|
The Wasilla Sunrise Rotary Club is excited about the opportunity to assist with helping to improve the lives of deserving families in Central America and is requesting that Rotary District 5010 provide matching funds to assist with our project. The project involves the support of an existing U.S. non-profit organization, Mayan Families, which is working to effect significant change in the lives of hundreds of families in the small country of Guatemala.
The idea for the project originated with one of our club members that has a sincere passion for the project due to her volunteer efforts in that area. Candace Cieslo, a member of the Wasilla Sunrise Rotary Club, has been an on-site volunteer in the town of Panajachel, Guatemala, and has witnessed first-hand the plight of the impoverished people in that community. Working with an existing non-profit, Mayan Families, Candace was able to have a positive effect in the lives of families. Mayan families is a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit that has goals that dovetail with the goals of Rotary International including assisting with education for children and adults, improving the health of families through medical care, developing sustainable shelter programs, and coordinating efforts to support agricultural projects.
With Candace Cieslo as our liaison, the goal of our Mayan Families grant is to work with the staff of Mayan Families to identify key areas in which support funds will do the most good and provide the "biggest bang for the buck". Of keen interest are:
-the education programs that assist with helping to increase student graduation rates, implement and expanding knowledge in basic reproductive health, gender rights and sexual education for middle and high school students, assisting with business education resources for women to start and improve their sustainable, income generating businesses
-health and wellness programs that provide education about key nutritional requirements and give emergency nutritional support to nursing mothers, infants, elderly and families vulnerable to malnutrition and also provide ongoing support and help with the growing of nutrient-rich, self-produced food
The funds will be used to enhance the lives of families and individuals that are being served by the programs of the Mayan Families with the goal and intent of being able to report on specific successes to the club and the district within six to twelve months of the use of the designated funds.
| 
