What we do
Project Maltioxinem (mal-tee-osh-ee-nem) or Project Grateful, provides free English classes for school age girls and women living in challenging circumstances in villages around Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. These English classes will provide the women and girls with better job opportunities in the Lake's tourism sector, allowing them to provide a better quality of life for their families or provide them with an income that they can use to continue their academic studies.
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Mothers
We currently have 8 mothers enrolled in our English classes. Intensive English classes began in the summer of 2018, with mothers attending two hours of classes each day Monday to Friday for three weeks. The mothers continue to expand their learning, now attending classes twice per week. The classes are a mix of games, conversation, listening, reading and writing. Most of the mothers had no English at all when they started and some had limited education in Spanish as well. All the mothers have the goal of learning English in order to obtain a better paying job, most likely in the vibrant tourism industry around Lake Atitlan, and by doing so will not only improve their own lives, but the lives of their families as well. |
Girls
Currently we have 6 girls enrolled in our English classes. Just like the mothers' classes, intensive English classes began in the summer of 2018, with two hours of classes Monday through Friday. All year long, the girls continue to attend class, Tuesdays and Thursdays for two hours each day. To keep the girls motivated and having fun, the classes involve a lot of games, movement activities, songs and conversation. The girls ages range from 8-11 and come from the San Pedro area. All of the girls come from families that live in difficult circumstances.
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COVID-19 Update
Since the onset of the global pandemic in March when most of the world shut down, we have had to alter how we serve the women and girls in our program. In March, the local schools, both public and private, in Guatemala, shut their doors. They have stayed shut for the rest of their school year (end of October) and we are currently waiting to hear when and how they may be opening for the new year in January 2021. In the meantime, we altered our charity constitution to allow us to provide our families with much needed food. Once per month we have been delivering large amounts of corn, beans, eggs, detergent, and other much needed supplies to help keep our families afloat. Many of the families live on money they can earn on a day by day basis, and the restrictions that COVID has placed on their ability make money has impacted them greatly. We will continue to serve our families in this way until we are able to resume classes again.
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To educate girls is to reduce poverty.
To educate girls is to reduce poverty.
- former UN secretary general Kofi Anan
Where we are
We currently work out of an existing school located in San Pedro La Laguna, Solola, Guatemala. This community of approximately 13,000, is located on the banks of Lake Atitlan, a stunningly beautiful lake surrounded by lush tropical forests and volcanoes. While the scenery is breathtaking, the true beauty of the area is the people. There are several Mayan villages that surround the lake, each with its own distinct culture. Spanish is the common language, and the language taught in public schools, however, the Mayan languages of Tz'utujil and Kaqchikel are often peoples' first languages.
Our Goal
To empower women and girls by giving them a marketable skill
focus on GUatemala
Guatemala is a country of great beauty and vibrant indigenous culture. It also has many social and economic needs. According to the most recent national census, overall poverty rates in San Pedro are approximately 82%, while literacy rates for women in the area are only 56.8% (20 points below the literacy rates for men). Enrollment rates for high school students in San Pedro and the surrounding area are only 22% and the average woman in the area with no schooling has 5 children and 40% of births in the area were to women with no schooling.
focus on women and girls
In Guatemala, 30% of girls are married by 18 and 6% by age 15. Studies show that when women earn an income they reinvest 90% of their income in their families and communities. An educated mother is more than twice as likely to send her child to school, and girls with a high school education are six times less likely to be married as children.