PADRINOS & MADRINAS (GODPARENT ANGELS)

Godparent scholarships give Spirit girls love, hope, opportunity and respect. One of the ways we do that is through becas (scholarships). We hope you will have a desire to make a difference in the life of our becadas and provide a scholarship for one today.

The girls write it is wonderful to know that someone, without knowing them or having the obligation, cares and believes in them. Your gift has tremendous impact in validating young women who often grow up hearing how worthless they are. 

 HOW MUCH DOES THE SCHOLARSHIP COST?

The cost of providing a girl with an educational scholarship is $800 for 2010. Our pledge to you is that 100% of our scholarship goes to your becada, none to a corporate structure. We would like to have a 3 year commitment for high school and 5-6 year commitment for university from our Padrinos and Madrinas to allow our girls to complete their education. All scholarships are 100% tax deductible.

The cost of a scholarship depends on the US dollar and inflation in Guatemala. During the first 6 months, we are seeing a strengthening US dollar, compared the the Guatemalan quetzale and a small move toward more affordable high school education by the current Guatemalan government. Hence, we have dropped the 2010 scholarship $50. In the future, we will continue to pass on currency and cost changes to the godparents.

WHAT DOES THE SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDE?

·        Yearly registration and tuition at a high school or university. This includes only a few in public high school.

·       School uniforms

·       English classes, equipment and supplies; Each girl receives a full set of equipment, including CD player and disks, study book, Basic English reference book, a dictionary, and verb study aids.

·       Transportation

·       School supplies

The foundation also provides the following as money permits:

·       Computers or computer access through other fundraising activities. Our goal is to have a laptop in each home.

·       Dental care for your becada

AM I THE ONLY SPONSOR FOR EACH GIRL?

Yes, Spirit assigns only one Padrino or Madrina per girl. Padrinos can be individuals, families or groups that you organize. You will receive monthly emails from your becada. This will allow you to share in your girl’s dreams and successes, as well as reinforce their need for English.

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Giving a gift where most needed is a great way to provide help to some of the world’s most vulnerable girls. Your gift to Spirit Education Foundation’s general fund allows us to respond to additional needs of our becadas- English reading books, computers and computer programs, medical care, shipping for donations of clothes, shoes, dental supplies, etc.

Send an amount that is right for you and help us change the future of our girls.

A STORY OF HOPE

Many students take years to gather enough money to pay for their education.  Girls from rural communities rarely have even this possibility, due to lack of jobs and family and social pressures.

Glendy wanted an education so badly that she walked 5 miles in the dark to catch a  1/2 hour bus ride to search the streets for the "scholarship lady". She found me at 4PM. Throughout her high school years, Glendy repeated this trip daily. Through the effort of Glendy and a few other pioneer students, they now have a bus once a day for students.

She believes her godmothers are her special angels, someone who believes in her.

Her younger middle school sister now has the dream of an education.

SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT PAYMENTS. . . .

The school year begins in January and second semester in June. We request the following in order that we will be able to get the money to the schools on time:

• 100% of the scholarship on the first of December or;
• 50% of the scholarship on the first of December and 50% on the first of June

SPONSOR APPLICATION FORMS. . . .

We have two forms; one to apply to become a godparent, and the second to apply to "adopt" a specific "Girl in Waiting".

Please write to info@spiriteduc.org requesting the forms. They are MS Word documents and will be sent as email attachments.

Sponsor Application

YOUR CONTRIBUTION DUE:

ANNUALLY: by December 1

SEMI-ANNUALLY: by December 1 & June 1