2024 update from the Board of Directors
2024 marks our 18th year of working to alleviate poverty in Guatemala, particularly in the area of Panajachel which is in the Lake Atitlan region, about 3 hours west of Guatemala City. Our mandate from the beginning has focused on supporting education for Maya people, ranging from preschool to postsecondary, providing support for women to build the skills and knowledge needed to create and run successful long term businesses and providing the loans to do so, and on delivering emergency relief when needed. We have supported some infrastructure projects as well, specifically in the community of Tierra Linda. These programs remain Paso’s mandate but for 2025 the Board has expanded this area of focus.
Since 2006 Paso has supported students with direct sponsorship. Of those students, some completed high school and a few have proceeded onto postsecondary. Statistics show that still only 18% of indigenous Guatemalan youth overall graduate from secondary school. Natun Guatemala, Paso’s partner organization in Guatemala, is currently implementing a program to assist in overcoming the barriers to staying in school. The Learning Communities Program combines academic tutoring and youth leadership training to improve skills and opportunities as they move through secondary school and beyond. This program will be offered in 4 communities across the Solola region, with a total capacity for 90 students. Paso will assist in supporting this program.
In 2025, Paso Por Paso will also support the Growing Healthy Program. Over 40% of children in Guatemala suffer from chronic malnutrition which can have long lasting effects on a child’s development. This program will focus on nutrition during pregnancy and on the crucial first 1,000 days of life through management, treatment and prevention of malnutrition in 4 Solola district communities.
At present Paso directly supports 39 students in primary and secondary schools. Existing sponsored students will continue receiving support until they graduate or drop out of school. As with many existing charities, Natun Guatemala is moving away from direct sponsorship towards a model which is more equitable and provides support to the areas of greatest need. Current sponsors of students will be given more information about this change.
The Paso Board of Directors recently made the decision to not proceed on the Tierra Linda school construction project. We made this decision reluctantly but felt that we could not commit to raising a large amount of money in a relatively short time period.
Paso has successfully fundraised in the local community of Orillia throughout the year by selling Guatemalan merchandise at local markets and at our annual plant sale event. Our local community is quite supportive of Paso Por Paso and we thank all those who do so. However the support we graciously receive from donors like you is what really allows Paso to make such a difference. You can never be thanked enough for your generous contributions to the lives of the Maya people. Your donations make it possible for the indigenous communities of the Lake Atitlan area to continue to grow and prosper.
Sincerely,
Paso Por Paso Board of Directors
