Rotary Clubs Collaborate to Help Guatemalan Students Graduate

To see an article about this project in the Crystal-Robbinsdale Post, click here.

Breaking the cycle of poverty can be difficult, especially when you’re thousands of miles away.  But, with compassion and collaboration, several Minneapolis area Rotary Clubs will be making a difference in the lives of more than 3,000 school children.

The Crystal-New Hope-Robbinsdale Rotary Club, with major support from the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club, has been awarded a Rotary District grant to support the Common Hope organization in Guatemala.  The grant will provide a total of $12,000 for Common Hope to purchase school supplies in Guatemala.  The supplies, which will be distributed to most of the 3,000 students served, include calculators, dictionaries, and notebooks. 

Common Hope was founded over 25 years ago by a Minnesota couple and is headquartered in St. Paul.  The organization’s mission is to promote hope and opportunity among poor families in Guatemala.  It partners with children, families, and communities to improve lives through education, health care, and housing. 

Education in Guatemala is a core issue, because only 17 percent of children graduate from high school.  Common Hope’s focus is to significantly increase the portion of students who graduate from high school, through encouraging the students and supporting their families.  With a high school degree, young adults can double their income and, thereby, help to break the cycle of poverty that impacts many families.

In addition to providing funds to meet the District grant requirements, the participating local Rotary Clubs assisted in packing donated school supplies at Common Hope’s office in St. Paul.  For this activity, Rotarians were joined by Rotary exchange students from Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.  Rotarians also will assist in distributing the purchased supplies in Guatemala.

Six other Rotary Clubs joined with the Crystal-New Hope-Robbinsdale Club and the Minneapolis City of Lakes Club for this project.  They are Minneapolis Uptown, Minneapolis South, St. Louis Park Sunrise, Edina Noon, Rogers, and Buffalo.  In addition, a Rotary Club in Guatemala, Guatemala Este, will provide local oversight and engagement with this project.   Together, all nine Rotary Clubs are excited to demonstrate Rotary’s motto of “Service above Self.”