2018AnnualReport

©AnitaBonnarensPhotographersWithoutBorders(PWB),2018

Dearfriendsandsupporters,

OneofthefirstwordsthatcomestomindwhenIthinkofourworkinChajulis“community.”Thisisnotonlyastrongvalueinthelocalculture,buthasalsobeencentraltothehistoryofLimitlessHorizonsIxilasagrassrootsorganizaJon.WhenPedroandIfirstfoundedLimitlessHorizonsIxil14yearsago,itneverwouldhavebeenpossiblewithoutourstrongcommunityofsupport,bothinChajulandbackhome.Sincethen,ourlocalcapacityandinterna>onalcommunityhavebothgrownexponen>allyandourimpactinChajulhasgrownalongsideit!

I’mproudtosharethisannualreportwithyou,whichhighlightsthewaysinwhichyourcontribu>onshaveincreasedaccesstoeduca>onandopportuni>esinChajul.Together,ourcombinedresourcesandknowledge,andmostimportantlyoursharedsenseofdedica>ontotheindigenouspeopleofChajul,arehelpingaidthecommunitywhileitconJnuestorecoverfromthedevastaJng36-yearcivilwar.

I’velostcountofhowmanyJmesfamiliesandyouthhavesharedwithmehowtouchedtheyarethatthatcaringindividuals,oAenwholivesofarawayandmayhavenevermetthemorseenChajul,canbesoincrediblygenerous.Icouldn’tagreemore,andIamsogratefulthatyouhavechosentobeapartofourinnercircleofsupport.ItisthankstoyourJme,generosity,andadvocacythatweareabletoachieveourmissionandbringlife-changingopportuniJestothecommunityofChajul!

Yoursinthemission,

KaJeMorrowFounderandExecuJveDirectorLimitlessHorizonsIxil

©AnnaWa;s

345Hours

ofAcademicEnrichment

Classes

96Hours

ofComputerClasses

72Scholars

inMiddle&HighSchool

YouthDevelopmentProgram

Inacommunitywherejust16%ofyouthgraduatemiddleschooland5%completehighschool,weareproudtosharethatin2018,

100%ofour14middleschoolersand7highschoolersintheirfinalyear

graduated!Forthesecondyearinarow,

97%ofour72scholarssuccessfullycompletedthe

schoolyear.

97%

©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018

AcademicEnrichmentClasses

LimitlessHorizonsIxilprovidesweeklyacademicenrichmentclassesinthesubjectsourscholarsfindmostchallenging.EachscholarparJcipatedinatotalof345hoursofEnglish,math,Spanish,accoun>ng,andphysicsclassesin2018beyondregularschoolhours,whichareonly4hoursperday.

IntensiveSpanishClasses

InNovember,our7thand8thgradersparJcipatedin140hoursofintensiveSpanishlanguageclasses.SpanishisthelanguageofschoolinstrucJoninGuatemala,whileourscholarsobenonlyspeakIxilathome,sotheseclassespreparethemforsuccessbyenablingthemtounderstandclasscontent.

Mentorship&Guidance

Throughouttheyear,scholarsreceivedsupportinselec>ngcourses,searchingandapplyingforscholarships,anddefiningandachievingtheiracademicgoals.OurlocalGuatemalanstaffmade43homevisitsandmetprivatelywithscholars’parentstodiscusstheirchild’scourseofstudy,makingsuretheyhadthetoolstheyneededtosupporttheirchild’sprogress.GraduaJngscholarsalsoreceivedtrainingsonapplyingforjobsandscholarships,anddevelopinginterviewandCVwri>ngskills.

PsychologicalSupport

ScholarsandtheirfamilymembersparJcipatedin68individualtherapysessionswithournewstaffpsychologist,whosupportedthemthroughdifficultfamilyandpersonalsituaJons.

CollaborationwithLocalMiddleSchool

ToincreasethequalityofinstrucJonatpartnerschoolSanGasparMiddleSchool,wesuppliedtheirteacherswithlibrarycards,teachertrainings,andmaterials.WealsopaidsalariesforqualifiedteacherstoleadEnglish,math,andcomputerclasses.

GraduationCeremony

InNovember,weheldaspecialgraduaJonceremonyforour14gradua>ngmiddleschoolersand7gradua>nghighschoolers.Therewerespeeches,games,music,choreographeddances,andamealtocommemoratetheday.

OtherCelebrations

Attheconclusionofthefirstandsecondsemesters,stafftookscholarsonfieldtripstooutdoorrecrea>onparksforswimming,games,andbondingacJviJes.Throughouttheyeartherewere3goodgradescelebra>onstorewardscholarswithhighmarks,encouragingthemtokeepupthegoodwork.ScholarsheardmoJvaJonalspeechesandsharedaspeciallunchtogether.InMay,therewasaMother’sDaycelebra>ontohonorourscholars’mothersforalltheirhardworkanddedicaJon.

©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018

Throughouttheyear,scholarspar>cipatedin25workshopsonkeysocialandprofessionaldevelopmenttopics.Recognizingtheimportanceoffamilysupporttoourscholars’success,LimitlessHorizonsIxilalsooffered7workshopsfortheirparentson

importanttopicssuchas“CommunicaJngwithyourAdolescent,”“ParenJngwithLove,”anddomesJcviolence.

©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018

WhenAngélicawasachild,shehadtwodreams:togetaneduca>onandtomakeadifferenceintheworld.Asoneofeightchildreninafamilyofextremelylimitedfinancialmeans,sheknewfromanearlyagethatitwouldn’tbeeasytoachieveherdreams.Duringelementaryschool,Angélicaenduredridiculefromherpeersforahandinjury,anddiscouragementfromherfamilywhotoldhersheshouldn’tstudybecauseshewasagirl.Despitethesesignificantobstacles,Angélicawasdeterminedtosucceed.

WhenshewasacceptedintotoLimitlessHorizonsIxil’sYouthDevelopmentProgramandprovidedascholarshipandsupporttocon>nuehereduca>on,Angélicafeltshewasbeinggivena>ckettoherdreams.ShebroughtincrediblepassionandasteadfastdedicaJontohergoals,andLimitlessHorizonsIxilprovidedthetoolstohelpherachievethem.ThispastNovember,AngélicagraduatedfromhighschoolwithhonorsandisnowresearchinguniversityprogramsandscholarshipopportuniJes!

Throughworkshopsandmentoring,Angélicadevelopedaclearervisionforhowtoapplyherskillsandpassions.Herdreamofmakingadifferenceintheworldisnowfocusedonbuildingabrighterfutureforherowncommunity.AngélicaenvisionsherselfasanagentofchangeandhashersightssetonbeingaleaderinChajul.Shetoldus:

“I want to be the difference in Chajul. I want to broaden my mind and create new

opportunities for myself and my community.”

ScholarSpotlight:Angélica

©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018

12UniversityScholarships

200Scholars&Alumni

OurnewEmergingLeadersProgramoffersexpandedworkforcedevelopmentservicestoover200scholarsandgraduatesintheirpost-secondaryschooltransi>ons.Allalumnibenefitfromextensivecareercounseling,universityapplicaJonsupport,professionalandjobseekingskillsdevelopment,vocaJonaltrainings,entrepreneurshipsupport,andtheopportunitytobepartofourgrowingpeer-to-peeralumninetworkofsupport.

5alumnaeinourfellowshipprogramalsogained1,200hoursofpaidworkexperienceandreceivedmentoringandsupport,fieldtrips,and80hoursofeducaJonalacJviJesandprofessionaldevelopmentworkshopsontopicssuchaspublicspeaking,budgeJng,teamcollaboraJon,andmore.

OurWorkto(L)earniniJaJvegivesalumniandolderscholarsanopportunitytogainpart-Jmeworkexperienceandearnsomeincome.Altogetherourscholarsandalumnicontributed925hoursofsupporttoourprogramsbyassisJngwithandlearningfromtasksinourcommunitycenter,library,andarJsanprograms.

Staffalsobeganeffortstomorecloselymonitorindicatorsofalumnisuccess.ThetotalnumberofLimitlessHorizonsIxilalumnitograduatefromuniversityisnow7,including5women!Fewerthan1%ofpeopleinChajulevera;ainsuchahighdegreeofeducaJon.

5PaidFellowships

Earlypregnancyandmarriagecansignificantlylimitagirl’spotenJalopportuniJes.GirlswhowaitunJltheyaredonewithschoolandarefinanciallystablearealsomuchmorelikelytofinishtheirstudiesandmakehealthychoicesforthemselvesandtheirfamilies.Ourprogramsaredesignedtoempowergirlsandwomenreachtheirgoals,andweencouragescholarstoholdoffonstarJngfamiliesunJltheyareready.

81%ofourfemalegraduateswaitedunJltheywere23tohavechildren,

comparedtoonly

16%ofourscholars’mothers.

Ourfellowsa_endedaseriesofsixworkshopswiththelocalorganiza>onDefensoríadeLaMujer(DefenseofWomen)onhumanrights,withafocusonchildren’srights,genderandviolence.CreaJngspaceforlearningandopendiscussionaboutthesetopicsiscriJcalforourfellowsasyoungwomen,membersofthecommunityofChajul,andfutureprofessionals.Theyhadtheopportunitytoapplytheknowledgetheylearnedfromtheirtrainingsbyhelpingtoplanandfacilitatetheirownworkshopforourscholars’families.

©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018

158HoursofAdventuresin

Math,Science,&English

720HoursofHomeworkHelp

70StoryHours

62ReadingClubSessions

24CulturalHours

177NewMembers

50–60DailyVisits

4,438OriginalTitles

SaberSinLímites(LimitlessKnowledge)CommunityLibrary

OurlibraryisthefirstandonlyofitskindinChajul,providingvisitorsasafestudyenvironment,literacyprogramming,academicsupport,andaccesstonearly9,000books(4,438originalJtles)andotherresources.Thelibraryisopentotheen>recommunity,bethey5yearoldsa;endingstoryhouror18yearoldsparJcipaJnginourchapterbookreadingclub.Bynurturingchildhoodliteracy,improvingSpanishlanguageskills,andcreaJngacultureofliteracyandlearning,ourlibraryprovidesitsmembersandtheirfamilieswitheduca>onalopportuni>esandthemeanstocompeteforemployment,liAtheirfamiliesoutofpoverty,andadvocatefortheircommunity’swell-being.

©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018

Thisyear,28newar>sansjoinedourarJsanprogram,sothatwenowhaveatotalof100ar>sans,primarilyscholars’mothersaswellasalumniandscholarsseekingextraincomeopportuniJes.ThesetalentedarJsansemploytradiJonalback-strapweavingtechniquestocreatebeauJfulhand-wovenarJsanproducts.Mothersworkalongsidestafftodevelopnewdesigns,discussfairwages,andcreateworksofart.LimitlessHorizonsIxilpurchasesallproductsfromthearJsansandsellstheminternaJonallytoraisenecessaryfundsforourprograms.

TogetherwithourarJsans,wecreated1,842products,includingthefollowingnewproductdesignsin2018:

• 7newbraceletdesigns

• 10newnecklacedesigns

• 5newearringdesigns

• Ponchosandinfinityscarves

ArtisanProgram

©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018

CommunityEngagementTrips

LimitlessHorizonsIxilhostedfivecommunityengagementtripsin2018!VisitorslearnedaboutthecultureandhistoryoftheIxilregion,cookedandsharedmealswithscholars’families,visitedclassesandthelibrary,andspentlotsofJmewithstaff,scholars,andlibrarymembers.LimitlessHorizonsIxilalumniandfamiliesledandcoordinatedmanyoftheseacJviJes,earningfairwagesfortheirwork.Ahighlightforsomevisitorswastheopportunitytomeetinpersontheyouthwhoseeduca>ontheyaresponsoring.TheirserviceanddonaJonsoftechnology,schoolsupplies,books,blankets,solarlamps,andotheritemsmadealas>ngimpactonthelivesofourscholarsandtheirfamilies.

WealsohostedavolunteerprofessionalphotographerfromPhotographersWithoutBorderswhocapturedLimitlessHorizonsIxilstaff,scholars,andalumniengagedintheirwork.HerbeauJfulphotographshelpusbringChajulandourworktolifeforsupportersunabletovisit!

©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018

StaffDevelopment

InvestinginOurStaff&TheirLeadershipCapacity

LocalGuatemalanstaffa;endedaseriesoftrainingswithpartnerorganiza>onStarfishImpactSchoolfocusedonteachingreadingskills.Topicsincludedhowtodesignclassroomspacestosupportindependentreading,andintegraJngreadingskillsintoothersubjectssuchasmathandscience.

WewerefortunatetohostanexperiencedbilingualteacherfromtheUnitedStatesinChajul.Sheprovidedanumberoftrainingsoncri>calthinkingskillsandthefacilita>onofgroupdiscussionforourstaffandfellows,aswellasforteachersatpartnerschool,SanGasparMiddleSchool.

OurGuatemalanstaffmembersarebreakinggroundassomeofthefirstpeoplefromChajultopursueauniversityeduca>onandworkprofessionaljobs.Theyserveasrolemodelsforourscholarsandlibraryusers,andweareproudtobeabletoprovideuniversityscholarshipstosupporttheirweekendstudies.

Cecilia,Ar>sanProgram&TechnologyCoordinator,is

studyingsystemsengineering.SheisthefirstwomanfromChajulevertostudycomputerscience.

David,HeadLibrarian,isstudyingagronomywiththegoaloffindingnewwaystoreducehighratesoffood

insecurityinChajul.

Marina,YouthDevelopmentProgramCoordinator,isstudyingclinicalpsychology.Sheappliesherdegreeeverydayinherwork

withscholarsandparents.

Olga,Librarian,isenrolledinauniversityprogramineducaJon,withaspecial

emphasisonadministraJon.

Verónica,ManagingDirector,completedcourseworkforhermaster’sdegreeinbusiness

administraJon.

Eymi,Opera>ons&CommunityOutreachManager,completed

courseworkforherbachelor’sdegreeinbusinessadministraJon.

Zuliana,GuatemalanAssistantDirector,ispreparingtotakethe

Guatemalanequivalentofthebarexam.

Allphotosonthispage©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018

Pleasevisitwww.limitlesshorizonsixil.orgforourmostrecentfinancials.

Thankyouforhelpingusmake2018anincredibleyear!LimitlessHorizonsIxilwasable

toprovidemuchneededacademicandprofessionalopportunitiestotheindigenous

youthandfamiliesofChajulthankstothetime,efforts,andgenerosityofourcommunityof

donorsandvolunteers.

We’retremendouslygratefulforyourpartnership!

©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018