“Dear Sandall Family, Climate change has begun to really impact the country of Guatemala. Many families are migrating due to crop loss, as well as a lack of water due to shorter rainy seasons, drying aquifers and watersheds. We are so grateful that your organization has helped us invest in youth over the last decade so that we have people trained in skills to help face some of these climate emergencies.
The Garden’s Edge and the Qachuu Aloom “Mother Earth” Association thank you for your continued support of Maya Achi youth education and maternal health. Each year we measure the success of our work, not only in numbers but in the stories of individuals whose lives have been touched by the work we are doing. In 2019, we expanded our work with youth beyond the scholarship program, to include youth involvement in our water restoration work with reforestation campaigns and the construction of household grey-water filter systems that keep families safe from diseases like dengue fever while providing much needed water for home gardens. In the area of maternal health we continue to promote the production of nutrient-rich native foods in home gardens along with Amaranth cooking classes. We are honored to carry on the memory of Emily through our work and to be in partnership with your lovely family. In 2019 we provided leadership opportunities to 10 Maya Achi youth in Rabinal, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala. The scholarships cover student tuition and transportation to school while the student’s family covers the cost of uniforms, books, and materials. We select economically poor youth who, without this program, would be unable to attend school. In Guatemala, compulsory, free education ends at what’s referred to as Sexto Primaria (6th grade). To finish what would be equivalent to a US high school degree, families must pay private school education for another six years.
We held six cooking workshops with participants who learned new recipes for healthy eating.We continue to strengthen traditional knowledge around the medicinal plants to treat common health problems.Now, thanks to the support of the Emily Sandall Foundation we can offer better treatments for healing patients and a designated space for the elaboration of plant-derived products.We’ve increased the number of medicinal plants in the garden.
Our projects value individuals and their culture. We thank the Emily Sandall Foundation for your continued support of our work with youth leadership and maternal health. “
Sarah Montgomery,Director of Garden’s Edge
and the Staff of Qachuu Aloom
