News
11 Jan - Beginning of school year |
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The school year in Guatemala is starting now. Guatemalan public schools require a number of fees and many families are short of cash due to the economic fallout of hurricane damage. We have started a scholarship program for middle school (básico) students in Santa Catarina Palopó. Contact us for details. |
1 Jan - Water filters |
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We are planning to subsidize the purchase of water filters for interested households in Santa Catarina. Water quality has been a problem since the mudslides; and we would like to provide households with ceramic filters that produce purified water. The filters are made of ceramic, produced in Guatemala, and can produce purified water for 1-2 years. Using a filter obviates the need to boil water, which has the added advantage... |
30 Dec - Donation to Las Manos |
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We have made a donation to the Las Manos settlement in Panajachel. There are almost 200 people who have settled temporarily at Las Manos, whose homes were destroyed during Hurricane Stan. Our donation will contribute to the construction of sanitary facilities at the settlement. Construction will begin on 2 Jan. I will provide updates as construction progresses. |
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22 Dec - December update: food |
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The PMA (Programa Mundial de Alimentación) has undertaken a program of food distribution for the next six months: they now are distributing corn, beans, oil, and corazon de trigo for atol to families affected by Hurricane Stan. The PMA is using official municipal lists to identify affected families is distributing food through the COCODE, the local development council (consejos de desarrollo). |
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5 Dec - PBS report |
A nice report from PBS. |
11 Nov - Report of first phase of work |
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This is a brief summary of what I accomplished during my trip to Santa Catarina (17 Oct - 9 Nov). I devoted my funds and energies to performing a needs assessment survey, providing support for families in materially vulnerable positions, and facilitating the distribution of aid from other sources. |
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27 Oct - Work plan |
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I am now pursuing three projects concurrently that are intended to mitigate the fallout from the mudslides in Santa Catarina. In the short term, I am engaged in hiring people at a fair wage to help clear the ground of the houses that were flattened, to clear out houses that are filled with mud, and to rebuild homes. The houses that are still filled with mud belong to the poorest... |
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26 Oct - Needs assessment, three weeks after hurricane Stan |
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In the early morning of 5 October, after four days of continuous rain, a series of mudslides came down the mountain above Santa Catarina Palopó, roughly following the path of the two rivers that flow through town into Lake Atitlán. This brought down water, mud, and boulders weighing between 25 and 1500 lbs. onto the houses in the vicinity of the rivers. |
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