Working toward a more stable economic outlook for Escuela Integrada
Then (2014) and now (2026): Fernanda and Yuri were part of the Sponsorship Program at Escuela Integrada. Now, Fernanda works for GRACES and Yuri is the kindergarten teacher at Escuela Integrada.
Working toward a more stable economic outlook for Escuela Integrada
In 2013, we officially started the Sponsorship Program at Escuela Integrada. I was in my second year of living in Guatemala and funds to support the school were scarce to say the least. This year and the years that followed were rough for our organization—Teachers were not getting paid, materials could not be purchased, repairs went unfixed, rent was months behind, and food was purchased on little credit that was available.
We only had nine sponsored students at Escuela Interada in 2013.
Over the last 13 years—by the grace of God—those faithful nine sponsorships grew into 175 sponsorships!
What does that mean today? Teachers receive a livable wage, delivered on time; we are able to purchase school supplies and make repairs on the building in a timely manner; and we can buy food regularly to feed kids at the school. Moving from always being in the red to surviving in our operating budget is a great gift that we do not take for granted.
However, we have not been able to grow. We are still only serving the same number of students that we were in 2013.
Today, the Sponsorship Program provides roughly 59% of the school’s operating budget. In order to serve more kids and continue to provide quality education, we are hoping to raise this percentage to at least 80%. This will also allow us to pursue a more stable economic outlook with respect for inflation and future growth for the school. We hope to begin the process of purchasing a building for Escuela Integrada’s permanent home, which is only possible if we can secure additional funds through sponsorships to support the school’s operating budget.
We are future focused and want the families we serve to know we are here for the long haul!
We know that sponsorships are valuable for so many reasons–from the wellbeing of the student to the financial stability of the school. Truly, we could not continue providing education for students experiencing poverty if it wasn’t for our sponsors.
There are so many things on the horizon for our organization and we know that God is at work. Will you help us reach the goal of connecting 50 kids with a sponsor before August 15? This could mean sponsoring another student, inviting a friend to sponsor, or helping us spread the word.
Your involvement and generosity mean so much to the students and families we serve. Thank you for caring for our kids!
Hannah Nadeau Girón
Executive Director of GRACES
[button url=”https://wearegraces.org/sponsor” text=”Sponsor a student”]
More Supporters Gathering details released
Thank you to everyone who has already expressed interest in attending the Supporters Gathering this November! All supporters, sponsors and friends are invited to join us Nov. 2-6 in Antigua, Guatemala for this special event. Participants will celebrate three graduation ceremonies (kindergarten, 6th and 9th grade), engage in lively discussions about the organization and participate in home visits and cultural activities.
The estimated cost to attend the Supporters Gathering is $1300 (not including airfare). Ready to book your flights? We recommend arriving in time for dinner on Monday, Nov. 2 and departing on Friday, Nov. 6, midday or later.
Already planning to attend? Have questions for the planning committee? Please fill out the Supporters Gathering Interest Form and someone will be in touch with you soon!
It’s a fantastic time to meet other supporters and share in the joy of the students’ academic accomplishments. We hope you will consider joining us this November!
- July 13-19: Bethel Lutheran Church Vision Trip
- July 25-Aug. 1: 8th Grade Dual Language Vision Trip
- Aug. 8-15: Northview Bible Church Vision Trip
- *Save the Dates* November 2-6: Supporters Gathering in Guatemala!