Little Known Help Zone just sponsored our student Julio for his 3rd year of school through Mayan Families.
Julio is a bright young boy studying accounting and doing incredibly well. We are excited to see his potential, and any further donations to help out him, his mother, and 4 siblings would be incredibly helpful.
We are still waiting to hear how he and his family is doing after his misfortunate period of energy lapse and malnutrition and will keep you updated.
If you remember, Little Known Help Zone sponsored Julio Ruiz’s school for 2 years, and also purchased a bed for his family.
We were just made aware that Julio has been suffering medically due to malnutrition, and although Little Known Help Zone has been helping out, the more aid his family receives, the better.
If you are interested in sponsoring food for Julio’s family, go to https://www.mayanfamilies.org/donate/simple and specify your donation for student number #2684. Any bit helps, and we thank you for your support of Julio!
It’s time again for Mayan Children Sponsorships so they can go to school, and Little Known Help Zone has responsored the past sponsored student Julio Cesar to continue for another year of school. This was made possible by generous donations during Bryn Mawr events and through speaking at PETE&C. For $360, Julio will attend school for another year and further his education which would otherwise be impossible.
If you remember, LKHZ has sponsored two students in the past, including Julio Cesar. The other student, Brenda, is graduating this year, but Julio still has a few years in high school to go. LKHZ also donated a bed to Julio’s family in December.
Once Julio finishes school, LKHZ will stop student sponsorships for the moment to create a more comprehensive program that is more inclusive of children in need rather than of specific students.
Just in time for Christmas, LKHZ utilized the money from December successes to donate a bed to sponsored student Julio’s family. Right now, the family of 5 shares 2 beds, so this extra bed will be a huge relief for the family. For $170, Julio will receive a bed and a mattress, made by the organization Mayan Families’ workshop (that also commissions other young Mayan students in the trade craft of furniture making, supplying them with a skill and income).
If you would like to give back this holiday season, consider donating a set of sheets for $25 to Julio’s family as well. Comment below or email to learn how to donate.
Happy Holidays!
Little Known Help Zone donated $175.00 to Brenda Johana, paying for her graduation. Brenda’s family was struggling to afford these fees, and without the payment, Brenda cannot graduate. LKHZ’s biggest goal is to see student reach success, so this was the perfect gift. The fees cover renting and decorating a venue, a celebratory lunch, and the graduation paperwork. This is a big day worth celebration.
Brenda will graduate after the 2016 school year, making her family and Little Known Help Zone proud.
After researching the needs of LKHZ’s sponsored students, one need of each student is going to be met for the academic year. here are the selections. Additional funds will need to be raised to meet these needs.
Brenda Johana: Graduation Costs $175
This helps cover the cost of the cap and gown, the hall rental and decorations for the ceremony, and the celebratory lunch with Brenda’s parents at the school, as well as the required graduation paperwork. This is an obligatory cost that all students must pay for graduation. Without paying this fee, Brenda will not receive her diploma, and as a result, she will not be able to register for university or fill out the necessary paperwork to find a job.
Julio Cesar: Bed $170
This bed will be made by the organization’s workshop, employing young men with a skill and helping Julio and his family.
Claudia Marina: Sawyer Water Filter $121
The water filters distributed by Mayan Families have long-term social, economic and environmental impacts on the entire family. A great investment in the health and well-being of the family through preventing water-borne diseases which when unaddressed inhibit the capability for parents to go to work and children to attend school.
While all three causes of Little Known Help Zone are of equal importance, this season specific focus will be placed on education in Guatemala, specifically the formation of a scholarship fund. For the Guatemalan 2016 school year, 2 students, one boy and one girl in high school, are sponsored. In addition to the school sponsorship, one outside family need will be donated to these students.
Once the 2017 school year arrives, the scholarship plan is as follows:
-4 males, 4 females will be fully sponsored for a year of education.
-2 students from each schooling level will be supported, preschool, elementary school, middle school, and high school.
-These 8 students, in addition to full school sponsorship, will receive a donation for one additional need of the family.
-This scholarship will then follow a legacy, hopefully supporting the same students years to come so they graduate and their family situation is made better.
For example, Julio Cesar is supported for the 9th grade in 2016 and will be receiving an additional donation to help his family. As Julio enters the 10th grade in 2017, he will receive the same support and additional donation until he graduates. This insures graduation of students.
To accomplish this ambitious scholarship, funds will need to be raised over the 2015-2016 season to substantiate the scholarship fund and make this dream a reality. Stay tuned for more fundraising opportunities, and to support in the meantime shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleKnownHelpZone?ref=hdr_shop_menu
After over a year of hard work and the generosity of the KTI 2015 Family, a longtime goal has been achieved. Not one, but two girls in Guatemala are now set to go to school for a year. Little Known Help Zone is officially the sponsor of Claudia Marina and Brenda Yohana, two 11th grade girls. Read the last post to find out more about their interest and background https://littleknownhelpzone.wordpress.com/2015/08/17/sponsoring-high-school-education-in-guatemala/
This is just the beginning, as hopefully more money can be raised to continue sponsoring children. In a perfect world, every child will be able to go to school. Let’s make this a perfect world.
This is such a heartwarming experience, and I can’t wait to see what comes in the future.
Thank you to everyone who made this possible.
A long time goal of Little Known Help Zone was to send children to school, now this is a reality. After raising $801 at the KTI Summit, it seemed only fitting to put that money to good use and send children abroad to school. Education is vital in the United States, and we are lucky to so openly receive it. Abroad, this is a rarity.
Mayan children in Guatemala barely make it past 6th grade, girls being the more disadvantaged of the bunch. If a girl makes it past elementary school, she is an outlier. That is why it is so important we send all kids to school.
I chose 2 children to be sponsored for the 2015 year, $360 will cover them for a year. Both of these students are girls in high school. Here are their bios and photos. By next week, the sponsorship money will be donated, and all of the high school students will be at school through Mayan Families!
Claudia Marina
Claudia Marina is in 11th grade in 2015. She lives with her parents and four siblings in a two-room home. Her father works as a gardener and her mother works selling tortillas, but they do not earn much money, since neither attended school beyond the 6th grade. 
Brenda Yohana
Brenda Yohana, was born on December 27, 1996. She is now in 11th grade in 2015 and her favorite class is art. In her free time she enjoys playing soccer. Although her parents were unable to attend school beyond the 3rd grade, Brenda hopes to continue to get a higher education, and is already an example for her younger and older siblings, being the first of the family to make to 11th grade!
Stay tuned for when the donation goes through.
Little Known Help Zone just ended the Books Beyond Borders tee shirt campaign, and although not enough shirts were sold to go into print, $15 was made towards the fund to send a child to school in Guatemala!
Stay tuned for more fundraisers, and hopefully another tee shirt fundraiser in the future!
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