Thirteen years of sponsoring students at Escuela Integrada
Clint and Leslie Brian visited Escuela Integrada with FMC in June of 2019
Thirteen years of sponsoring students at Escuela Integrada
When GRACES’ Sponsorship Program began in 2013, it was a small group of dedicated supporters who began with 18 student sponsorships. Letters were the primary means of communication, and the financial impact of the program was a small portion of GRACES’ overall budget.
Today, thirteen years later, the Sponsorship Program continues, with sponsorship opportunities for 184 students, including some in high school. Now, the program includes Zoom calls between sponsors and their students, in-person visits at families’ homes during Vision Trips, yearly updates about the student from their teacher, and postcards and videos.
Clint and Leslie Brian were among the first sponsors with the organization that predated GRACES. Originally connected through their Sunday School class at First Methodist in Tulsa, Oklahoma, they’ve seen the program grow and change.
“I think it’s neat that we can help these kids get a hold on a better future,” Clint Brian said.
Fourteen of the original sponsors were members of the same church as the Brians in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with several others from St. John’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, North Carolina, and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in China Grove, North Carolina.
Now, sponsors hail from California to Virginia and represent a wide range of Christian denominations in a truly ecumenical approach.
“As we continue to build our program and grow, we really want to emphasize the importance of these connections,” said Hannah Nadeau Giron, executive director of GRACES. “It is building a relationship and helping to foster hope. We want students to know that they are loved, valued and made in Christ’s image.”
In Guatemala, sponsors are able to visit the students’ homes, pray with their families and engage in their learning in a more personal way. The students and families get to know sponsors beyond the financial commitment, but as friends and “padrinos” (translated as godparents) who are there to believe in their child’s education.
“When sponsors take the time to truly learn about the student and their families, that makes all the difference,” Nadeau said. “I love to hear when parents of students talk about how they pray for their children’s sponsor and their families.”
Learn more about GRACES’ Sponsorship Program on the website. If you are interested in sponsoring a child, email fernanda@wearegraces.org to get connected with a student in need.
Reminder! Sponsor Update Meetings this week
One way GRACES stays connected with sponsors is through quarterly update Zoom meetings. The first meetings of the new school year happen this week. All three meetings include the same information, so you can pick the one that best fits your schedule.
Current sponsors received Zoom links through their email. If you are interested in attending and do not currently have the link, you can email fernanda@wearegraces.org.
Thank you, Lidia Bay!
Longtime kindergarten teacher, Lidia Bay, was offered a government teaching position and will be leaving Escuela Integrada this year. Lidia has been with the school since its opening more than 20 years ago.
Government teaching positions in Guatemala are sought after competitive roles that come with a pension. While we will miss Lidia deeply, we are very happy for her and proud of her for obtaining this position.
We had a chance to talk with Lidia about what she enjoyed teaching at Escuela Integrada and what she will miss the most.
“I will miss everything about Escuela Integrada, my children, the visits from my older former students, and them arriving and saying, ‘Teacher Lidia, we love you so much,’ Lidia Bay said in Spanish.
Her favorite lesson to teach was letter practice and types of food because she saw students engage in these lessons with enthusiasm. It was also really fun, she said.
Lidia has been at the school for many graduations, and influenced lots of students who have gone on from Escuela Integrada to high school, university and adult life. Many of them stay in touch with her to this day.
“I will miss them asking for advice and telling me about their problems so I can help,” she said. “To see them succeed and achieve their goals as they have promised me, and to hear them say, ‘We did it!’”
From all of us at GRACES, we thank Lidia for her many years of service to the families at Escuela Integrada, and we wish her the best in her new role.
Sponsor Update Meetings
March 12-22: Missouri State University Vision Trip