Paso Directors Judith & David Rapson and Patricia Pretty with sponsored student and his mother.

The four Paso members in Guatemala are David and Judith Rapson and Patricia and Roger Pretty.

The meetings were arranged by David Rapson with the assistance of Mayan Families, the Guatemalan organization with whom Paso works. The meetings took place in the courtyard of the Mayan Families’ office.

There had to be two meetings because some students attend school from 8:30-12:30 and the remainder from 1:00- 5:00. The five morning students were all from Panajachel, while the afternoon students included four from Tierra Linda, two from San Jorge and two from San Antonio.

The students range from kindergarten to grade nine and are equally split between boys and girls.

A translator were needed because no Paso member is sufficiently fluent in Spanish. An additional translator was needed to translate Spanish to the Maya language Katchiquel. Notebooks and pens were distributed so the students could record their answers to questions Paso was asking about them.

The highlights of the sessions were first;the preparation of Valentines for the sponsors using materials provided by Paso. Paso will take the cards back to Canada and mail them to the sponsors and second; the homemade muffins and slices of watermelon and banana which Judith Rapson had prepared.

Before they left, several students presented to Paso either a letter of appreciation, drawing or a small item, bracelet, ring or small handbag they had made.

There is a range of economic and family circumstances. Those from the small mountain farming commuities are slightly better off. Others have a father working as a day labourer, often digging and sorting gravel from the river bed and a mother who might assist her husband in the river or do laundry or bead work. The total family income might be $40 US per week. One student’s family was abandoned by the father so is especially stressed while another lost his parents and some siblings in the landslide caused by Tropical Storm Agatha in May 2010. Hector is now living with his grandmother who also has to care for her blind husband.

From: David and Judith Rapson, 4223 Line 12N. RR #2, Coldwater, L0K 1E0

“We are particularly appreciative of the grant from RTO,” says Patricia Pretty, president of PASO POR PASO. “Enrollment has expanded rapidly since we began helping the Tierra Linda school.” There are now about 65 more pupils in the school.

PASO funded the second classroom from its 2010 promotional efforts in the Orillia area. It is part of its overall mission to upgrade and expand the village school. “It is quite an isolated village, and so our contributions help to expand opportunities for Tierra Linda children,” Patricia says.

Thursday May 6, 2010

The association of Retired Teachers of Ontario has granted $4000.00 from its “Service to Others” program to help local Orillia charity, Paso Por Paso , complete new classroom space in the remote mountain village school in Tierra Linda Guatemala.

Today RTO president Flo Delkus presented the cheque to Paso Por Paso president Pat Pretty at a luncheon at the Coldwater Curling Club.

The Orillia- based charity was founded four years ago, by eight retired secondary school teachers, to help Maya women and children.

As its president explained today, Paso Por Paso’s focus is on education. Micro loans to women teach the women to make use of a local bank and learn to repay part of a loan each month. Sponsorship of primary students, substantial assistance to the operation of Tierra Linda Primary School and scholarships for poor college and university students lend assistance to all levels of education.

In the past four years Paso Por Paso has assisted the village school to up-grade classrooms, replace electricity, restore toilets and septic systems, add a kitchen, install windows and provide teaching supplies.

Student enrolment has expanded so rapidly that new classroom space is urgently needed. The RTO grant will allow the completion of this year’s Paso project.

“It is gratifying to see Ontario teachers reaching out to help the less fortunate areas of our world,” said Paso’s president. The members of Paso Por Paso are very grateful for the help of their peers in reaching out to the indigenous people of Guatemala.

RTO FUNDS NEW CLASSROOM

The association of Retired Teachers of Ontario has granted $4000.00 from its “Service to Others” program to help local Orillia charity, Paso Por Paso , complete new classroom space in the remote mountain village school in Tierra Linda Guatemala.

Today RTO president Flo Delkus presented the cheque to Paso Por Paso president Pat Pretty at a luncheon at the Coldwater Curling Club.

See Page RTO Funds New Classroom for details.

Current construction at Tierra Linda School

Four years of PASO financed construction at the Tierra Linda Primary has had a big impact on the mountain village. More and more families have enrolled their children. The need for more classroom space brought Paso Por Paso back into action again for 2010.

The school now is at the limits of its growth.

Fortunately there will also be space for the next level of schooling just up the street where a Basico will occupy the new upper floor of the new community hall financed by a Mennonite group from British Columbia which cooperates with Paso Por Paso.

Not before it was needed. New wall protects school play area.

In 2009 Paso identified the urgent need for a new retaining wall to protect Tierra Linda school. The wire fence certainly was inadequate to keeping active children from harm, but further inspection revealed a bigger problem.

The south side of the school payground and forecourt was crumbling below. PASO set aside funds to aid the reconstruction. Village volunteers did much of the excavation and construction.

PASO POR PASO does a great deal with very little.

Paso directors again visited Panajachel in January. They committed $11,000 CAD to expanding basic projects, and $2000 received from donors since  then will allow more

•    $800 of new money allows for five more interest free Micros Loans. Twenty-five Tierra Linda women will now participate.

•    PASO provides five more sponsorships for a total of 15 students at a cost of  $2250 USD this year.

•    Tierra Linda School committee will receive $9,400 CAD for a new septic system, new toilets, a new protection wall, upgrading of electricity, 60 new desks, and allowances to teachers for photocopying classroom materials.

•    The school-twinning program with Tierra Linda School and Warminster Elementary School in Ontario incurs little cost, but the Ontario school funds two student sponsorships.

Treasurer David Rapson says, “Paso Por Paso is a ‘micro charity’. We provide worthwhile direct assistance right where it is needed. We also keep administrative costs to a minimum.”>/p>

Paso is a registered Canadian charity that issues Canadian charitable tax receipts for donations of $20 CAD and more.

During 2008 PASO received $15,742 in donations. This was disbursed on the following programs:

• $1,600 for ten Student Sponsorships in Panajachel area schools
• $1,600 for 20 new micro-loans of approximately $80 to Tierra Linda women
• $12,000 for Tierra Linda school repairs, – new roof, grills for windows and doors, floor tiles, and kitchen improvements

Paso’s total revenue for 2008 was $54,878. Paso offers its accounting and banking services to its allies:

• Louise Sosa of British Columbia raised $17,201 that she dispensed in projects for the village of Panabaj
• Stan Hindmarsh’s British Columbia Mennonite group contributed $17,750 for the construction of the new Tierra Linda Community Centre built in 2008 by Mayan Families.
• Silver/Swan project dispensed $4,185 through Paso Por Paso

PASO focuses its efforts primarily on education for indigenous Mayan people in the Lake Atitlan region of Guatemala. It works cooperatively with other Canadian groups and individuals with similar interests and goals. While some of PASO’s directors visit Panajachel each year, PASO must rely on the expertise of others to implement its programs. Most of PASO’s efforts therefore are channeled through the much larger American based charitable organization Mayan Families. Mayan Families’ main operational base is in Panajachel where it has built strong community connections, cultivated good relationships with municipalities, local institutions and service, earned the respect of ordinary indigenous people, and offers multi-lingual communications.

Paso sponsors children in schools, helps construction and maintenance of Tierra Linda School, has micro loans for Tierra Linda women, has a school twinning program, and will soon offer bursaries to college and university students in Lake Atitlan area.