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Sponsor a Student

 

When we asked our weavers how we could support them, their number one priority was access to education and a better future for their children. In 2021, the Education Fund was established to help children of the Trama Textiles Cooperative learn, grow, and excel. Our primary goal is to provide direct scholarships and essential school supplies to students in need.

The communities that make up the Trama Textiles Cooperative face extremely difficult conditions in accessing education for their children.

In Guatemala, primaria school (grades 1-6) is free and mandatory. However, basico (middle school) and diversificado (high school) require Q2500 per year in tuition. At current exchange rates, this is equivalent to $335 per year. So, it costs around $2,010 total for one child to complete all 6 years of middle and high school. This does not include the costs of school supplies, books, or transportation to and from school.

 

HOW MUCH DOES EDUCATION COST IN GUATEMALA
$ 335
$ 1005
$ 1005
$ 2010
1 year of middle or high school

Completion of middle school

(3 years)

Completion of high school

(3 years)

Total costs for secondary education

(6 years)
 
With an estimated minimum yearly income of $2734, many families cannot afford to pay tuition fees, especially families living in rural, lower income areas of Guatemala.

Each of the 14 communities that make up Trama Textiles Cooperative have an average of 15-20 children, many of which will begin secondary school this year. Our goal is to sponsor each student for all 6 years of middle and high school. This provides students with stability and security, knowing that they will be supported throughout their entire educational journey.

 

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Each sponsored student receives Q150 ($20) per month or Q1500 ($200) for the entire 10 month school year. This covers around 75% of their school tuition. Research on the sustainability of scholarship programs in developing communities has shown that partial scholarships incentivize parents to continue investing in their children’s education.

Sponsored students are selected based on socio-economic assessments of the families in our communities. In order to receive a scholarship, each student must provide proof of enrollment in school and bi-annual grade reports with passing performance.

 

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

1. Donate to our collective Education Fund

  • When completing your donation, you can choose “Contribute Once” or “Contribute Monthly”. A monthly donation will automatically charge to your card on the date from your first donation. If you’d like to cancel your monthly donation, please email us at almaya@tramatextiles.org and we will stop the charges immediately.
  • We highly recommend donating monthly, even if it’s only a small amount. Knowing we have consistent donations allows us to plan for how many students we are able to sponsor.
  • At the end of every month, we will choose new students to sponsor based on how much money we have raised. A new child will be sponsored each time we raise an additional $1200. This is to maintain our goal of sponsoring each student for the entire 6 years of middle and high school.

2. Directly sponsor a student

  • As a direct sponsor, you can choose to sponsor a specific student whose story speaks to you. You will be the sole sponsor of this student for at least 1 full school year (a total donation of $200). 
  • Each student available for direct sponsorship has expressed interest in connecting with their sponsor. You can stay connected through videos, letters, and photos facilitated by Trama Textiles. You can read about students in need of sponsors below.
  • If you are interested in becoming a direct sponsor, please fill out this form and you will be contacted. If you have questions, please email almaya@tramatextiles.org

Thank you for your continued support of the communities, families, and students of Trama Textiles!

 

TRAMA STUDENTS IN NEED OF SPONSORS
 Organized by Pueblo 

 Cristian Joseue Rubio de Leon
from San Martin, Quetzaltenango
11 years old - 7th grade
Entering Basico in 2022
 

Tomasa Estella Achbol Pula
from Santa Maria De Jesus, Sacatepéquez
14 years old - 6th grade
Entering Basico in 2022

Marvin Eduardo Patan Xan 
from Santa Maria De Jesus, Sacatepéquez 
12 years old - 6th grade
Entering Basico in 2022
 
Henry Charconin
from Santa Maria De Jesus, Sacatepéquez
13 years old - 7th grade
Enrolled in Basico
Juan Jerry William Hernandez 
from Chirijox, Solol
12 years old - 6th grade 
Entering Basico in 2022
Yenifer Mileidy Panjoj Zet
from Sololá
11 years old - 5th grade
 
Juana Sajic Sánchez
from San Juan Cotzal, Quiché
12 years old - 6th grade
Entering Basico in 2022
 
Trama Education Fund Sponsee Harley
Harley Juan Bradley
from San Juan Cotzal, Quiché
15 years old - 7th grade
Entering second year of Basico in 2022
 
Teresa Cordoba Cruz 
from San Juan Cotzal, Quiché
15 years old - 9th grade
Entering Diversificado in 2022
Trama Textiles Education Fund Sponsee Jheliana
Jheliana Betzabé de la Cruz Garcia 
from San Juan Cotzal, Quiché
15 years old - 7th grade
Entering second year of Basico in 2022
Hervin Juan Alexander Cordoba
from San Juan Cotzal, Quiché
12 years old - 6th grade
Entering Basico in 2022 
Mary Maively Cruz
from San Juan Cotzal, Quiché
12 years old - 6th grade
Entering Basico in 2022

Trama Textiles Sponsee Linzi

Linzi Desire Panjoj Churunel
from Churuneles, Solola
13 years old - 7th grade
Enrolled in Basico
Linzi loves the environment and wants to contribute
to a cleaner place to live for her community 
 

Christian Yovany Panjoj Zet
from Churuneles, Solola
7 years old - 1st grade 
Christian is being raised by a single mother along with five siblings. Due to financial limitations, his mother cannot afford basic supplies needed to send him to school.

Trama Sponsee Marta

Marta Micaela Basquez Basquezf
from San Martin, Quetzaltenango
9 years old
Marta has never attended school and cannot speak Spanish. She should be in primario, but due to severe financial hardship, her grandmother cannot afford her school supplies.  
Trama Textiles Education Fund sponsee Edgar
Edgar Orlando Patan Xar
from Santa Maria De Jesus, Sacatepéquez
15 years old - 9th grade
Entering Secondario

Trama Textiles Sponsee Cecilia

Cecilia Noemí torres de León
from Quetzaltenango 
15 years old - 8th grade
Enrolled in Basico