2024 Fundraising for Guatemala
University Church has had a 24 year partnership with the rural Maya village of Saq Ja’ in
Guatemala. The community sets its own dreams, goals and priorities for sustainable
development, chooses projects and submits proposals and budgets, and University Church and
friends help fundraise to bring these plans to fruition. We also learn from them the truth about
the genocide of the Maya people during the 40 year Guatemalan Civil War that destroyed their
community in 1981 and 1982 and about our government’s role in that conflict.
Through yearly visits and now through emails and texts, we stay in touch with Saq Ja’s
leadership committee for these projects. In the early years, their priorities were to build houses
and schools, create a gravity flow water system, plant fruit trees and vegetables for better
nutrition, and acquire chickens for each family. Very soon their attention turned to the capacity-
building goal of education beyond 6th grade—free primary school is all that the government
provides.
For 20 years, we have sent funds for scholarships to supplement what families can afford to pay
for middle and high school tuition. This year’s goal is to raise $8,000 for scholarships for the
2025 school year.
Alicia, one of the scholarship students, with her parents. She is at university studying nursing.
Alan (2nd from left), a scholarship student in 9th grade, with his family
In addition, community members are very concerned this year that the spring that feeds the
water system is no longer reliable during the dry season, especially for houses furthest from the
spring. Many women who live higher up the mountain are having to hike a long distance down
to the river to collect water in large jars and carry it back up the steep slope for drinking water,
hand washing, cooking, and laundry. It’s a hardship, particularly for the older women.
The village has sent us a proposal to buy materials to install systems to collect rainwater from
each roof during the rainy season and store it for the 14 houses that don’t have water all year.
This year’s goal is to raise $5,600 for these water collection systems.
one of the spigots without water during the dry season
You can make a donation on this website by visiting THIS LINK and indicate that your donation is for the Guatemala
Partnership.
Thank you in advance, and please keep the people of Guatemala in your prayers!