Since starting Make Money Your Way in mid-2013, I committed to giving 10% of my blogging income to support children’s education in my village. As mentioned in a previous update, I awarded two scholarships to the top middle school students so they could attend high school 150 miles away for the next three years.
Boarding school costs roughly $2,500 per student per year, adding up to $15,000 over three years. This means I need to generate $150,000 from blogging. Last update, I had $1,305. Adding my contributions from July ($464) and August ($490), I now have a total of $2,259.
### Book and Computer Project
July was a fantastic month thanks to a New York teenager who sent us a huge parcel of school supplies. Her father matched her donation, and she saved diligently from her part-time job to contribute. She also sent her old laptop, which has been a valuable addition to our computer project.
July turned out to be expensive because I paid for additional internet classes and data. The kids were off from school partly, so they used more data watching music clips and playing online games. My brother also visited, providing more computer class hours along with our usual Spanish teacher.
The kids absolutely love the computer project. Currently, I pay the teacher to supervise 12 hours a week, managing 4-5 kids per hour. They learn to make PowerPoint presentations about local wildlife, engage in speed search contests on Google, and play educational games to improve their basic computer skills. More than 50 kids benefit weekly, and with an added computer, 12 more kids will get their computer time.
Each time the kids attend computer class, they take a book home and return it next time. They’re so enthusiastic that they’ve read through over 100 books I initially bought. So, I purchased more books, focusing on fairy tales to encourage reading among girls. Book costs remain high, so I might bring some back from Miami or Mexico on my next trip.
With the school year halfway through, I decided to donate the received school supplies to an orphanage two hours away, called Ahicam. This place houses children placed there by judges due to abusive home environments. The couple who runs Ahicam recently received a donated well, which I facilitated through my contacts.
Before visiting, I bought stacks of paper, notepads, pens, and pencils to donate since they lacked these supplies. I also bought around 50 stuffed animals from a local second-hand store and additional rubber bands to make bracelets, a popular activity with the kids. My brother and I thoroughly enjoyed making bracelets at the orphanage.
### Total Expenses for July and August
The costs for internet, staff, books, and the orphanage donation came to $813. It was an expensive period, and I’m considering pausing book purchases to ensure I have enough funds for boarding school and the computer project, which costs over $650 a month. I’ve received nearly $3,000 in donations from readers and friends, but I want to maintain some financial flexibility. The kids now have about 150 books and 300 donated textbooks to last a few months.
### Big Textbook Donation
Following last month’s update, a reader named Lisa suggested I contact charities that donate books in Guatemala. I reached out to several NGOs, and while most don’t work in Northern Guatemala, a couple offered to let me purchase books at a discount next time they order. One organization, Cooperative for Education, generously donated 300 textbooks. These books span three years of middle school subjects: Math, Literature, Science, and Social Science.
I picked up the books from their headquarters in Guatemala City. Thanks to CoEd, we now have enough books so students don’t have to purchase any for the full three years of middle school. Although about 10 years old, the textbooks are in excellent condition and will be well-utilized.
### Boarding School Kids
The students are doing great at boarding school, achieving good grades, so I was pleased to pay the usual $956 in tuition for two months.
### Financial Summary
Total money left: $2,259 – $1,769 = $490.
If you’d like to support literacy in Guatemala or have an old laptop to donate, please get in touch! Thank you!