It’s the start of another school year at Escuela Integrada!
Dear friends,
I want to extend a huge “Thank You!” to each and every one of you who donated to our year-end campaign in December. This campaign quite literally puts food in the mouths of children who live in poverty.
For the coming school year, the Meal Support program costs a total of $120,000. I will be honest with you—this keeps me up at night! The year-end campaign directly impacts the physical well-being of the students we work with. Because of your support, we were able to raise a total of $26,846.85 during the month of December, which will go directly to this program.
It warms my heart to know that you care so deeply about the children in Guatemala, and that we are all in this together! Ultimately, it is God who provides, and He called us to come alongside Him. What a privilege that is. Thank you for leaning into that calling.
In His Service,
Hannah Nadeau Giron
Executive Director of GRACES
A new school year starts tomorrow
It’s back-to-school time in Jocotenango! Tomorrow, 176 students will walk through the doors at Escuela Integrada to begin another academic year. With one of the biggest enrollments to date, we could not be more excited to see their smiling faces and get the year started!
The academic calendar in Guatemala begins each school year in January and concludes in October, with graduations to follow in early November. Students are on break during the months of November and December, and for one week in June.
It is almost exactly the opposite of the academic calendar in the U.S., and makes the spring and summer months in the U.S. a great time to visit Guatemala to see the school in action! If you are interested in visiting the school in 2024, reach out to Vision Trips Coordinator Sandra Hernandez by email at sandra@wearegraces.org. Sandra can help you plan your experience to include a combination of service, travel, adventure and culture!
Do you sponsor a child through GRACES? Don’t miss the kickoff Sponsor Update Meeting!
Every quarter, GRACES invites sponsors to join a virtual gathering on Zoom with Sponsorship Coordinator Lucas Hertzberg. Lucas will share information about the school, the students and the organization in an informal setting where sponsors can also ask questions and get to know each other.
The first Sponsor Update Meetings of 2024 will take place next week on January 23, 24 and 25. Each of the meetings contain the same information, so sponsors only need to attend one.
Sponsor Update Meeting Dates & Times
Keep an eye on your email for a Zoom link! If you do not receive the link by Monday, Jan. 22, please email lucas@wearegraces.org.