Over the last year, we have achieved accomplishments our founders, Katie Morrow and Pedro Caba Asicona, once only dreamed of. Having begun with fewer than ten scholarship students in 2004, we now support 85 middle and high school youth in the indigenous community of Chajul. Thanks to their tenacity and dedication — coupled with LHI’s support and innovative programs — academic success and literacy rates are on the rise in the community of Chajul, Guatemala.
And yet, there is so much more to do! Each year, we depend on the support of generous donors like you to deepen our impact and extend our reach to even more children and families. During this year’s fundraising appeal we are again offering a matching gift opportunity made possible by our board of directors. It was largely successful last year and this year, we are aiming higher. Our goal is to raise $7,000 by the end of the year, and gifts over $100 will be matched by board members.
As an added incentive, donors giving over $200 by December 10th will also be entered into a raffle to win a gift set of hand-made, beautiful Guatemalan crafts, including jewelry, an embroidered handbag, and a hand-woven scarf. We’ll hold the drawing in mid-December to deliver the gift to you by the holidays, so please donate by December 10th to be eligible.
There are few organizations that stretch a dollar as far as Limitless Horizons Ixil does. This year we:
- Expanded Chajul’s very first public library to serve 600 registered library users. In August, we moved into a new and improved space with the help of volunteers and donors, and now serve 300 new members – a 50% increase over the previous year! This is a huge achievement in a region where 75% of residents are illiterate.
- Improved the Spanish skills of 40 students. For the monolingual Ixil-speaking population of Chajul, the lack of Spanish language skills is the biggest barrier to academic success and obtaining paid employment. In an effort to prepare students for future workforce and education requirements, LHI offers an annual Intensive Spanish course for local students.
- Graduated our first class of high school students. Over their six years as LHI scholarship students, our graduates have earned valuable professional and personal skills through LHI’s work-study program, intensive Spanish program, and computer classes. They will now receive training in résumé writing, interviewing, and job searching through LHI’s careers program.
Our goal for our annual fall fundraising appeal is $7,000, and we hope you’ll help us reach it! We encourage you to give at a level that is meaningful to you, and to spread the word to your family and friends. Thank you for your continued support and interest in the development of Chajul, Guatemala and Limitless Horizons Ixil.
Sincerely,
