 8yrs and Otoniel is 6yrs old.

They have had a particularly hard time these past few weeks because the company that was buying sand from them had all their money in one of the two banks that has just closed in Guatemala. Therefore they have not had any sales or money coming in. Added to this is that Josefa's baby has also been very sick and has been in hospital for a week so they have had to spend money on medicines.

Luis Eduardo is 16yrs old. He is going into second year in Jnr. High. He lives with his mother and father and 3 brothers and 3 sisters. Last year his family lost their home and all their possessions in Hurricane Stan which caused massive flooding here in Panajachel. The father works in the river digging and sifting sand to be used in construction. This is low paid hard work. It is tiring and dirty and does not pay very much. When they have a good week the father brings home $27 a week. Often he does not make this amount. They are now renting a house which they pay $20.00 US a month. They do not have a kitchen nor an outside sink which is called a pila. Nearly every house in Guatemala has a pila, this is used for washing dishes, washing clothes and for people to wash themselves. The house has only one room. They have only 2 beds for the nine people in the house. The parents sleep on the floor and the children sleep in the beds. They do not have electricity connected to their house. They live by candlelight.

They do not have anywhere to put their clothes and possessions. It is all kept in cardboard boxes. They do not have a table or chairs to sit at. The mother says they are often short of food. The mother also works very hard in the river helping her husband take out the sand. The eldest sister, Josefa 18yrs old is a single mother with a one year old baby, she is living at home with the family, Luis is the next, Mario 13yrs, Sara Leticia 12, Josue Enrique 10yrs, Marta Julia 8yrs and Otoniel is 6yrs old.

They have had a particularly hard time these past few weeks because the company that was buying sand from them had all their money in one of the two banks that has just closed in Guatemala. Therefore they have not had any sales or money coming in. Added to this is that Josefa's baby has also been very sick and has been in hospital for a week so they have had to spend money on medicines.

Paola is 12yrs old. She is the daughter of a single mother. She is an only child. She lives with her grandmother, grandfather and mother. She will be starting 6th grade this year. Her mother works in cleaning houses and does not make much money. Paola's father left when she was just born and has never been responsible for her. Paola would like to study and become a professional but the finances in the family are very limited. They live in her grandmother's house that has three rooms. Her mother has had to go to the city to work as she was unable to find work in Panajachel that would support them. This makes Paola very sad and she hopes that her mother will be able to come back soon.

Her grandmother is elderly but still works cleaning houses, her grandfather also still works but he does not give the grandmother much financial support.

Vilma is 9yrs old . She lives in San Jorge la Laguna. She is going into first grade. Vilma lives with her mother and 7 siblings. The father has abandoned the family about four years ago. The mother works taking in washing. It is very difficult for the mother to afford to send all these children to school and she needs help to be able to buy all the supplies.

Juana is 6 yrs old and she will be entering kindergarten this year if she receives sponsorship. Juana is the second youngest child in a family of six children. She lives in the remote village of Tierra Linda. Her father works in the fields and makes approx. $2.25 a day. That is hardly enough to feed his large family. Please go to #120 Florinda who is the older sister of Juana to read about this family. Thank you for thinking of helping Juana go to school.

Maria is 10 years old. She will be going into second grade this year. Maria lives in the remote village of Tierra Linda. She is one of six children of a very poor family. She is the sister of #120 Florinda, #122 Juana, and Grasiella #116. There are two brothers, one is 14 yrs old and the other is a baby. This family has only been able to afford to educate the girls up till second grade. Please go to # 120 to read the story of this family. Thank you so much for thinking of helping Maria, without sponsorship it will be difficult for her to remain in school.

This is Florinda. She is 8yrs old and she will be going into first grade. She lives in the remote village of Tierra Linda. She is one of8 children. She lives with her mother and father in an isolated part of the village. We first met this family when some of the women asked us if we could help this family. Their house was in a terribly dilapidated state. They lived in a one large mud brick room. The walls were in danger of collapsing, there were plastic bags strung along all the walls to catch the leaks. This house was in a bad state but when the Hurricane hit here last year - it really damaged it. We were very worried that it would not make it through this wet season but luckily we had a fairly light wet season. We are also lucky that we received funding from a parent who had adopted a child in Guatemala. They decided to make their child's first birthday memorable and they donated the money to fund a new house for this family in honor of their child. If you go to our blog , you will have to do a lot of scrolling down but you will find Florinda's family photographed outside their home and you can see the deplorable conditions that they have been living in.

The girls in this family have only been educated up to second grade because the father cannot afford to send them more than that. The only child that they have sent to school till 6th grade is the son. There are four school age girls in this family. This family is very poor, the father makes about $2.25 a day. He works in the fields picking whichever crop is ready for picking, beans, onions etc. Thank you for considering to help Florinda.

Maria is 14yrs old. She is going into fourth grade. She is the sister of #117 and #118. There are six children in the family. Maria's father passed away last year suddenly. His appendix ruptured and he died of the complications. The family lives in an agricultural area of Solola called El Tablon. The live in a mud brick house. They all live in one room. There are only two beds, the rest of the children sleep on woven mats on the floor. They have a small table and they keep their clothes in cardboard boxes.

The mother works in the fields, picking onions, beans or whatever crop is coming out. This work is very low paid, she earns $2.25 US. a day. Her older children help by making beaded jewelry at home. This is also very low paid work. It will be impossible for Maria to continue school this year without help.

Daniel Pablo is the younger brother of #117 Antonio. He is the youngest of six children. His father died two years ago. The mother works in the fields and the oldest sisters help by making beaded jewelry at home. This is very low paid work. They live in an agricultural area of Solola called El Tablon. He is photographed here with his two other siblings who also want to go to school. Daniel will be going into second grade. This family has found it very hard to survive financially since the father passed away and without help it will be impossible for young Daniel to go to school.

Antonio is 9 yrs old. He will be going into third grade. He lives in the agricultural area of Solola, called El Tablon. Antonio's father died two years ago. There are six children in the family. The siblings are 18, 17,14, 12, 7. The mother works in the fields when there is work. The oldest girl works at home making beaded jewelry. Both these jobs are very lowly paid. They all live in one room with a small kitchen. This family has found it very difficult since the father died and it will be impossible to send Antonio to school without help.

Grasiela is 12 yrs old. She lives in a remote village of Tierra Linda. She comes from a very large family. She will be going into third grade this year. Her elder sisters were only able to go to school up thru the 2nd grade because the family could not afford the costs.

The family has lived in a very tumble down mud brick house, it is one large room and it was in a very dilapidated state, the walls were in danger of falling down. The house is in a beautiful little valley but it is very remote and is a long walk to school every day. There are not many houses near them and they have a rather perilous walk in the wet season to get out of their little valley.

Grasiela's father works in the fields picking onions, picking corn, whatever work he can get. He makes $2 US a day. The mother cannot work outside the house because she has several little children including a baby to look after. Without sponsorship for Grasiela this year, she will join her elder sisters at stop school in second grade.

Sara is 10 yrs old. She lives with her mother and father in Panajachel. She is the older sister of #114.

They cook outside on an open fire. This family lost their house and all their possessions last year when Hurricane Stan hit Panajachel. It caused a flood that washed their home away. They have been trying to recover financially ever since but it has been difficult for them. Without help it will be very difficult for them to send their children to school.

Marly is 12 yrs old. She is going into 1st year of junior high. She is the youngest sister of #112. Her dream is to be able to continue onto university. Her mother, Ophelia never went to school, but she taught herself to read and write. She has placed great importance on her children getting an education. Her mother was a widow with four children when she met Marly's father. He abandoned the family when she was a year old. He has never supported Marly financially. Ophelia has worked hard as a domestic in private houses, washing and has managed to put her children through Elementary but now as they have got into Junior High School, it is very difficult for her to be able to afford all the costs. Ophelia $110 US a month, this covers the food and clothing but does not leave much money available for education.

Gladys is 18yrs old. She lives with her mother, sister and two brothers in a small village near Panajachel. She will be entering her last year of High School this year and she hopes to graduate. Gladys's dream is to become a lawyer. Her mother, Ophelia has worked very hard to support her family, she works as a domestic maid in private houses. She makes $110 U.S. a month. This is just enough to feed and clothe the family. Gladys's father died when she was 15 days old. He was a victim of the civil war in Guatemala. He was one of the many who were "disappeared". Gladys grandmother was also a victim of the war, she was shot to death and her house was burned. The house that Gladys lives in now with her family is mud brick and has three rooms, with a small kitchen outside. They have three beds in the house so some have to share. Gladys has a very strong desire to become an educated professional Lawyer and her mother has tried the best she can to help her, her mother learnt to read and write by herself, she never went to school.

When there are vacations Gladys works in a hotel washing dishes. She has big dreams and it would be wonderful to have Mayan lawyers who speak the indigenous language.

Jose is the younger brother of #106 Karla Yulisa. He lives in Panajachel with his mother and father. His grandparents also live with him. His grandmother is sick and needs a kidney transplant but the family is unable to afford it. The grandfather is unable to work as he looks after the grandmother at home. Jose's father sells cheese from door to door. Sometimes he makes $100 U.S. a month, sometimes he makes less. Jose's mother works weaving for a project and makes $134 US. a month. Their house and all their possessions were lost last year when Hurricane Stan caused flooding. They have taken a loan out and have rebuilt their house but now they have a big mortgage to pay $74 a month. This does not leave much after food, elec. etc. It will be difficult for them to be able to pay for schooling for Jose this year without help.

Jose is photographed with his mother , grandfather and sister, Karla.

Karla is 9 yrs old. She is going into 4th grade this year. She lives in Panajachel. Her father sells cheese from house to house. Sometimes he makes $100 U.S. a month, sometimes a lot less. They lost their house last year in Hurricane Stan. They have borrowed from the bank to rebuild and now have to make a very large payment every month. They pay $74 a month on their mortgage.

They also lost all their possessions last year when their house was taken by the river. They have been trying to replace their possessions this year. The mother works in a weaving project making $133.U.S. A month. There are only two children in this family. Karla has a younger brother, Jose Lisandro, 5 yrs old. The grandparents also live with the family. The grandmother is sick and needs a kidney transplant but they are not able to afford treatment for her. Karla's parents are the sole support for the grandparents. They provide the medication, food and clothing for the grandparents as they are unable to work. The grandfather cares for the grandmother at home.

It will be difficult for this family to provide the school supplies that Karla will need this year.

He lives with his mother, two younger brothers and his grandfather. His father abandoned the family. Last year this family lost their house in the flood that was caused by Hurricane Stan. They now live with the grandfather who is supporting the family. Marisol, the mother is not able to work because she has to look after the baby. Her father, works as a garbage collector and he earns $120 US a month. The grandfather is still paying off his land at $34 U.S. a month. The rest of the money is just enough for them to eat and pay their bills. The house is made of wood that was given to them. They all live in one room. They have three beds and they have no other furniture. Their clothes are kept in sacks.

Benjamin is 6yrs old. He lives with his mother, two younger brothers and his grandfather. His father abandoned the family. Last year this family lost their house in the flood that was caused by Hurricane Stan. They now live with the grandfather who is supporting the family. Marisol, the mother is not able to work because she has to look after the baby. Her father, works as a garbage collector and he earns $120 US a month. The grandfather is still paying off his land at $34us a month. The rest of the money is just enough for them to eat and pay their bills.

The house is made of wood that was given to them. They all live in one room.

They have three beds and they have no other furniture. Their clothes are kept in sacks.

This is Astrid. She is 8yrs old. She lives with her mother and father and 5 other sisters and brothers. Her father works a very menial job sifting sand in the river, this sand is then sold for construction. He makes $20U.S. a week. This is just enough to cover the food that they need. The mother stays at home looking after the small children. The family lives in a one room that they rent. They pay $40U.S. a month rent. The kitchen is a lean to made of tin roofing. They have only two beds that they all share. Her sister, Gloria is 10yrs old, Alberto is 7yrs old, Esbin 4yrs , Mynor 3yrs , and Walter 7 months old.

Kenia is 9 yrs old. She is one of four children. She is the oldest, her sister, Minsy is 7yrs old, Dennis 4yrs and Hansel 1 yr old. Kenia will be entering 2nd grade this year. She lives with her siblings and parents in Panajachel. Her father works in a bakery. They live in a wooden house, that they own, they have two rooms and a kitchen. The father makes $27 a week. That gives them just enough to cover their costs and food. It does not give them enough to be able to pay for the school supplies for two children. This family is very grateful for any help that they can get to be able to send their two children to school this year.

Joel is 20 yrs old. He is about to start the equivalent of High School. It is called Carrera. His family does not have the possibility of helping him. Last year he was not able to go to school. He really wants to have a professional career in computers. He is one of of 6 children. He has been working since 2005, he was hoping to go back to school in 2006 but he did not have enough money. He works as a builders assistant. He makes $25 a week but he has to help his family with his money. His mother has been disabled for the past year with a foot infection and has not been able to work.

The money that he is making now will only cover his transportation and a few expenses it will not cover his school fees or supplies. His father would like to help him but with the costs of five other children he cannot afford it. Joel is a very serious student and really wants to make a better life for himself. They have a three roomed house, his mother makes tortillas to sell when she can stand on her foot, otherwise his 15yr old sister helps her as much as she can.