Program Overview

All of the 7th grade students in the John G. Borden Middle School received a forty-minute presentation about Guatemala. Photos of various Guatemalan communities (cities, villages, markets, and ancient Mayan cities), as well as: plant and animal life, textiles, traditional clothing, volcanoes, etc. were used to teach students about the beauty and need within this incredible country.

Students were invited to complete a student application if they were interested in participating in a special after-school program, the Guatemalan Action Project, which would involve working with me once a week, after school, for ten weeks. The goal of the program is for the students to develop, organize and implement a community fund-raiser to benefit a specific needy community in Guatemala. Over 40 applications were received for the 17 slots available! (A wait list has been created with the additional applications should a student have to withdraw from the project.)

By participating in this program, students will learn and enhance their skill levels within the areas of public speaking, marketing, organizing and planning, community outreach, problem solving, and time management. In addition, students will experience a sense of pride and accomplishment, as well as deep personal satisfaction in knowing they made a difference in the lives of children and families living with severely limited resources.