Padrinos de Colores

Manos de Colores originally came into being as a way to supplement the dismal public school offerings on the outskirts of Quetzaltenango. As the program grew and developed, we discovered that many of our kids do not attend formal public schools and Manos de Colores is the only education they receive. In Guatemala, children must pay for public school registration, uniforms, school shoes, school supplies, etc. As our kids come from large families with few resources, it is not uncommon for their guardians to send their children to work due to lack of money for their schooling and the pattern of social exclusion is repeated. This led us to develop the Padrinos de Colores project. It is a scholarship program that directly helps families in financial need send their children to school.

In January 2007, El Nahual provided 25 marginalized children with scholarships covering the costs of all their schooling for the entire year. Our Volunteer Coordinator organises home visits to the local families whose children we support and we aim to closely monitor their performance and progress throughout the school year.

If you would like to sponsor a child for one year of education, we are currently accepting donations for the Padrinos program, which will commence in January 2008. For a $250 yearly donation (less than $5 a week), you can provide a child with the materials he or she needs to attend public school for an entire year.

Your donation will be used for:

* School entrance fees

* Daily uniform

* School shoes

* Uniform for gym class

* School supplies (notebooks, books, pens, pencils, etc.)

* Supplementary classes in basic courses (math, English, Spanish language)

* Doctor visit

* Dentist visit

As a Padrino you will receive an information pack on the child that you have sponsored including details of the child's background, family, personality and talents. Many Padrinos opt to continue supporting their child throughout their schooling and have the opportunity to see the positive effects of their long-term assistance.

** To become a Padrino, please click here to be directed to the donations page **

One of the children we support through the “Padrinos de Colores” program: Katie Poz Sitalán

Fifteen-year-old Katie lives in a 2-room house with her father, mother and 6 brothers and sisters. Her father and mother built the house themselves out of cement blocks and scraps they found while scavenging through the garbage. Katie's father is a janitor in a bakery, and her mother stays home with the younger children. Neither of her parents can read and write. The family lives off the $20 weekly that Katie's father makes at the bakery. They cannot afford meat more than once a week, and on the weekends Katie's father and oldest brother go to the mountains to collect firewood. On Saturdays, Katie works for 8 hours washing clothes for $1/hour so that she can buy her own clothes and help out her parents a little. Katie is enrolled in English, math and art classes in "Manos de Colores" along with two of her sisters.