El Fundo para mi Escuela (My School Fund)

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El Fundo para mi Escuela organized in 2007 and began its Back-to-School scholarship program at the beginning of the school year in January, 2008. Initial support was from Fox Island United Church of Christ, Fox Island, Washington, which continues to support this program. This scholarship program aims to support local students through secondary school. One program is active in 2009 and a second program is in the planning stage.

• Back-to-School program supports students through secondary school:
  Each January, at the start of the school year, children receive a tuition voucher for the school of their choice, backpack, school outfit, and supplies, at a cost of about $110 per scholar. In Guatemala, secondary school instruction includes education and pre?training for many professions, such as teaching and secretarial work. The intention of this program is to support students through secondary school so that they can be self-supporting in meaningful, contributing jobs. One-hundred percent of scholarship donations goes to El Fundo; Jim and Anca Vaughn, of Fox Island, Washington, cover program expenses.

  For the girls, the school clothing consists of a complete outfit in the style of the local traje (see below) of skirt, blouse, beaded or woven belt, and leather shoes.

  For the boys, the clothing includes new jeans, a short-sleeved shirt, and leather shoes.

  In order to continue in the Back-to-School program, students must attend school regularly and maintain their grades. Volunteer Benedicto Ixtamer Peréz, who makes the tuition payments to the schools for this program, checks report cards!

  Local traje (pronounced tra´-hay):
  Throughout Guatemala, each community has a traditional traje, or style of dress, based on locally designed and produced textiles. For the Back-to-School program, our local volunteer Maria Concepcion Cholotio Hernandez purchases bolts of fabric and contracts with local seamstresses to custom sew a skirt and blouse for each girl scholar.

  NOTE: The Museo Ixchel del Traje Indígena (museum of indigenous Mayan dress) (http://www.museoixchel.org/) in Guatemala City collects and exhibits textiles and clothing from over 120 communities. Check it out during your next trip to Guatemala!

• A new program to supply prescription and reading glasses for students and adults is underway.