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PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #100 Victor who is 8 years old.

$ SPONSORED by the Woods Family, Thanks!

Victor is 8 yrs old. He lives with his mother and father, his sisters, Estella 17yrs, Irma 14yrs. Also his sister Maria 22yrs, who is a single mother and his little niece, Rosa who is 4yrs old. Last year during Hurricane Stan they lost their house and all their possessions to the flood. For the next 10 months they lived in emergency shelter. Since then they have rented a piece of land and have been given a prefabricated wooden house. It is only one room and all seven of them live in this one room. They have only one bed which is parents sleep on. The rest of the family sleep on thin mattresses on the dirt floor. Victor's father is unable to work, he suffered a stroke last year and now has problems with his breathing. Victor's mother works washing clothes for private houses in the mornings and in the afternoons she makes tortillas for a small shop. She earns $13.50 a week doing this work. Her daughter, Maria works as a domestic in a private house and makes $67 a month. They are paying $40 a month for the land they are renting. They do not have electricity as they cannot afford to connect it.

They cook over a wood stove. They live on a diet of mostly beans and rice. Quite often they only eat tortillas and salt.

Victor's sister Estella, wanted to go to school but her family could never afford it. She is one of 8 children, the rest have grown up and married. She tried last year at the age of 16 to go to school but it was too difficult for her and people teased her about starting school at this age. His other sister, Irma receives sponsorship to be able to go to school. Victor's mother does not know how to read or write, his father can read a little and can write his name. This family would find it very difficult to send their children to school without help.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #99 Rosa who is 4 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Sue F. Thanks!

Rosa

Rosa is starting school for the first time this year. She will be going into Kindergarten. She is four years old. Her mother, Maria, is a single mother. The father left when Maria was pregnant and has never been responsible for Rosa.

Maria works as a domestic in a private house, washing clothes by hand. She makes $67 a month. They live with Rosa's grandparents in a little wooden house. They lost their home last year in the flood caused by Hurricane Stan. They then lived in emergency shelter for nearly 10 months. They are now renting a piece of land and have been given a prefabricated temporary house. They are hoping to be able to buy a piece of land and rebuild but it will be very difficult for them.

The grandparents still have children living at home, Irma 14yrs, Estella 17, Victor 8yrs. They had 8 children but the rest have grown up. The house they are living in now with 5 people plus Rosa and her daughter only has one room. They have only one bed which the grandparents sleep in, the others sleep on the floor on thin mattresses. Rosa's grandfather suffered a stroke last year and is unable to work. Rosa's grandmother works washing clothes by hand and she makes tortillas in a small shop in the afternoon. Rosa's grandmother makes $14US a week.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #98 Juan Angel who is 12 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Jan R. Thanks!

Juan Angel

This is Juan Angel. He is 12 yrs old. He is going into the first year of Junior High this year. He is the brother of #95 Alejandra, #96 Wendy, and #97 Abel.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #97 Abel who is 13 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Grant and Charlene, Thanks!

Abel

Abel is 13yrs old. He is the brother of #96 Wendy , #95 Alejandra and #97 Juan Angel.

He will be going into 1st year of Junior High this year.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #96 Wendy who is 17 years old.

$ SPONSORED Paula L. Thanks!

Wendy

This is Wendy. She is 17 years old. She is photographed here with her family.

She is the eldest of five children. They live in Santiago Atitlan. Her mother, Teresa, is a single mother, the father abandoned the family and does not give them any support. Her mother, Teresa, cannot find work in her village and she works in Panajachel, which is a one hour trip across the lake from Santiago. Teresa works in the kitchen of a restaurant, she works very long hours on her feet, she has terrible varicose veins in her legs which cause her a lot of pain. Wendy has four other sibling. two brothers, Abel 13yrs old, Juan Angel 12yrs, Alejandra 9yrs and Galilea 2yrs old. Her mother can only manage to come home on the week ends so during the week Wendy looks after all the children and runs the household. She goes to school in the afternoon. The older brother minds the smaller children in the afternoon. She is in 3rd year in High School. She hopes to be able to graduate next year.

Last year during Hurricane Stan this family lost their home and all their possessions in the mud slide. Tragically, they also lost their Aunt, Uncle and cousin who were buried under the mudslide. They lived in the village where a huge portion of the villagers lost their lives in the mudslides. They now live in a rented house that costs $110 a month. Teresa makes exactly that amount in her job at the restaurant in the evenings. In the mornings she also works washing clothes and cleaning houses. This is what the family can afford to eat with. Last year when the Hurricane caused the river to flood in Panajachel Teresa also lost all her possessions that she had in the small room that she rents in Panajachel.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #95 Alejandra who is 9 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Peter and Sue - Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

Alejandra

Alejandra is 9yrs old. She lives in Santiago Atitlan. She is one of five children. Her mother is a single mother, the father abandoned the family and does not support them in any way. Alejandra has a sister Wendy 17yrs,brothers, Abel 13yrs, Juan Angel 12yrs, and little sister, Galilea 2yrs old.

Her mother works in a restaurant in Panajachel which is across the other side of the lake. They now live in a rented house that the mother pays $110 US and the mother, Teresa usually gets home only on the week ends. Teresa works mostly nights in the restaurant in the kitchen, she stands on her feet for long hours, she has very bad varicose veins that cause her a lot of pain! She can usually only go home on the week ends because the fare to take the boat back and forth across the lake costs too much for her to be able to afford it on a daily basis. Wendy, the eldest sister looks after the little ones in the morning and goes to school in the afternoon. In the afternoon, the 13yr old sister looks after the little ones.

Last year when Hurricane Stan struck this family lost their house and nearly all their possessions in the mudslide. They also tragically lost their aunt, uncle and cousin in the mudslide. Teresa, the mother lost all her possession in the tiny room she rents in Panajachel during the flood that was caused by the hurricane. Alejandra will be going into 3rd grade this year.

Thank you for helping Alejandra go to school, it is a great hardship for the mother to be able to afford to put all her children in school.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #94 Damaris who is 6 years old.

$ SPONSORED by the Taylor Family - Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

Damaris is 6 yrs old. She is entering first grade in Panajachel. Her father works at a very low paid job, taking sand out of the river which then gets sold for construction. He does not have a fixed wage. He makes $27 US. a week when he has sales. When he does not have good sales he makes a lot less. Damaris's mother works in the river helping her husband take the sand
out of the river. She does not earn any wage, it is included in this $27. There are 8 other brothers and sisters in the family. The eldest is Augustine 23yrs old, Jorge 22yrs old, Amarillis 19, Eliceo 17, Josue 16, Obed 14, Lorenzo 12, Brenda 9yrs old and Damaris is the baby of the family.
Her eldest brother is married and lives apart with his wife. The rest still live at home and they all help their mother and father after school to take sand out of the river. This is very hot and tiring work. They live as caretakers on a piece of land. They get this piece of land rent free in exchange for their caretaking duties. The house they are living in is one large room made of wood planks. They have five beds for all of them. They cook over an open fire outside on their patio. They do not have water connected and have to carry water to their house.
This family has made a big effort to get their children educated. But they now have several older children who are in jnr. high and it is very expensive for them. It would be very difficult for them to send Damaris to school without
help. Thank you so much for helping her have this opportunity.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #93 Lorenzo who is 12 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Scott R. - Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

Lorenzo is 12yrs old. He goes to school in Panajachel. He is going into 5th grade this year. He goes to school in the morning at 8.am and finishes at 1p.m. After that he goes to work with his father in the river. His father works at a very low paid job, taking sand out of the river which then gets sold for construction. He does not have a fixed wage. He makes $27 US. a week when he has sales. When he does not have good sales he makes a lot less. Damaris's mother works in the river helping her husband take the sand out of the river. She does not earn any wage, it is included in this $27. There are 8 other brothers and sisters in the family. The eldest is Augustine 23yrs old, Jorge 22yrs old, Amarillis 19, Eliceo 17, Josue 16, Obed 14, Lorenzo 12, Brenda 9yrs old and Damaris 6yrs old is the baby of the family. Lorenzo's eldest brother is married and lives apart with his wife. The rest still live at home and they all help their mother and father after school to take sand out of the river. This is very hot and tiring work.

They live as caretakers on a piece of land. They get this piece of land rent free in exchange for their caretaking duties. The house they are living in is one large room made of wood planks. They have five beds for all of them. They cook over an open fire outside on their patio. They do not have water connected and have to carry water to their house. This family has made a big effort to get their children educated. But they now have several older children who are in jnr. high and it is very expensive for them.

It would be very difficult for them to send Lorenzo to school without help. Thank you so much for helping him have this opportunity.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #92 Yessica who is 12 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Scott R. - Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

Yessica

Yessica is 12yrs old. She will be going into 6th grade this year. Her father makes $3.00 US. a day. He works in the agricultural fields. Picking onions, corn etc. wherever there is work. Her mother is unable to work as she is partially blind. Yessica has a dream of becoming of becoming a teacher. She lives with her mother, father, grandfather, grandmother and aunt in a small humble house. The house is made of mud brick. It would be impossible for the family to have Yessica continue to
study. This was to be her last year at school. Yessica really wants to continue to study and we thank you for this opportunity that you have given her.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #91 Vivian who is 10 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Lawrence Grassi School - Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

Vivian

Vivian is 10 yrs old. She lives with her mother and younger sister, Petrona 8yrs old, and her baby brother, Juan, 2yrs old. Petrona's father does not live with the family and he does not give them any financial support. Vivian, her mother and siblings live with their grandmother. Vivian's grandmother has many children, 13. Eight of them are still living at home. Vivian's grandfather recently abandoned the family and does not give them any financial support. Vivian sleeps in a bed made of wooden planks and supported by concrete blocks, she shares this bed with her mother and her siblings. They all share one room with 13 members of their family. The room only has three beds in it so they all have to share as best they can. Vivian's mother makes tortillas and takes in washing. She washes the clothes by hand. When she is lucky enough to have work, she makes $2.00 US. a day.
Vivian's aunt, also works making tortillas and washing clothes. She also earns $2.00 U.S a day. They put this money together and this is what this whole family of 18 people survive on. They have a very meagre diet of beans and rice with tortillas. Sometimes they have eggs. When there is no work for the women then the family often has nothing to eat but tortillas and salt.
Vivian lives in a very small village called Aqua Escondida and she is very happy that she will be able to go to school this year.
Vivian is photographed here with her family. Thank you so much for helping her go to school.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #90 Marisol who is 6 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Doug and Lyn. - Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

Marisol

This is Marisol. She is six years old. She will be entering school for the first time this year. She is one of 13 children, eight still
living at home. She is the baby of the family. Her father has recently abandoned the family and is not supporting them at all.
Her mother stays at home looking after her disabled son, he is 21 yrs old. She also looks after her two other married daughters children who are living with her. One married daughter has two small children and a husband who is a parapalegic. The other married daughter has three children, the husband does not live with them and does not give them any financial support either.
These two married daughters are the sole supporters of this family of 18. They make $2.00 U.S a day selling tortillas and washing clothes by hand. When they cannot get this work, the already meagre diet of this family is only tortillas with salt. Without sponsorship it would be very difficult for Marisol to go to school this year.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #89 Noemi who is 10 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Lyle and Elaine - Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

Noemi with part of her family.

This is Noemi. She is 10years old. She will be going into 2nd grade this year. She lives in a small village called Aqua Escondido's. She is pictured above with her family. She is one of 13 children. There are 8 still living at home. Her father recently abandoned the family and is not giving them any financial assistance. There are 18 people living in their 3 roomed house. Noemi shares a
bed with four of her siblings. There are only three beds in the room. Her two older married sisters also live at home, one 22yr old married sister has two young children and her husband is a paraplegic. The other sister, is a single mother, the father does not live with them and does not give them any financial aid. She has three young children. The two older sisters are the sole
support for this large family. They sell tortillas and also take in washing which they do by hand. This work is not regular and they are lucky when they can get it. When they do work they make $2.00 U.S a day each. That means that this family of 18 exists on $4.00 a day. When they do not have work the diet is very meager, tortillas with salt. Thank you for helping Noemi, without help it would be impossible for her to enter school this year.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #88 Juan Gabriel who is 12 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Steve and Michelle - Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

This is Juan Gabriel. He is also pictured here with some of his very large family. He is 12 yrs old and he will be going into third grade this year. Juan is one of 13 children, 8 still living at home. He has an elder brother who is 21 yrs old and is disabled. Juan's mother stays at home caring for him and the other children in the family. Juan's father recently abandoned the family, has gone to live with another woman and is not giving the family any financial support. Juan has two older sisters who live at home. One is 22yrs old, she has two small children and her husband is a recent paraplegic. The other sister is a single mother with three children, the father of these children does not give her any financial support. Both these sisters are the sole support for this large family of 18 people. They sell tortillas and take in washing which they do by hand. Their work is sporadic and they feel lucky when they get regular work. When they are working they make $2.00 U.S each a day. When they have no work this
family mostly exists on tortillas and salt. It would be very difficult for Juan to be able to go to school this year. His family does not have enough money to pay for his inscription and school supplies. Thank you so much for making it possible for him to go to school.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #87 Zenaida who is 13 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Peter and Sue - Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

Zenaida

Zenaida is 13 yrs old. She is going into 4th grade. She lives at home with her mother . She is one of 13 children. 8 still living at home. The father has recently abandoned the family and is giving them no financial support. Her mother stays at home with the children, she has a disabled 21 yr old son that she cares for and she looks after her two older daughter's children.
One of the married daughter's has two young children and a husband who is a recent paraplegic, the other daughter has also been abandoned by the husband, she has three young children. These two adult daughters are the sole supporters of these large family of 18 people. They make $2.00 US. a day each by selling tortillas and taking in washing by hand. So this family of 18 exists on $4.00 US. a day when the women have work. Their work is not regular and they are lucky when they get regular work. Often the family has a meagre diet of tortillas with salt. Without help Zenaida would not be able to continue with her studies.
Thank you for helping her.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #86 Berny Lorena who is 15 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Doug and Lyn. - Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

Berny Lorena

Berny Lorena is 15yrs old. She will be going into the first year of Junior High. This is called Basico in Guatemala. Her family cannot afford for her to continue her education. There are 8 children living at home and the father has recently abandoned the family. He is not giving them any financial support. Berny lives at home with her 8 siblings, also two of her married sisters live at home. One sister, is 22yrs old, with two small children and her husband is a recent paraplegic, the other sister is a single mother of three children, the father of those children also does not give her any support. The whole family is supported by the two older sisters, they earn money by making tortillas and by taking in washing which they do by hand. When they are lucky enough to have work they make $2.00 US. a day.
Sometimes they do not have work. When they do not have work then the family has to exist on tortillas and salt.
Without sponsorship it will be impossible for this young girl to continue her education. Thank you so much for helping her.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #85 Yovardo who is 8 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Jean S. - Hearts and Hands,Thanks!

This is Yovardo. He is 8 yrs old. He is one of 13 children. Eight are still at home. Yovarda will be going into 2nd grade in a small village called Aqua Escondida. His father recently abandoned the family. There are 18 people living in this family. His two older sisters, one 22yr old sister is married, her husband is a paraplegic and she has two small children. The other sister is 27yrs old and she has three children, the father has abandoned the family as well. The two older sisters work making tortillas and taking in washing, which they do by hand. They make $2.00 a day each, when they have work. This family of 18 survives on
the money that these two sisters bring in, sometimes $4 a day when they are lucky. The family lives on a very meager diet of beans, rice, eggs and tortillas. Many days they have only tortillas and salt to eat. He shares a bed made of wood planks and supported by cement blocks with 4 other siblings. Without sponsorship it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for Yovardo to go to school and to be able to buy the supplies that he needs.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #84 Petrona who is 8 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Shawn F. - Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

This is Petrona. She is 8yrs old. She is going into 2nd grade in a small village called Aqua Escondida. She lives with her mother, her older sister, Vivian 10yrs old and her baby brother, Juan 2yrs. The father does not live with the family and does not give them any financial support. The mother, Maria, works making tortillas and washing clothes in the village. She goes from house to house and washes clothes by hand. She makes $2.00 us. a day when she finds work. She does not get steady
work every day. When she finds work she leaves her children at home with her mother. Her mother has 13 children and the husband has recently abandoned the family so the mother cannot give her any financial support. Maria makes just enough money to be able to feed the children. It is a meager diet of beans, eggs and rice with tortillas. The days that she does not make money the family eats tortillas with salt.
It is very difficult for the mother to be able to afford to send the girls to school. Without sponsorship Petrona will not be going to school.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #83 Anabella who is 9 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Paso por Paso, Thanks!

Anabella is 9yrs old. She will be going into first grade this year.

She lives in Panajachel with her mother, father, and her two sisters and two brothers. She is the younger sister of #82 Telma.

Her father takes sand out of the river to sell for construction. This is a very low paid hard job. He does not make a fixed wage, it depends on how much he sells as to how much he earns. When he has a good week he makes $27 US a week. Other weeks he makes a lot less.

They do not own their own home. They are living on a piece of land as caretakers.They do not get paid for doing this but they get to live rent free.

They live in a house made of wood planks. They all live in one small room and an open room with just a tin roof for the kitchen. They cook

over an open fire. Telma's mother often has to walk long distances

looking for firewood and then carrying it home on her head.

They have two beds that they all share.

They have electricity but do not have water connected. They have to walk to the river and carry back all their water needs.

It is very difficult for this family to make enough money just to be able to feed the family. Buying school supplies would be very difficult for them. This economic hardship is the reason that the parents did not enrol Telma in school until last year.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #82 Telma Melissa who is 10 years old.

$ SPONSORED, Thanks!

Telma Melisa is 10yrs old. She will be entering second grade this year. She lives in Panajachel with her mother, father, and her two sisters and two brothers.

Her father takes sand out of the river to sell for construction. This is a very low paid hard job. He does not make a fixed wage, it depends on how much he sells as to how much he earns. When he has a good week he makes $27 US a week. Other weeks he makes a lot less.

They do not own their own home. They are living on a piece of land as caretakers.They do not get paid for doing this but they get to live rent free.

They live in a house made of wood planks. They all live in one small room and an open room with just a tin roof for the kitchen. They cook

over an open fire. Telma's mother often has to walk long distances

looking for firewood and then carrying it home on her head.

They have two beds that they all share.

They have electricity but do not have water connected. They have to walk to the river and carry back all their water needs.

It is very difficult for this family to make enough money just to be able to feed the family. Buying school supplies would be very difficult for them. This economic hardship is the reason that the parents did not enrol Telma in school until last year.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #81 Alberto who is 8 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

Alberto is the younger brother of #80 Gloria. He is 8 yrs old. He will entering first grade this year. His parents have not been able to afford to send him or any other child in the family to school. His father makes only $20 US a month. He does not have stable work. He sifts sand in the river which is then sold and used for construction. There are six children in the family including Alberto. Gloria 11yrs old is the eldest. The mother stays at home looking after the children. They do not own their own home, they are renting and paying $40US a month in rent. They are renting 2 rooms. There is a single bed in each room. The children have a cotton mattress, the parents sleep on bare boards. The kitchen is made of corrugated sheet metal. They cook over an open fire. The stove is made of rocks.

The other children are Astrid 8yrs old, Esbin Leonardo 4yrs old, Mynor Adolfo 3yrs ! old and the baby, Walter 7 months old. None of the school age children have been able to attend school. Without sponsorship they will not be able to go this year either. There is just not enough money in this family to cover food and expenses.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #80 Gloria who is 11 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

Gloria is 11yrs old. She will entering first grade this year. Her parents have not been able to afford to send her to school. Her father makes only $20 US a month. He does not have stable work. He sifts sand in the river which is then sold and used for construction. There are six children in the family including Gloria. Gloria is the eldest. The mother stays at home looking after the children. They do not own their own home, they are renting and paying $40US a month in rent. They are renting 2 rooms. There is a single bed in each room. The children have a cotton mattress, the parents sleep on bare boards. The kitchen is made of corrugated sheet metal. They cook over an open fire. The stove is made of rocks.

The other children are Astrid 8yrs old, Alberto 8, Esbin Leonardo 4yrs old, Mynor Adolfo 3yrs old and the baby, Walter 7 months old. None of the school age children have been able to attend school. Without sponsorship they will not be able to go this year either. There is just not enough money in this family to cover food and expenses.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #79 Mario Roland who is 13 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

Mario Roland is 13 yrs old. He will be entering first year in Basico which is the equivalent to Junior High.

He is the sibling of #78Juan Andres, #77 Vilma Magdalena, and #76 Ana Victoria.

He tries to help his parents as much as he can.

He lives with his mother, father and 5 other brothers and sisters. They live in Panajachel, near the river. They are renting a house and pay $40 US a month. Her father sells carbon and wood slivers to start fires. For each lb they sell of carbon and wood slivers they make 6 cents us. Most days she makes about $1.50 US a day. Sometimes they do not sell anything at all. When there are no sales he carries heavy loads in the market. Ana and her sister, Vilma 9 yrs old, sell at the market when the father has loads to carry. He carries these loads on a bicycle that has a cart behind it. He charges 65cents US a trip to take a person with their bags! to their destination. Sometimes he makes 5 trips a day but that is about the most that he gets. This is very low paid work and most people prefer to use the motorized taxis.

Ana's mother takes in washing by hand, she also helps sell in the market. She has two small children, one 4yrs old and one 2yrs old. Mario is 16yrs old, Rolando is 14yrs old, Ana is 12 and Vilma is 9yrs old. Mario works half day before school to make enough money for his school supplies and snack money for school.

The house they live in has one large room that they have divided into two. They have one bed for the two big boys and one bed for the rest of the family.

Without help the children in this family would find it very difficult to be able to afford to go to school. The father and mother are very concerned that their children get an education. They do not want them to suffer the way that they have suffered.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #78 Juan Andres who is 16 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

Juan Andres is 16yrs old. He is going to be entering 3rd year in Basico. Which is similar to Junior High. He is the oldest brother of #76 Ana and #77 Vilma.

Juan is a good student and tries very hard at school. He works before school to be able to earn enough money to pay for his extra school supplies and to pay for the extra needs at school, like his money for refreshments, his excursions, extra papers, photocopies, computer time, these things the school are always asking for.

He tries to help his parents as much as he can.

He lives with her mother, father and 5 other brothers and sisters. They live in Panajachel, near the river. They are renting a house and pay $40 US a month. Her father sells carbon and wood slivers to start fires. For each lb they sell of carbon and wood slivers they make 6 cents US. Sometimes they do not sell anything at all. When there are no sales he carries heavy loads in the market. Ana and her sister, Vilma 9 yrs old, sell at the market when the father has loads to carry. He carries these loads on a bicycle that has a cart behind it. He charges 65cents US a trip to take a person with their bags to their destination. Sometimes he makes 5 trips a day but that is about the most that he gets. This is very low paid work and most people prefer to use the motorized taxis.

The house they live in has one large room that they have divided into two. They have one bed for the two big boys and one bed for the rest of the family.

Without help the children in this family would find it very difficult to be able to afford to go to school.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #77

$ SPONSORED by Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #76 Ana Victoria who is 12 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

Ana Victoria is 12 years old. She lives with her mother, father and 5 other brothers and sisters. She will be entering 5th grade this year. They live in Panajachel, near the river. They are renting a house and pay $40 US a month. Her father sells carbon and wood slivers to start fires. For each pound they sell of carbon and wood slivers, they make 6 cents US. Sometimes they do not sell anything at all. When there are no sales he carries heavy loads in the market. Ana and her sister, Vilma 9 yrs old, sell at the market when the father has loads to carry. He carries these loads on a bicycle that has a cart behind it. He charges 65cents US a trip to take a person with their bags to their destination. Sometimes he makes 5 trips a day but that is about the most that he gets. This is very low paid work and most people prefer to use the motorized taxis.

The house they live in has one large room that they have divided into two. They have one bed for the two big boys and one bed for the rest of the family.

Without help the children in this family would find it very difficult to be able to afford to go to school.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #75 Jonathon who is 10 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Donna and Donny, Thanks!

Jonathon is 10 years old.

Jonathon is 10yrs old. He is the second eldest of five children. Jonathon's mother works as a housemaid in a big hotel. They live in a rented two room house. Jonathon works before school as a gardeners assistant. During the school holidays he is also working in the river sifting sand for construction sites. Jonathon has only been living with his mother for about a year now. Before that his father raised him but then his father re-married and the step mother was abusive to him and did not want him at the house. So he has come to live with his mother. It was tough for him at first to adjust but he now seems very happy. He is photographed carrying his little sister, Elisabet.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #74 Alejandra who is 9 years old.

$ SPONSORED Thanks!

Alejandra

Alejandra is nine years old. She is one of five children. She is the main caretaker of her 2yr old sister, Elisabet.

Alejandra has an older brother, Samuel, who is 15, she is photographed with her little sister Jacquelin who is 7 and her brother Jonathon, 10yrs old . Jonathon is carrying Elisabet on his back. When her mother is at work Alejandra looks after her little sister. Alejandra is a very sweet girl, she loves riding a bicycle and playing sports.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #73 Jakelin who is 5 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Marilyn C. from Hearts and Hands, Thanks!

Jakelin is the younger sister of #71 and #72. She is one of six children, the eldest Maria Angelica is 15yrs old, she has never gone to school, she cannot read or write and she barely speaks Spanish. She works in the onion fields, cleaning onions when she can get that work. She makes $2 a day. Her elder sister, Micaela will be entering second grade this year, her brother Pedro, 8 will be going to first grade. She has a younger brother, Juan who is 4 and the baby Sandra is 1 and a half years old.

The family lives in a one room mud brick house that is in very bad condition. They all sleep on two very small wooden beds that are in bad condition. They do not have any mattresses and they sleep on the bare boards. They do not have any cupboards to store their possessions. They use a cardboard box to store their clothes. The girls wear traditional clothes and their clothes are very ragged. The children in this family are very small and malnourished. This is a family that often does not have enough food to eat and has to live on tortillas and salt.

Jakelin's father makes money by carrying heavy loads on his back on market day. He can only earn money three days aweek at the market, he makes approx. $6.50 a day. The mother stays at home looking after the little ones.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #72 Pedro who is 8 years old.

$ SPONSORED by the Elizabeth Rummel School Thanks!

Pedro is Micaela's #71 brother. He is 8yrs old. He is one of six children. His oldest sister, Maria Angelica is 15yrs old. She has never been to school, she cannot read or write and she barely speaks Spanish. She works cleaning and planting onions in the fields when there is work. For this work she earns $2.00 a day. Her father works in the markets, carrying heavy loads on his back. He earns approx. $6.50 a day.He can only get work three days a week at the market. He has been in bad health for some time and it is difficult for him to work. His wife, Lydia, stays at home caring for the other young children. Micaela is 12yrs old, Pedro is 8yrs old and going into first grade, Jacquelin is 5yrs old and will be going into first grade, Juan Israel is 4yrs old and the baby, Sandra is 1 and half years old. This is a very poor family. They live in one mud brick room, they have a tiny piece of land, they have electricity but no running water. They have no closets to store their clothes, they use cardboard boxes, the whole family sleeps on two very small beds that are in bad condition. They do not have mattresses and sleep on the bare boards. This is afamily that often does not have enough to eat and has to survive on tortillas and salt.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #71 Micaela who is 12 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Linda of Hearts and Hands Thanks!

Micaela is 12 yrs old. She lives in San Jorge la Laguna. There are 6 children in the family. Her father is a laborer in the market, he carries cargo on his back for people in the market. He works three days a week in the market and sometimes makes $6.50 a day. Her mother, Lydia Ramos Chipil has 4 small children and stays at home looking after the little ones.

The eldest child is Maria Angelica, she is 15 yrs old. She sometimes works in the onion fields when there is work. It is not a steady income. She earns $2.00 U.S. a day when she works. The other children are Pedro 8yrs old, Jaquelin 5yrs old, Juan Israel 4yrs old, Sandra 1 and half years old.

They have a tiny piece of land and live in one mud brick room. They do not have running water. They do have electricity. They do not have a closet to store their clothes. They do not have a stove to cook with, they cook over rocks on the ground. They do not have very much to eat, a lot of the times they are only eating tortillas with salt. Micaela is a very small child, she is absolutely tiny for 12 years old. She will be entering second grade next year. The eldest girl Maria Angelica never went to school, she cannot read or write, she barely speaks Spanish. Micaela's clothes are very tattered, the small amount of clothes that she has are second hand or her mother's old clothes that are made to fit her.

The whole family sleeps in two small beds that do not have mattresses. They sleep on the wooden base that is not in very good condition.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #70 Freddy who is 11 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Gabriella, Thanks!

Freddy and Claudia with Mother and Sister.

Claudia is 12yrs old and Freddy is 11 yrs old. They live with their mother and father, younger brother, Llovany 5yrs old and their little sister, Suzeli, 19 months old. They do not own their own house, they are renting a house in Panajachel. They pay $22 US. a month. The father is a builder's assistant. He makes $4.60 US a day. They are living in one room, with just one bed. They have a small kitchen that they have made out of tin sheets. They do not have any closets to mind their clothes, they keep all their possessions in a cardboard box. They cook over an open fire on the ground.

They lost their rented house and all their possession in the Hurricane Stan last year.

Claudia will be going into first year of Junior High school next year. Freddy will be going into 5th grade next year.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #69 Claudia who is 12 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Terry, Thanks!

Claudia and Freddy with mother and sister.

Claudia 12 years old.

They lost their rented house and all their possession in the Hurricane Stan last year.

Claudia will be going into first year of Junior High school next year. Freddy will be going into 5th grade next year.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #68 Elvira who is almost 5 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Trisha T. Thanks! Photo coming.

Elvira is almost five years old and going into kindergarten. Her mother, Maria, is a single mother, she is working as a domestic helper in private house. She earns $67 a month. She works six days. Last year she lost the house she was renting and all her possessions in the hurricane. She now rents a house with her mother and father and two siblings, Victor 10 yrs old, Irma 11 yrs old .They have two rooms they are renting that are made of wood. They don't have electricity connected. The children sleep in one bed and the adults sleep on woven grass mats on the floor. They are paying $47 a month rent. The grandmother works when she can washing clothes by hand in different houses. The grandfather has been very ill but he is now working in the river sifting sand for construction. This is very low paid work.

There are days this family has food to eat and there are days when they don't. Without help Elvira will not be able to start school this year.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #67 Maria Carmensita

$ SPONSORED by Kim N. and Family Thanks!

Maria Carmensita Silvia & Maria with Mother Blanca Estela.

These two young sisters live with their mother in the village of San Jorge La Laguna. Their mother Blanca Estella is a widow. Their father Ricardo died nearly 4 years ago from alcohol related problems. The mother works cleaning houses, makes $67 a month. They live in one mud brick room. They share a communal stove with her family. They have electricity. The amount of money she is making barely covers the food for the family to eat. It is very difficult for her to buy shoes and clothing for the two girls. The girls really want to go to school and hope that it will be possible.

Silvia will be entering second grade and Maria will be entering school for the first year.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #66 Silvia who is 8 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Kim N. and family Thanks!

Silvia who is 8 years old.

Silvia will be entering second grade and Maria will be entering school for the first year.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #65 Oscar 13 years old.

$ SPONSORED by the Carpenter Family, Thanks!

Oscar The Kitchen.

Outside their room.

With their mother.

This family is suffering a very big crisis. The mother, Carmella is 32 yrs old. She has very bad kidney problems. She is on Dialysis. The Doctors have told her that they can give her no more help, that without a kidney being donated to her, she will not live. It seems fairly impossible that she will receive a kidney donation here. This is not something that happens here for someone in her situation. The Doctors wanted her to stay in the hospital in the hope that she would have one but she said that she preferred to be with her children and if she is going to die then she would rather do it at home. For the last two weeks she has not been able to get out of bed and we are now arranging transport for her to be able to get to the hospital.

Her husband passed away seven years ago. Carmella owns her own three roomed house. It is a very basic house, she and the children live in one room, she has rented out the other two rooms so that they have some income. She gets about $30 a month for the rooms and this is the amount she has to live on.

Her children left school this past August because the school was insisting that they have school uniforms and the mother could not provide them. Carmella has no brothers or sisters, her father is elderly and has health problems and lives with his second wife.

Oscar, will have to repeat 6th grade again because he did not do his exams to be able to enter junior high school.

He is working 6 days a week from 8.am. to 6p.m., in a mechanics workshop. He earns $8 U.S. a week and this he gives to his mother.

Marvin will be entering into 6th grade. Eddy will be entering into 4th grade and Angelica and will be entering into school for the first time this year.

This family does not have enough food to eat, the children sleep on the floor on woven mats, they need a bed, they need blankets and they need the chance to be able to go to school this year.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #64 Marvin who is 12 years old.

$ SPONSORED by the Carpenter Family, Thanks!

Oscar, will have to repeat 6th grade again because he did not do his exams to be able to enter junior high school.

He is working 6 days a week from 8.am. to 6p.m., in a mechanics workshop. He earns $8 U.S. a week and this he gives to his mother.

Marvin will be entering into 6th grade. Eddy will be entering into 4th grade and Angelica and will be entering into school for the first time this year.

This family does not have enough food to eat, the children sleep on the floor on woven mats, they need a bed, they need blankets and they need the chance to be able to go to school this year.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #63 Eddy, 4th grade, is 10 years old.

$ SPONSORED by the Carpenter Family, Thanks!

Oscar, will have to repeat 6th grade again because he did not do his exams to be able to enter junior high school.

He is working 6 days a week from 8.am. to 6p.m., in a mechanics workshop. He earns $8 U.S. a week and this he gives to his mother.

Marvin will be entering into 6th grade. Eddy will be entering into 4th grade and Angelica and will be entering into school for the first time this year.

This family does not have enough food to eat, the children sleep on the floor on woven mats, they need a bed, they need blankets and they need the chance to be able to go to school this year.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #62 Angelica who is 8 years old.

$ SPONSORED by the Carpenter Family, Thanks!

Angelica, with your help, will be going to school for the first time!

Oscar, will have to repeat 6th grade again because he did not do his exams to be able to enter junior high school.

He is working 6 days a week from 8.am. to 6p.m., in a mechanics workshop. He earns $8 U.S. a week and this he gives to his mother.

Marvin will be entering into 6th grade. Eddy will be entering into 4th grade and Angelica and will be entering into school for the first time this year.

This family does not have enough food to eat, the children sleep on the floor on woven mats, they need a bed, they need blankets and they need the chance to be able to go to school this year.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #61 Jaquelin who is 7 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Birgitte and Anna S. Thanks!

This is Jaquelin. She is 7 yrs old. She lives in Panajachel, with her mother, her 15yr old brother, Samuel, her 10 yr old brother, Jonathon, her 9 yr old sister, Alejandra and her baby sister, Elisabet who is 2yrs old.

Her mother works as a housemaid in a hotel. The family has really struggled to survive. The father of the baby left town before she was born and has never been seen since. The other children have two different fathers, neither of them give any support for the children.

They live in a two room rented house. The boys have jobs before school and during the school holidays are working in the river sifting sand.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #60 Jaimie who is ten years old, the brother of #54.

$ SPONSORED by Charlene and Grant. Thanks!

Jaime is the boy in the orange shirt.

He lives with his mother and father in Panajachel. His father is a builders assistant. He makes $5.30 a day. His mother sells a rice drink called atol. She makes it at home and takes it on a push cart to sell in the street every morning and afternoon. She makes approx. $2.60 a day depending on her sales. She sells her drinks for 25 centavos each.

Marcos, 18yrs helps his father working on building sites.

Fernanda, 15yrs old, helps her mother also sell the atol drinks on the street. Daniel is the first child in the family to be able to get an education. His younger brother, Jaime 10 yrs old is going to be entering 3rd grade. The youngest Alex, 7yrs old will be going to school next year, entering first grade. They own their 2 roomed house, all nine of them live in this house, they have electricity and water. The day that Daniel came to the house to have his photo taken his shoes had big holes and the front of his shoe had his toes sticking out. His brother was wearing a very torn t-shirt. We were able to give the boys a shirt each but had no shoes their size.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #59 Josue David who is 10 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Mary and Amanda K. Thanks!

Josue and his mother Josue

Josue David is 10yrs old. He will be entering 6th grade this year. He lives with his parents and 4 other brothers and sisters. The father works in building construction. They lost their house in the Hurricane last year along with all their possessions. Now they are renting a house and trying to recover from this big loss. The house they are renting is a wooden house with two rooms, they have four beds, electricity and water. They have a small lean-to kitchen made of corrugated iron. This family is still reeling from the devastation to their lives from Hurricane Stan a year ago, and any help for them will be greatly appreciated.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #58 Tomas who is 10 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Don and Beryl J. Thanks!

Tomas 10yrs, live with their grandmother. Tomas will be going into 3rd grade.

Their mother died when the children were very small. The grandmother has raised them since then. The father abandoned the family after his wife's death and married another woman. He does not give his mother-in-law any financial support for raising the children. The grandmother is now a widow, she is approx. 65 years old. The grandmother makes a small living selling onions in the market.

They live in a small village called Pena Blanca, they have their own house which is a one room mud brick house, they have a small kitchen made of dried cornstalks. They have electricity and water.

It is very difficult for the grandmother to maintain the two children and supply them with an education but she has tried very hard to do so. Having a sponsor for these children will be a blessing for this family.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #57 Juana who is 12 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Hannah M. Thanks!

Juana is 12 yrs old. She is going into 5th grade. She and her brother, Tomas 10yrs, live with their grandmother. Tomas will be going into 3rd grade.

They live in a small village called Pena Blanca, they have their own house which is a one room mud brick house, they have a small kitchen made of dried cornstalks. They have electricity and water.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #56 Arnoldo who is 7 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Don and Beryl J. Thanks!

Arnoldo, is 7 yrs old. This will be his first year in school. The next brother Hugo, is 5 yrs old. He would like to go to school this coming year. The youngest, Salvador is 3 yrs old.

Arnoldo's mother Juana, has had a tough life, she is illiterate and can barely speak Spanish. She has had 10 children altogether. The elder ones from a her first marriage are now grown up and married. Ana is from ! her second marriage, that husband died. The three boys are from her third marriage. We have asked her why she stays with this man if he does not give her enough money to live on. She says that the house belongs to him and if she leaves him she has nowhere to live.

This family is often hungry, we have had to supply them with food several times, the children are all very small and undernourished. Juana herself has been very ill, we have been sending her for medical tests and she now needs an operation, she has cysts on her ovaries and has been in considerable pain.

Ana lives with all her family in one mud brick room, Ana sleeps with her mother in the single bed, when the father comes home, she sleeps on the floor with the rest of the children on a woven mat, they have a small kitchen lean to outside which is just a piece of corrugated iron. They have electricity and water connected to their house. They do not have a stove, Juana cooks over rocks on the ground.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #55 Ana Josefina who is 11 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Jackie W. Thanks!

Ana Josefina is 11yrs old. She went to school this year for the first time. She will be entering second grade this coming year.

Ana lives in Tierra Linda with her mother and her four siblings. The father has gone to work in the city, he comes back occasionally but never brings enough money for the family to live on. He says that he is only making enough to feed himself in the city. The wife does not know what kind of work he does or where he lives.

Her brother, Aroldo, is 7 yrs old. This will be his first year in school. The next brother Hugo, is 5 yrs old. He would like to go to school this coming year. The youngest, Salvador is 3 yrs old.

Ana's mother, Juana, has had a tough life, she is illiterate and can barely speak Spanish. She has had 10 children altogether. The elder ones from a her first marriage are now grown up and married. Ana is from ! her second marriage, that husband died. The three boys are from her third marriage. We have asked her why she stays with this man if he does not give her enough money to live on. She says that the house belongs to him and if she leaves him she has nowhere to live.

Ana has gone for the school vacation to work with her adult sister in Guatemala City, she is minding a small child, her mother does not know how much money she is earning but she hopes that it will be enough so that Ana can buy a new Corte ( a traditional skirt).

Ana has an older sister, Florinda, 14yrs old who works in the fields cleaning onions. She sleeps at the house of the people she works for, she makes, $46 a month and comes home once a month to see her family, she gives her mother money to buy food etc.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #54 Daniel Estuardo who is 12 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Don and Bev, Thanks!

Daniel Estuardo is 12yrs old and will be going into 6th grade. He lives with his mother and father in Panajachel. His father is a builders assistant. He makes $5.30 a day. His mother sells a rice drink called atol. She makes it at home and takes it on a push cart to sell in the street every morning and afternoon. She makes approx. $2.60 a day depending on her sales. She sells her drinks for 25 centavos each.

There are seven children in the family. The eldest four children were not able to go to school. They do not know how to read or write. The eldest is a daughter, 23yrs old, she sells shaved ice drinks on the street, she makes approx. $2 - $2.50 a day. The next daughter, Maria, 20yrs old helps her mother make the atol drinks that they sell on the street. Marcos, 18yrs helps his father working on building sites. Fernanda, 15yrs old, helps her mother also sell the atol drinks on the street. Daniel is the first child in the family to be able to get an education. His younger brother, Jaime 10 yrs old is going to be entering 3rd grade.

The youngest Alex, 7yrs old will be going to school next year, entering first grade. They own their 2 roomed house, all nine of them live in this house, they have electricity and water. The day that Daniel came to the house to have his photo taken his shoes had big holes and the front of his shoe had his toes sticking out. His brother was wearing a very torn t-shirt. We were able to give the boys a shirt each but had no shoes their size.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #53 Carlos Manuel who is 5 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Carolyn and Ian B. Thanks!

Carlos Manuel 5 years old.

Carlos Manuel lives in San Jorge la Laguna. He is one of seven children. The eldest is 21, next 15, 13yrs , 10, 9, 7, an d Manuel at 5yrs old. He ! lives with his parents. The father is a gardener and at night works as a caretaker. He works day and night and makes $94 a month. The 21 yr old is a builders helper and makes $4 a day. The mother makes beaded jewelry at home. They live in a mud brick house, they all live in one room.

They have three beds that they all share.

Without help it will be very difficult for this family to afford to send Carlos Manuel to school.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #52 Lesly who is 5 years old.

$ SPONSORED by David B. Thanks!

Lesly is 5yrs old and lives in San Jorge la Laguna. She lives with her mother and father. There are four children in the family. She has one brother who is 13yrs old, a sister who is 8yrs old, Lesly is 5yrs old and the younger brother is 4yrs old. The 13yr old is in 5th grade, the 8yr old is 3rd grade. The father is a day laborer working in a garden. He makes $27 a week. They are renting the room that they live in. They do not own any land, they sleep and cook in the one room. Lesly's mother makes beaded jewelry at home to help with the money coming in but this is very low paying work. It is difficult for this family to be able to send Lesly to school. They are struggling already to send the other two boys and still have enough to eat.

PLEASE SPONSOR STUDENT #51 Kenia who is 5 years old.

$ SPONSORED by Barbara and Andy C. Thanks!

Kenia 5 years old.

Receiving new shoes.

Both kids get new shoes.

With her Mother and Brother.

Kenia is 5 years old. This will be her first year to go to school. She will be entering kindergarten.

She has a bigger brother called Mayser, he is 7 yrs old. They live with their mother in San Jorge la Laguna. The father is in jail - he has been there for 6 months and he has a very long sentence. I am unsure of what crime he committed but the children are suffering a lot. The mother has found it very difficult to be able to provide them with enough food. They live in a one room mud brick house. They have one bed they all share. The mother makes beaded jewellry at home but this is very low paying work. It would be impossible for her to send these children to school on her very limited income.

Thank you so much for helping this child go to school.