EDUCATION SUPPORT IN SANTIAGO ATITLAN


Focus on Education

Farmer to Farmer provides direct support to students
Over the past year, Farmer to Farmer has spent more time in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. For the first time in 2007, we sent a repre­sentative, Roberta Popp, to the area to investigate ways that Farmer to Farmer could better serve this community.
That, combined with extensive visits by other Farmer to Farmer members allowed us to identify educational support as a key issue for many families, and to act on that.

Education has always been important to the families of the Comité de Tejedores (The Weavers Committee, our group in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala). Over the years Farmer to Farmer has given minimal financial support to the students.

In 2008, we’re stepping up our commitment to education by offering increased scholarships to students who are children of Weaver’s Committee members. In January Erin Altemus and Jody Slocum spoke with other groups that sponsor school scholarships and, using what we learned, wrote up an application for each of the weavers’ children to fill out. Each student that filled out an application will receive a stipend to cover some of their expenses. The stipend will be given in two parts, one for each half of the school year.

We asked that in July they bring their grades in for the directors of the group to see, and if they have passing grades they will receive the stipend for the second half of the school year. The grade requirement is to encourage the students to study hard and it will demonstrate to us that the students are taking their schooling seriously. The amount of money that we will be paying for the scholarships seems very low to us, but we checked with several groups and this covers about half of the cost of going to school. The increased amount we’re giving in scholarship money will greatly aid all these students in attending school, as well as their families.

We’re currently supporting 14 primary school students, seven in middle school and high school, two in nursing school , three in trade school and five students attending university.

The levels are:

- Primary school- $20 a year
- Middle and High school- $50
-Technical school students -$100 a year
- University students $300 a year.

We gave the older students a list of five questions their ambitions, hopes and their culture. Here are some of their responses.

     Jose Domingo Macario, 14 years old,  is hoping to have a career in agronomy (farming). He wrote: “I like farming a lot because I like the countryside and I would like to be a big farmer, study the land and all about the earth” He likes to play soccer because it is fun and healthy. When asked what qualities make a good leader, he answered: “To be honest with people and intelligent”.

     Maria Eugenia Esquina, age 26, is studying to be a lawyer at San Carlos University in Guatemala City. She wrote she is studying law because “it is important to know our laws, our rights and duties.” She likes to read and study English. She thinks a good leader needs to “have a vision of how to lead people, how to take care of people and be a guide.” Maria thinks it is important to know her Mayan culture. She thinks security and poverty are the biggest problems in Guatemala. When asked how this could be resolved she wrote: “With a good group that wants to develop the authority to make important decisions in order that to maintain security. In our country the government and people should address the issue of poverty and should have jobs for everyone, so everyone can have good jobs and good pay.”


     Miguel Ajuchan Coche, 22 yrs old writes: “I am studying human rights and peace studies because I want to defend our rights of people that are discriminated against and fight against poverty in Guatemala.” Among his many interests is teach children in order that they develop well. He enjoys coaching and playing basketball. He thinks that the Mayan culture is their wealth and identity, but that it’s being lost. To improve their future he thinks they should prepare academically in order to have more opportunities for work. He believes that education is the answer to the problems in Guatemala.


     Rosa Dolores Sapalu Churunel is13 years old. She’s in middle school and wants to be a doctor to help her town, Santiago Atitlan. She likes to study, help her mother and play with her two sisters. She is proud of her Mayan culture. She thinks illiteracy and corruption are the biggest problems facing Guatemala.


     Francisco Elias Tzina Sosof, 15 years old, writes that he would like to be a tourist guide and visit many new places. He thinks that violence is the worst problem in Guatemala. He feels that through education the indigenous honest with people and intelligent.” youth will be able to better themselves.