2018 Annual Report - GlobalGiving · hours of English, math, Spanish, accoun>ng, and physics...
Transcript of 2018 Annual Report - GlobalGiving · hours of English, math, Spanish, accoun>ng, and physics...
2018AnnualReport
©AnitaBonnarensPhotographersWithoutBorders(PWB),2018
Dearfriendsandsupporters,
OneofthefirstwordsthatcomestomindwhenIthinkofourworkinChajulis“community.”Thisisnotonlyastrongvalueinthelocalculture,buthasalsobeencentraltothehistoryofLimitlessHorizonsIxilasagrassrootsorganizaJon.WhenPedroandIfirstfoundedLimitlessHorizonsIxil14yearsago,itneverwouldhavebeenpossiblewithoutourstrongcommunityofsupport,bothinChajulandbackhome.Sincethen,ourlocalcapacityandinterna>onalcommunityhavebothgrownexponen>allyandourimpactinChajulhasgrownalongsideit!
I’mproudtosharethisannualreportwithyou,whichhighlightsthewaysinwhichyourcontribu>onshaveincreasedaccesstoeduca>onandopportuni>esinChajul.Together,ourcombinedresourcesandknowledge,andmostimportantlyoursharedsenseofdedica>ontotheindigenouspeopleofChajul,arehelpingaidthecommunitywhileitconJnuestorecoverfromthedevastaJng36-yearcivilwar.
I’velostcountofhowmanyJmesfamiliesandyouthhavesharedwithmehowtouchedtheyarethatthatcaringindividuals,oAenwholivesofarawayandmayhavenevermetthemorseenChajul,canbesoincrediblygenerous.Icouldn’tagreemore,andIamsogratefulthatyouhavechosentobeapartofourinnercircleofsupport.ItisthankstoyourJme,generosity,andadvocacythatweareabletoachieveourmissionandbringlife-changingopportuniJestothecommunityofChajul!
Yoursinthemission,
KaJeMorrowFounderandExecuJveDirectorLimitlessHorizonsIxil
©AnnaWa;s
345Hours
ofAcademicEnrichment
Classes
96Hours
ofComputerClasses
72Scholars
inMiddle&HighSchool
YouthDevelopmentProgram
Inacommunitywherejust16%ofyouthgraduatemiddleschooland5%completehighschool,weareproudtosharethatin2018,
100%ofour14middleschoolersand7highschoolersintheirfinalyear
graduated!Forthesecondyearinarow,
97%ofour72scholarssuccessfullycompletedthe
schoolyear.
97%
©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018
AcademicEnrichmentClasses
LimitlessHorizonsIxilprovidesweeklyacademicenrichmentclassesinthesubjectsourscholarsfindmostchallenging.EachscholarparJcipatedinatotalof345hoursofEnglish,math,Spanish,accoun>ng,andphysicsclassesin2018beyondregularschoolhours,whichareonly4hoursperday.
IntensiveSpanishClasses
InNovember,our7thand8thgradersparJcipatedin140hoursofintensiveSpanishlanguageclasses.SpanishisthelanguageofschoolinstrucJoninGuatemala,whileourscholarsobenonlyspeakIxilathome,sotheseclassespreparethemforsuccessbyenablingthemtounderstandclasscontent.
Mentorship&Guidance
Throughouttheyear,scholarsreceivedsupportinselec>ngcourses,searchingandapplyingforscholarships,anddefiningandachievingtheiracademicgoals.OurlocalGuatemalanstaffmade43homevisitsandmetprivatelywithscholars’parentstodiscusstheirchild’scourseofstudy,makingsuretheyhadthetoolstheyneededtosupporttheirchild’sprogress.GraduaJngscholarsalsoreceivedtrainingsonapplyingforjobsandscholarships,anddevelopinginterviewandCVwri>ngskills.
PsychologicalSupport
ScholarsandtheirfamilymembersparJcipatedin68individualtherapysessionswithournewstaffpsychologist,whosupportedthemthroughdifficultfamilyandpersonalsituaJons.
CollaborationwithLocalMiddleSchool
ToincreasethequalityofinstrucJonatpartnerschoolSanGasparMiddleSchool,wesuppliedtheirteacherswithlibrarycards,teachertrainings,andmaterials.WealsopaidsalariesforqualifiedteacherstoleadEnglish,math,andcomputerclasses.
GraduationCeremony
InNovember,weheldaspecialgraduaJonceremonyforour14gradua>ngmiddleschoolersand7gradua>nghighschoolers.Therewerespeeches,games,music,choreographeddances,andamealtocommemoratetheday.
OtherCelebrations
Attheconclusionofthefirstandsecondsemesters,stafftookscholarsonfieldtripstooutdoorrecrea>onparksforswimming,games,andbondingacJviJes.Throughouttheyeartherewere3goodgradescelebra>onstorewardscholarswithhighmarks,encouragingthemtokeepupthegoodwork.ScholarsheardmoJvaJonalspeechesandsharedaspeciallunchtogether.InMay,therewasaMother’sDaycelebra>ontohonorourscholars’mothersforalltheirhardworkanddedicaJon.
©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018
Throughouttheyear,scholarspar>cipatedin25workshopsonkeysocialandprofessionaldevelopmenttopics.Recognizingtheimportanceoffamilysupporttoourscholars’success,LimitlessHorizonsIxilalsooffered7workshopsfortheirparentson
importanttopicssuchas“CommunicaJngwithyourAdolescent,”“ParenJngwithLove,”anddomesJcviolence.
©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018
WhenAngélicawasachild,shehadtwodreams:togetaneduca>onandtomakeadifferenceintheworld.Asoneofeightchildreninafamilyofextremelylimitedfinancialmeans,sheknewfromanearlyagethatitwouldn’tbeeasytoachieveherdreams.Duringelementaryschool,Angélicaenduredridiculefromherpeersforahandinjury,anddiscouragementfromherfamilywhotoldhersheshouldn’tstudybecauseshewasagirl.Despitethesesignificantobstacles,Angélicawasdeterminedtosucceed.
WhenshewasacceptedintotoLimitlessHorizonsIxil’sYouthDevelopmentProgramandprovidedascholarshipandsupporttocon>nuehereduca>on,Angélicafeltshewasbeinggivena>ckettoherdreams.ShebroughtincrediblepassionandasteadfastdedicaJontohergoals,andLimitlessHorizonsIxilprovidedthetoolstohelpherachievethem.ThispastNovember,AngélicagraduatedfromhighschoolwithhonorsandisnowresearchinguniversityprogramsandscholarshipopportuniJes!
Throughworkshopsandmentoring,Angélicadevelopedaclearervisionforhowtoapplyherskillsandpassions.Herdreamofmakingadifferenceintheworldisnowfocusedonbuildingabrighterfutureforherowncommunity.AngélicaenvisionsherselfasanagentofchangeandhashersightssetonbeingaleaderinChajul.Shetoldus:
“I want to be the difference in Chajul. I want to broaden my mind and create new
opportunities for myself and my community.”
ScholarSpotlight:Angélica
©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018
12UniversityScholarships
200Scholars&Alumni
OurnewEmergingLeadersProgramoffersexpandedworkforcedevelopmentservicestoover200scholarsandgraduatesintheirpost-secondaryschooltransi>ons.Allalumnibenefitfromextensivecareercounseling,universityapplicaJonsupport,professionalandjobseekingskillsdevelopment,vocaJonaltrainings,entrepreneurshipsupport,andtheopportunitytobepartofourgrowingpeer-to-peeralumninetworkofsupport.
5alumnaeinourfellowshipprogramalsogained1,200hoursofpaidworkexperienceandreceivedmentoringandsupport,fieldtrips,and80hoursofeducaJonalacJviJesandprofessionaldevelopmentworkshopsontopicssuchaspublicspeaking,budgeJng,teamcollaboraJon,andmore.
OurWorkto(L)earniniJaJvegivesalumniandolderscholarsanopportunitytogainpart-Jmeworkexperienceandearnsomeincome.Altogetherourscholarsandalumnicontributed925hoursofsupporttoourprogramsbyassisJngwithandlearningfromtasksinourcommunitycenter,library,andarJsanprograms.
Staffalsobeganeffortstomorecloselymonitorindicatorsofalumnisuccess.ThetotalnumberofLimitlessHorizonsIxilalumnitograduatefromuniversityisnow7,including5women!Fewerthan1%ofpeopleinChajulevera;ainsuchahighdegreeofeducaJon.
5PaidFellowships
Earlypregnancyandmarriagecansignificantlylimitagirl’spotenJalopportuniJes.GirlswhowaitunJltheyaredonewithschoolandarefinanciallystablearealsomuchmorelikelytofinishtheirstudiesandmakehealthychoicesforthemselvesandtheirfamilies.Ourprogramsaredesignedtoempowergirlsandwomenreachtheirgoals,andweencouragescholarstoholdoffonstarJngfamiliesunJltheyareready.
81%ofourfemalegraduateswaitedunJltheywere23tohavechildren,
comparedtoonly
16%ofourscholars’mothers.
Ourfellowsa_endedaseriesofsixworkshopswiththelocalorganiza>onDefensoríadeLaMujer(DefenseofWomen)onhumanrights,withafocusonchildren’srights,genderandviolence.CreaJngspaceforlearningandopendiscussionaboutthesetopicsiscriJcalforourfellowsasyoungwomen,membersofthecommunityofChajul,andfutureprofessionals.Theyhadtheopportunitytoapplytheknowledgetheylearnedfromtheirtrainingsbyhelpingtoplanandfacilitatetheirownworkshopforourscholars’families.
©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018
158HoursofAdventuresin
Math,Science,&English
720HoursofHomeworkHelp
70StoryHours
62ReadingClubSessions
24CulturalHours
177NewMembers
50–60DailyVisits
4,438OriginalTitles
SaberSinLímites(LimitlessKnowledge)CommunityLibrary
OurlibraryisthefirstandonlyofitskindinChajul,providingvisitorsasafestudyenvironment,literacyprogramming,academicsupport,andaccesstonearly9,000books(4,438originalJtles)andotherresources.Thelibraryisopentotheen>recommunity,bethey5yearoldsa;endingstoryhouror18yearoldsparJcipaJnginourchapterbookreadingclub.Bynurturingchildhoodliteracy,improvingSpanishlanguageskills,andcreaJngacultureofliteracyandlearning,ourlibraryprovidesitsmembersandtheirfamilieswitheduca>onalopportuni>esandthemeanstocompeteforemployment,liAtheirfamiliesoutofpoverty,andadvocatefortheircommunity’swell-being.
©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018
Thisyear,28newar>sansjoinedourarJsanprogram,sothatwenowhaveatotalof100ar>sans,primarilyscholars’mothersaswellasalumniandscholarsseekingextraincomeopportuniJes.ThesetalentedarJsansemploytradiJonalback-strapweavingtechniquestocreatebeauJfulhand-wovenarJsanproducts.Mothersworkalongsidestafftodevelopnewdesigns,discussfairwages,andcreateworksofart.LimitlessHorizonsIxilpurchasesallproductsfromthearJsansandsellstheminternaJonallytoraisenecessaryfundsforourprograms.
TogetherwithourarJsans,wecreated1,842products,includingthefollowingnewproductdesignsin2018:
• 7newbraceletdesigns
• 10newnecklacedesigns
• 5newearringdesigns
• Ponchosandinfinityscarves
ArtisanProgram
©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018
CommunityEngagementTrips
LimitlessHorizonsIxilhostedfivecommunityengagementtripsin2018!VisitorslearnedaboutthecultureandhistoryoftheIxilregion,cookedandsharedmealswithscholars’families,visitedclassesandthelibrary,andspentlotsofJmewithstaff,scholars,andlibrarymembers.LimitlessHorizonsIxilalumniandfamiliesledandcoordinatedmanyoftheseacJviJes,earningfairwagesfortheirwork.Ahighlightforsomevisitorswastheopportunitytomeetinpersontheyouthwhoseeduca>ontheyaresponsoring.TheirserviceanddonaJonsoftechnology,schoolsupplies,books,blankets,solarlamps,andotheritemsmadealas>ngimpactonthelivesofourscholarsandtheirfamilies.
WealsohostedavolunteerprofessionalphotographerfromPhotographersWithoutBorderswhocapturedLimitlessHorizonsIxilstaff,scholars,andalumniengagedintheirwork.HerbeauJfulphotographshelpusbringChajulandourworktolifeforsupportersunabletovisit!
©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018
StaffDevelopment
InvestinginOurStaff&TheirLeadershipCapacity
LocalGuatemalanstaffa;endedaseriesoftrainingswithpartnerorganiza>onStarfishImpactSchoolfocusedonteachingreadingskills.Topicsincludedhowtodesignclassroomspacestosupportindependentreading,andintegraJngreadingskillsintoothersubjectssuchasmathandscience.
WewerefortunatetohostanexperiencedbilingualteacherfromtheUnitedStatesinChajul.Sheprovidedanumberoftrainingsoncri>calthinkingskillsandthefacilita>onofgroupdiscussionforourstaffandfellows,aswellasforteachersatpartnerschool,SanGasparMiddleSchool.
OurGuatemalanstaffmembersarebreakinggroundassomeofthefirstpeoplefromChajultopursueauniversityeduca>onandworkprofessionaljobs.Theyserveasrolemodelsforourscholarsandlibraryusers,andweareproudtobeabletoprovideuniversityscholarshipstosupporttheirweekendstudies.
Cecilia,Ar>sanProgram&TechnologyCoordinator,is
studyingsystemsengineering.SheisthefirstwomanfromChajulevertostudycomputerscience.
David,HeadLibrarian,isstudyingagronomywiththegoaloffindingnewwaystoreducehighratesoffood
insecurityinChajul.
Marina,YouthDevelopmentProgramCoordinator,isstudyingclinicalpsychology.Sheappliesherdegreeeverydayinherwork
withscholarsandparents.
Olga,Librarian,isenrolledinauniversityprogramineducaJon,withaspecial
emphasisonadministraJon.
Verónica,ManagingDirector,completedcourseworkforhermaster’sdegreeinbusiness
administraJon.
Eymi,Opera>ons&CommunityOutreachManager,completed
courseworkforherbachelor’sdegreeinbusinessadministraJon.
Zuliana,GuatemalanAssistantDirector,ispreparingtotakethe
Guatemalanequivalentofthebarexam.
Allphotosonthispage©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018
Pleasevisitwww.limitlesshorizonsixil.orgforourmostrecentfinancials.
Thankyouforhelpingusmake2018anincredibleyear!LimitlessHorizonsIxilwasable
toprovidemuchneededacademicandprofessionalopportunitiestotheindigenous
youthandfamiliesofChajulthankstothetime,efforts,andgenerosityofourcommunityof
donorsandvolunteers.
We’retremendouslygratefulforyourpartnership!
©AnitaBonnarens,PWB,2018