CURRENT PROJECTS

TEACH has 13 active projects in 2019:  4 primary schools, 2 middle schools with boarding facilities, 1 kindergarten - 9th grade school, 2 boarding facilities for middle & high school students, 1 orphanage for primary students, 1 school boat program, and 2 unique scholarship programs. The scholarship programs enable students to continue their education at the high school and university level.

River Transportation for Children of THe Sanabria Community

For years, children of the Sanabria community of Livingston, Izabal have struggled every day to attend their classes and risked their lives by crossing the Rio Dulce in order to reach the school at Barra Lámpara. Other children have not able to attend school for lack of transportation.

The community, concerned about their situation, attempted to meet this important need by seeking assistance in providing daily transportation for the children to attend school.

In 2016, the community approached the Maya Cultural Center Association asking for help and was referred to the TEACH Organization of the U.S.A.

A TEACH delegation visited the community and listened to its plight. After assessing the community’s needs and reaching an understanding, TEACH agreed to seek a favorable solution to the problem.

Responsible Party:    Olga Leticia Ba Caal
Administered by: Maya Q’eqchi’ Association and Cultural Center
Donated by: TEACH Organization, U.S.A.
Beneficiaries: 13 Sanabria families

Appeals

In summer 2018, TEACH had the opportunity to make parish mission appeals in the Diocese of Charlotte NC (2 parishes), the Diocese of Paterson NJ (2 parishes) and the Diocese of Bridgeport CT. Padre Carlos Menjívar of the Claretian Missionary Fathers of Central America who lives and works among Maya Community in Guatemala delivered two parish appeals in Charlotte in July and one in Patterson in August. Padre Manuel Sanchez, also of the Claretian Missionary Fathers of Central America, delivered the second Patterson appeal in August. TEACH Board members hosted the Padres during the mission appeal trips and supported the appeals by providing TEACH information to parishioners.  Board Members Fred and Mary Walker personally delivered the appeal in Bridgeport in July. The generous donations received through the annual mission appeals have been critical additions to the TEACH budget. TEACH’s pursuit of opportunities for Diocesan parish mission appeals for 2019 were unsuccessful. TEACH has applied to 15 Dioceses to sponsor TEACH appeals in 2020.

 Padre Carlos Menjívar’s parish in eastern Guatemala consists of some 85 villages with a total population of approximately 25,000 persons who are primarily indigenous Q’eq’chi Indians. In his mission appeal homily, he stated, “In addition to many ministerial duties, we are devoted to providing an opportunity to the thousands of Mayan Children who live in the mountains of Guatemala with an opportunity to attend school who would otherwise not be able to go to school. Few Mayan children have an opportunity to attend school. And yet education we know is the only way to break the cycle of poverty that binds them.” A sizable portion of the TEACH budget goes to Padre Carlos’ parish to support an elementary school, a boarding facility and scholarships to post-elementary education. TEACH has further supported Padre Carlos’ parish with funds to build a kitchen and dining facility for the boarding students. TEACH is currently providing money to build an elementary school in one of the parish’s rural villages. TEACH’s funds pay for the materials and skilled labor, while the local men provide the manual labor gratis as their way of ‘buying into’ the projects.

TEACH’s Summer 2016 Mission Appeals by Board Member Don Gantz

During Summer 2016 TEACH Board members and missionary partners made giving appeals in a dozen parishes in four dioceses across the country. These appeals have become an annual undertaking that provides important additions to TEACH’s budget. The appeal model has missionary fathers or brothers speaking at the parish masses while Board members facilitate the logistics. Two key clergy from our Guatemalan partners visited the US to assist. Fr. Javier, whose vast mountainous Maya parish is home to TEACH’s efforts, delivered appeals at three parishes in Colorado. He was hosted by TEACH founders David and Anne Megel. Appeals at three New York parishes were made by Brother Christian of the La Salle Christian Brothers of Central America. Brother Christian has been a long time key partner of TEACH and is the Principal of two levels of schools in El Estor, Guatamala. A highlight of Brother Christian’s visit was a social evening at the Megel’s for TEACH volunteers to meet this very charismatic Brother Christian and hear first-hand what his order and TEACH are accomplishing for the Maya. Padre Manuel Sanchez delivered appeals at two parishes in Chicago where he was hosted by TEACH volunteer Tom Olp. Other clergy who stepped up to deliver appeals included Fr. Richter from Our Lady Queen of Peace in Arlington and Fr. Jeffers who is a retired missionary living in Manhattan. Frs. Richter and Jeffers made appeals in two parishes in New York City.  

Board members and volunteers had very fulfilling experiences accompanying the missionaries for the appeals. Most appeal teams stayed in rectories and shared meals with parish clergy. Speakers and volunteers were cordially received by parishioners who were receptive to the appeals and interested to learn about TEACH. I’ll share my personal experience as a facilitating Board member.

A scheduling gap left us without a missionary for the appeal at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Narrowsburg, NY. I had volunteered to facilitate this appeal and both the NY Bishop and the Pastor, Fr. Dennis Dinan, agreed that a layman could make the appeal. Of course, I had to have the Arlington Chancery Office verify that I was in good standing. I had a delightful phone chat with Fr. Dinan and we both looked forward to the weekend visit. Having to prepare an appeal narrative gave me focus on what makes TEACH a really special charity and also solidified my commitment to TEACH.

I practiced iterations of my narrative with my wife Beth whose critiques gave me focus. Over my relatively few months on the Board, I learned the impact of every donated dollar. TEACH is effective at learning, prioritizing and targeting education needs for the Maya. Over the past 14 years, TEACH has established commitments in ten school communities and set up several supporting projects. There are many facilities that exist due to TEACH and many children who would not attend school without TEACH’s support. Dollars go a long way in Guatemala, but TEACH’s ongoing commitments require significant dollars. The Board has developed faith in our ability to sustain existing commitments. But from our needs assessments we know the impact we can make with just a few more dollars.

I see the rubber hitting the road with TEACH’s efforts in a way that I do not see the impact of other charities. I believe I was able to fashion an appeal narrative that communicated the special mission of TEACH which is fully volunteer and practices responsible management oversight to programs. Because of TEACH, schools exist, teachers are trained and teaching, children attend school and therefore face a better and less marginalized future. A great specific example I included in my appeal was TEACH’s response to hearing that some remote villages could not send girls to distant schools due to dangers of traveling. TEACH raised additional financial support to establish a dormitory with house mother, and TEACH committed to ongoing subsidies that allow girls to attend school during the week returning home on weekends. My wife Beth and I spent a delightful weekend enjoying Fr. Dinan’s company and hospitality as rectory guests.

We made a good friend and hope Fr. Dinan will visit Fairfax so we can reciprocate hospitality. Speaking a three masses gave me growing confidence in both appealing to a congregation and communicating TEACH’s unique mission.

Workshops for TEACH Teachers

Beginning in July 2014, TEACH is providing annual two-day workshops for TEACH teachers where they can learn from each other, discuss mutual problems, and advance their professional skills. The workshops include sessions of “micro-teaching” as well as sessions on evaluating students, diagnosing obstacles to learning, and new approaches to teaching reading and math. One measure of the teachers’ appreciation of this opportunity is their eagerness to have at least two or three workshops a year!

As TEACH carries out its mission of “actively responding to the schooling needs of underserved children in Maya communities in Guatemala,” we realize that our teachers are vital to our success. In July 2016, David Greene organized and conducted our third workshop for teachers. For each workshop our goals are: to create bonds between teachers, to enrich their professional experience, to remind them of their value to TEACH, and to get their input on TEACH plans and challenges.

Micro-teaching presentations — an opportunity for one teacher to present a hands-on lesson to the other participants — are followed by questions and feedback. Topics included: healthy foods, alternative energy and renewable resources, formula to calculate overtime, Maya cultural ceremonies, and a math puzzle to solve.

This year, we were fortunate to have two teachers and a social worker from the United States with us. Their professional observations were of great benefit (read one observation below). Also for the first time, we had teachers and personnel from schools outside the TEACH group. One topic of discussion was how to solve the problem of primary school students not being prepared for their move to middle school, especially the issue of weak skills in Spanish.

The 12 participants reported that micro-teaching helped them learn new ideas for teaching, got them to think in a new way about the process of teaching and learning, helped them see obstacles that prevent some students from learning, and helped them see things from the students’ point of view.

Here’s what Shawn Lowe, a visiting high school physics teacher from Arlington, Va. had to say:

“A good teacher is continually improving, seeking new ideas to better reach the students that they teach. The teacher workshop provided a rare opportunity for teachers in isolated communities to discuss teaching with their peers. Each teacher prepared a brief lesson to present, with the participant teachers filling in as students. After the lesson, teachers discussed the strengths of the lesson and student challenges. The conversations moved beyond lecture technique to discussing fundamental concerns of teaching students in the Q’eqchi language and about Maya culture, as well as teaching them Spanish and the Guatemalan curriculum. The workshop was invaluable as a way to share teaching knowledge and validate the teachers as professionals.”

The Annual TEACH Trip to Guatemala

Every February TEACH Board members visit all these projects. People interested in education in eastern Guatemala, as well as seeing a beautiful and fascinating part of the world, join us for this two-week trip at a price that is surprising low. Everyone is invited to contact Shari Zamarra (shari.zamarra@gmail.com) for details of the next trip.

Fundraising Events

Bingo

Soup Suppers

St. Mary of Sorrows Tithing

Donor Opportunities

Funds for LaSalle school band.  A Donor provided $2000 for this worthwhile project.  (Br. Lesberth will cover details and status.) 
Life Jackets
Soccer Uniforms (2016 Newsletter)

Partnerships

TEACH has a partnership with GSSG - Guatemalan Student Support Group. GSSG works in a similar area of Guatemala, supports educational success for Maya students and promotes pride in Maya culture. TEACH cooperates with GSSG on scholarships for high school and university students, and for educational enrichment such as the 2016 Teacher Workshop. We are stronger together!