1. In order to recapitalize the agricultural
enterprises of our partners who have been most affected by this tragedy, the
Highland Support Project is accepting donations for a capital fund. The fund
will be used to cover lost investments and produce new crops, until
agricultural endeavors restabilize. The Reverend Jason Micheli, Associate
pastor of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Alexandria will be managing
this fund for HSP. You may send your contributions to the fund made payable
to the Highland Support Project at: P.O. Box 7185, Richmond, VA 23221. You
may also donate through the United Methodist Church with our advance number
15022. Please copy us on any contributions
sent to this number.
2. We need to hire an additional community organizer to work with Hilda
and Maria to assist in developing needs assessments and action strategies
for the communities. They also need funds to cover transportation
cost for increased visits to the community and to distribute relief
supplies.
3. We would like to contract with a Guatemalan physician and nurse
to conduct monthly ambulatory visits to the communities of Tzanjuyup, Xolja,
Xajoap, Chuicavioc and Espunkpuja. We are using the same model on the
ambulatory health program we operated during the 1990's before Plan Sias was
implemented.
4. While we have never been able to develop this large amount of
medical teams in the past, we would like to develop a team a month for
the next six month's to help staff and finance the ambulatory program. We
are planning on conducting these visits during the second week of the month.
With the first beginning in November.
5. We are in communication with the municipal government of Santa
Catarina Ixtahuacan about constructing a facility in the area of Xolja for
sheltering families during the rebuilding phase. We estimate the cost to be
$20,000.00 and need volunteers to assist the community in constructing
the facility and financing the construction.
6. We have listed 67 families that are in need of new homes. We
have the plans from the homes we built for widows in Quiche during the early
1990's. The estimated cost for construction per home is $2,500.00.
7. We have an established tree nursery in the community of Chuicavioc and
would like to pump money into the local economy by purchasing more trees and
continuing the planting (the best way to prevent future disasters). A very
good activity for kids is collecting pennies to plant trees. For
$1.00 a tree can be purchased and planted in Guatemala. This $1.00 also
provides good jobs for the women who are growing and planting the trees. All
of our trees are indigenous species with seeds collected in an old growth
stand.
8. In a few weeks, we hope to have the first scarves and ornaments
available. If you know of a place where these items can be marketed or
are willing to sell them in your church, we would love to hear from
you.
9. Help us to get the word out. If you are a member of the Lions or
Rotary Club we would like to make presentations about our work in
Guatemala.
10. To help our women's circles meet immediate
cash needs, HSP will be selling cookie dough Christmas ornaments made by the
women in affected communities. The ornaments will not only bring in income,
but will provide supporters with reminders of the rich and unique heritage
of the highland Maya. We are hoping to have ornaments in the shapes of
stoves and trees, reflecting HSP's work in Guatemala, as well as angels
dressed in the colors of villages where HSP builds stoves. To help women in
the community of Santa Katarina, HSP will be providing yarn for them to knit
hats, bags and scarves. The money made from these ornaments and knitted
items will go into the communities to assist in rebuilding, and the
production of these items will provide the women with much needed
employment. They will also be for sale in AlterNatives, our fair-trade store
in Cary Town.
11. We are collecting yarn for a group of women to make items for sale
this Christmas season. The items needed for the project are: Main Yarn 650
(1030, 1350) Yds of a worsted weight wool that felt easily and firmly,
woolpack from Baabajoes Wool Co. Choose 100% wool. Do not use super wash
wool, cotton or synthetics.
We need Novelty Yarn approximately 70 (100, 125) yards. This yarn is no
is no intended to felt instead it is held in with the felted wool.
Needle: size 13 (9mm) 24" (60cm) circular needle
Size 11 Needle.
