Newsletter 2015 #1Registered Charity 1099280

/EducationForTheChildrenFoundation /eftc /EFTCFoundation

www.eftc.org.uk enquiries@eftc.org.uk /EFTCFoundation

Breaking the cycle of poverty through education and empowerment.

586 children and young adults are currently supported by Education for the Children. We run the School of Hope in Jocotenango, Guatemala: an urban area where extreme poverty,

gang crime, domestic violence and alcoholism are everyday realities. Food, healthcare, counselling and career guidance at the school remove obstacles to

education and enable our students to realise their potential.EFTC’s School of Hope is on the way to becoming a fully bilingual (Spanish/English).

Our students have the best possible start in life and a real chance to compete with graduates from more privileged backgrounds.

Through EFTC programmes, students are empowered to make positive choices, laying the foundations upon which they can build a brighter future for themselves and their families.

LouiseSponsorship Coordinatorsponsor@eftc.org.uk

Points of contact

NatalieVisitor and VolunteerCoordinatorvisitors@eftcfoundation.org

CindyCommunicationsOfficercindyl@eftc.org.uk

BooEvents and UK SponsorshipCoordinatorboo@eftc.org.uk

ChantalUK Foundation Coordinatorchantal@eftc.org.ukTel: 0115 9584876

EFTC Sta� NewsProject Director We are very proud and excited to have Sophie back with us as the Project Director in Guatemala!Director of Education Alejandra joined us in January 2015; she makes sure all students receive high quality education thanks to the effective teamwork of the school community.Campaigns Director Patty, who has been with us for 11 years now, is currently managing our campaigns and M&E. IT Manager Mario is in charge of planning and executing projects that bring technology to our students.We are very excited to welcome Louise as the new Sponsorship Coordinator and Cindy, our new Communications O�cer.

LizzieCorporate and Major Donor Managerlizzie@eftc.org.ukTel: 0115 9584876

We have been delighted to receive significant contributions over last few months from:

THANK YOU!

C-learning Ergo Hide My Ass The Cotton TrustSt Alphege Seasalter Saga Charitable TrustCastlegate LLP HD Decisions Liz BaldwinFluent Money Cop Security Distinction FestaffOpen Gate Persula Foundation The Paget TrustThe Roger Vere Foundation Nimesh KamathThe Christadelphian Samaritan Fund HSBC

Word from the Chairman:It is an accepted fact that, without education, it is impossible to break the cycle of poverty. EFTC found long ago that, to succeed in providing education, a number of barriers and social issues needs to be dealt with. Nutrition, medical and psychological care, provision of a Safehouse, housing support and focus on issues like drugs, gangs and teenage pregnancies have long been part of our integrated approach.But, what happens after the school years? Are there decent jobs with decent wages available? Just try googling the word ‘Guatemala’. The sponsored results will inevitably be about tourism, the majesty of the Maya and the natural beauty of the country. This will be followed by sites of charities desperately trying to do something about the widespread poverty. The poverty that all the EFTC children are born into. Reading the news feed will leave you feeling very depressed – drug wars, corruption, mining disputes, natural disasters and historical intervention by foreign powers.But, if you dig deeper, you will find that something else is happening. Guatemala’s economy is expanding with almost 20% real growth in the last 5 years. The World Bank and other sources have identified Guatemala as a country with huge potential. Inward investment is growing from USA, Asia and Europe. This means that next to the old market manual jobs, modern industries like communications, IT, construction and all the associated professional services are now growing in Guatemala. The labour force has increased 10% in the last 5 years. Our graduates are not going to be over qualified manual workers. They will be able to take advantage of their fluent English and IT skills in their own country. This is not a sticking plaster charity. With your help, this is working! Thank you all so much.

- David McKee

Meet the Sta�

Doña Tina has been with us almost from the beginning of the Foundation! Together with the amazing kitchen team, she makes sure that all our students receive nutritious meals every day.“I love cooking for the children and seeing how they grow strong and healthy. My favourite moment is when they say: ‘It was delicious!’ When I don’t get to see them on weekends, I really miss them!”

“I am fascinated with chemistry and biology and love teaching and seeing the students develop”.Juan Pablo is also involved with ‘Factory of Smiles’, an organisation which brings a variety of performances and activities to people in hospitals, hospices and nursing homes. He has used his experience to run laugh therapy workshops at the school, which were very popular with both the students and staff!

Doña Tina

Juan Pablo

Kitchen Staff Member

Science Teacher

10 years on and going strong!Walking into the school on the first day of classes this year may have been a very different experience to that of January 2005, but the butterflies of excitement, chaos and nerves were exactly the same. Having reached the 10-year mark and returning to Guatemala, I have found myself reflecting on the early days and how we got started.After an unexpected turn of events in December 2004, we found ourselves discussing what came next. We decided to take the plunge and start Escuela Proyecto “La Esperanza”. A mere 6 weeks later, I was sat on the floor of an empty building with my dad and Jorge, surrounded by boxes of new textbooks, waiting for the delivery of furniture in time for the opening, the very next morning. We were exhausted and excited but apprehensive that we may have to open a school without desks. Luckily, everything worked out.In 2005, EFTC had only 11 staff members. The main office, shared only by Jorge and myself, doubled up as the storage area. The building was big but definitely not ideal for a school. We had to be creative with space and put up divisions for classes. The narrow corridor and hall were chaos during recess with, at times, up to 175 kids running around. It is quite hard to believe we pulled it off in that space!

Fast forward ten years and the amazing EFTC team has grown by 37 members. The spacious primary and secondary school, with over 470 students, has patios that overlook Volcano Agua and large outdoor spaces for the kids to run around. We have an amazing Social Department and are well on our way to becoming a fully bilingual school. Never in a million years did I imagine this when I was sat on the floor, waiting for the furniture to come in 2005.Coming back after a few years in Argentina, I am overwhelmed by the warmth and kindness that I have received from the children, the families, the team and supporters upon my return. EFTC was born with that “family” feeling and even though it has grown and changed immensely over the years, we are so lucky to have maintained that.The next 10 years will be less “uncertain”, but I am sure to be just as surprised and amazed when I look back upon them. Now that we have our first students completing their education and entering the workplace, we are gaining an understanding about the obstacles they face and what they need in order to succeed. Over the next year we will continue to strengthen our bilingual programme, introduce innovative methods of learning, focus on teaching our students life skills from reception and support the professional development of our staff, so that they are equipped and prepared for the changes that lie ahead. It is a truly exciting time for EFTC and I am honoured to be back and part of such a wonderful team and community. - Sophie McKee, Project Director in Guatemala, February 2015

‘We have to help them dream...‘When children are repeatedly exposed to domestic violence, alcoholism, neglect and other problems resulting from extreme poverty, their chances of successfully completing their education are profoundly threatened. We have found that psychological support is crucial for our students to overcome these challenges and succeed in school.Faida joined EFTC as a psychologist in March 2014 and has been providing psychotherapy, counselling and group sessions to a number of students, as well as their families.Q: What are the main reasons for the problems our students are facing?F: The biggest problem is disintegration of the families due to poverty, violence and alcoholism. I believe that in order to break the cycle of poverty, we need the parents' help. We have to include them in their children's process of education and help them dream for their children's future. The majority of the parents did not have an opportunity to receive any education at all and many can't read or write. That's why this year we are launching a workshop programme for the parents of our community. Q: Can you tell us about the situation of women - mothers of our students?F: Many of them are single mothers who don't receive any support from the fathers or the state. The majority of them have to work very hard to support their children, which means the children suffer from the lack of presence of their mothers. This psychologically results in many negative effects. Children are looked after by other people (or in many cases are left to themselves) while their mothers - working to provide for their children - are often brought to desperate choices. Q: Please tell us more about the workshops for parents that you have planned for this year.F: We will host regular bi-monthly sessions for all parents, with topics including assertiveness, discipline, communication with children, domestic violence and the negative influence of media. We aim to make these workshops practical, experiential and impactful. We have invited other parents who successfully overcame difficulties to share their stories and inspire others - finding a model within your own environment can make an incredible difference and help find motivation and strength.Q: What are your wishes for the future?F: I'm a dreamer. I dream of having an education centre for parents where they can learn, grow, and find new ways to take care of their families. I hope to be of help and support these children, their families, and our community.

‘The gift of mobility, in the form of bicycles, can do miracles.’Hans Rey and the team from Wheels4Life travelled to our school to deliver 31 new bicycles to our scholarship students! Wheels4Life brings free bicycles to people in need of transportation in developing countries to help them break the cycle of poverty. This is the 2nd time now that EFTC is supported with a bicycle donation for our scholarship students. These young adults very often combine their studies with work and other responsibilities which means they have to brave very long distances during their day. The gift of a bicycle makes their journey safer, quicker and less exhausting. Not having to walk means more energy to focus on their studies. Huge thanks to Wheels4Life for this wonderful donatoin!

Where are they now?

Cesia joined us in her final grade of Secondary School. Her family got to the point when they could no longer pay for her education. Luckily, her mum heard of EFTC and Cesia was given a place. She remembers how surprised she was to see that not only her education, but also school materials, food, health and psychological care were provided. After graduating, Cesia continued in Diversificado and is now pursuing Business Administration at university. She has worked for a few years as a teacher and recently took a brave decision to accept a position in San Lucas. She has to go through difficulties of long commute, but her position is now stable and better paid and she’s able to support her sister’s education."What I loved the most at the School of Hope were all the extracurricular activities. I played football and met the [then] Chelsea player, Shaun Wright Phillips! I had a chance to play with him and even won a trophy. That was a very special day for me. My dreams for the future are to open a business focused on women's clothes and cosmetics. I would also love to travel around the world, but first I would like to get to know the beautiful Guatemala.”

Help students like Carlos and Cesia pursue the careers of their dreams and break the cycle of poverty.Poverty in Guatemala is both widespread and severe. Young people face numerous obstacles that make it very hard for them to achieve the education they dream of. The cost of further education is much higher than primary or secondary. For this reason, EFTC created a new level of sponsorship for our Scholarship students.*

Sponsor a Scholarship student: £15 / €20 a month - covers materials, books and uniform £35 / €45 a month - covers inscription and tuition fees £50 / €65 a month - full sponsorship

Be part of the fight against poverty. Bring an education, an opportunity to succeed and a better start in life to the students at the School of Hope in Guatemala. To sponsor contact Louise: sponsor@eftc.org.uk

* The costs of standard sponsorship remain the same.

Carlos started studying at the School of Hope at the age of 14. Soon afterwards, his mother - a single mum of 5 - left for the US in order to support her family. The Foundation placed Carlos and his siblings in our Safehouse for six months while they waited for the authorities to grant Carlos’s grandmother custody. After graduating from the School of Hope, Carlos studied Teaching for Primary School for 3 years, which was possible thanks to a scholarship he received from EFTC. Each week Carlos teaches science during the day and English at night at a school in Antigua, while studying Psychopedagogy at univeristy on the weekends. He dreams to own a house one day, improve his English, and study abroad in either Spain or England. “It was a big change, being at the project, compared to the public schools which I attended before. First of all, teachers here expect quality in their students' performance at school, which is not the case in public schools. But also, all students are provided with meals, health care and school materials, which really means that education becomes available to those whose parents would not otherwise be able to afford it...I love studying. One thing I know I will not abandon no matter what are my studies.”

Volunteers and Fundraisers

We would like to thank our supporter Anja Hollis for

holding a Christmas flower sale and raising £840 for

the students of the Schoolof Hope! Thank you Anja!

The beginning of the school year is a busy time for us! Our visiting US board members and friends did a wonderful job helping to give out new school materials to all the students! They also brought suitcases full of donations, including many pairs of new shoes, which made the start of the new school year very special for many kids!

There are so many reasons to visit us in Guatemala!

Volunteer at our school Visit the child you sponsor Get to know our kids Check out our programmes first-hand Participate in our famous volcano challenges Celebrate milestones with us like graduation ceremonies Explore beautiful Antigua

We welcome volunteers anytime of the year! No particular skills are necessary – you can help with English classes, teach children to juggle or breakdance, help out in the kitchen, paint a classroom – everyone has a skill that can be shared.

Our dedicated Visitor and Volunteer Coordinator, Natalie, will be there every step of the way to help you plan your trip and make your experience meaningful and fun. You can contact Natalie with any questions by emailing visitors@eftcfoundation.org

Lottie is studying teaching and is volunteering with us as part of her degree! Before coming to Guatemala, Lottie organized a raffle with prizes donated by businesses around Brighton! She is a current volunteer in an English 3rd grade classroom and a wonderful addition to our team. She plans to run the half marathon in Edinburgh in May and continue to raise money for EFTC. Thank you for your continous support Lottie!

Manichanh and the medical team from Washington spent two weeks at the school setting up clinics for children facing health issues. The group also weighed and measured students and taught CPR workshops to parents and staff members. Many of these group members visited us last year for the same reasons so we were very excited that they wanted to come back again! Manichanh, one of the group members, participated in our Pedal Paddle Peak challenge and raised £1,500 for EFTC!

Ian, our supporter from the UK who sponsors an entire class at the School of Hope, is with us in Guatemala for 6 weeks. He embarked on an ambitious task of interviewing nearly all of our students! We prepareda variety of questions on topics from nutrition and sports to favourite subjects at school and sexual education. This project helps us collect student feedback on our programmes, identify needs, measure impact. Thank you Ian!

We would like to thank our supporter Liz and her family for running a charity shop for EFTC and raising £1,800 for the School of Hope! Liz also completed our Pedal, Paddle, Peak challenge in 2013 - we are very grateful for all your support Liz!

EFTC Calendar 2015

A�nity Corp – a socially responsible business

With the aim of contributing towards sustaining EFTC’s long-term financial position through donations of profits, Affinity Corporation Ltd has been created to import Guatemalan coffee and agricultural produce into the UK. The company has been fully funded and capitalised by supporters from within the EFTC Community looking to support this exciting enterprise.

Clive Hallam, a long-term EFTC supporter with over 15 years’ experience in the UK import and food distribution industry, is managing the sell-side operation in the UK with several big clients already indicating their intent to buy through Affinity.

Affinity has developed a reliable competitive supply chain for weekly shipments of fine green beans, mange-tout and sugar snap peas arriving into the UK and also has just agreed a deal to ship by sea nearly 5 tonnes a week of mange-tout and sugar snap pea.

Dan Burgess, EFTC’s Finance Director, is moving to manage the supply-side operation in Guatemala, creating a network of exporters and farms ready to fulfill orders in the UK, a relatively un-exploited market for Guatemalan products. Already, Affinity has identified a need to hire an employee in Guatemala, Sebastian Gomez, to support in expanding the supplier network and in managing relationships with the producers.

Guatemalan coffee has a world-wide reputation of being of high quality and speciality, while the varying climates in Guatemala allow cultivation and production of a wide range of vegetables and fruit, some all year round which, coupled with the social responsibility aspect, gives Affinity a competitive edge.

We are actively seeking referrals due to the fact that our Guatemala contacts have fabulous and competitively priced produce and coffee. For further information on how Affinity Corp could benefit a business you work for or know of, please email info@affinity-corp.org.uk

May 8th Mother’s Day Celebration

5th EFTC Annual Golf Day (UK)

17th Father’s Day celebrations

22nd Teacher’s Day celebrations

23rd - 30th Mid-Year School Holidays - school closed

Jun

Aug 14th - 15th Pedal, Paddle, Peak Challenge (UK)

1st Children’s Day Celebration

20th Revolution Day - school closed

28th - 29th Graduation ceremonies (Guatemala)

Dec 10th Christmas celebrations with students

Oct 24th - 25th Pedal, Paddle, Peak Challenge (Guatemala)

7th - 11th International Culture Week: Song, Art and Gymnastics

15th Independence Day - school closed

2nd All Saints’ Day - school closed

Sep

Nov

Pedal, Paddle, PeakChallenge 2015

Now in Guatemala& in Snowdonia!

Join us for a big adventure!In the UK: 14-15 Augustwww.eftc.org.uk/pppuk

In Guatemala: 24-25 October www.eftc.org.uk/pedal-paddle-peak