Thursday, December 21, 2006

Several Paso directors return in January 2007 to Panajachel.



Paso por Paso directors are appealing to Ontario friends and relatives to support aid efforts in Gautemala. Several of the director will be in Panajachel during Jan. and Feb. /07 to dispense micro loans and student grants, do construction, and to research programs.

They are telling Ontarians that 100% of funds go to direct aid programs. Hopefully donors will take an on-going interest in a student, or a particular program.

• $110 USD Keep a child in primary school
• $300 Sponsor a teen in secondary school
• $100 Provide a Mayan woman in Tierra Linda with a micro loan
• $100 Help Tierra Lindal school to buy desks, install new toilets, provide school supplies

Donors are asked to make their cheques payable to “Paso Por Paso” and to call any of the directors for information.
Mail:
40 Dalton Cres. S.
Orillia ON Canada
L3V 5J8

Phone:
Catherine Bullen, Secty (705)329-0904
Dave Rapson, treas.
(705) 835-3218

E-Mail:
c.f.bullen@rogers.com or roger.pretty@rogers.com

Mayan women do the laundry and run businesses.


Micro Loans Help Mayan Women


Last January our directors participated in the selection of women to receive micro-credit loans of 1000 Quetzales, equivalent to $160 CAD. Two hundred women assembled. Ten were chosen by lot to receive loans. The women themselves devised the system of selection. No North American capitalist dog eat dog world here. With great dignity the women accepted the tasks facing them and congratulated the recipients.

The story repeats itself again and again.

Credit is used to purchase chickens or piglets, or a sewing machine, or a kiosk, or some equipment to start a business. Just as in Bangladesh where Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunis began, micro credit system has an extraordinary success rate. These Micro-Loans are the tiny boost needed by Mayan women to build their own businesses. Most importantly they gain new skills to share with their children and their neighbours.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Mayan challenges...

Guatemala has over 12 million people in territory about the same size as Central Ontario. Over 65% are Mayan. Over 40% are under the age of fourteen. Mayans are poor people. Most live traditional farm and village life where it is a struggle to feed and house families.

While the nation funds education up to grade six, many families are too poor to send their children to school, too poor to provide pencils, paper, books, shoes, clothes. Many children are at work by age six, gathering wood, shining shoes, working in gardens.

Families make great sacrifices to educate children. After the sixth grade tuitions are charged by the secondary schools and colleges.

There can be no better investment than to help families give children formal education. $110 USD will fund a child in primary school. $300 USD will provide the basics for a teenage boy or girl in a secondary school.