Child Sponsorship Through Hearts In Motion
- Nov 5, 2008
"The love we give away is the only love we keep." Elbert Hubbard
Would you like to help a child in an impoverished part of the world, and know for certain that the child you are sponsoring will in fact receive your gift? Hearts In Motion, the organization with whom several LIFEChurch members have traveled to Guatemala each July, has a Child Sponsorship Program.
Many of the children in this under-resourced country cannot afford to go to school and begin working to support their families by the age of 11 or 12. Sponsorship for one child is only $30 per month, or $360 for the 2009 school year which runs from January to October. Your sponsorship covers the cost of two uniforms, shoes, school fees, school supplies, computer classes and medical attention for the child. Most of these children come from large families with 4 to 6 siblings and their parents both work, but they are still unable to afford to send all their children to school.
If you are interested in becoming a child sponsor, contact Marcia McGinnis, Missions Coordinator, 281.684.9741 or or email .
Poverty and Malnutrition in Guatemala: Guatemala ranks 6th in the world for chronic malnutrition, with about 50% of its children under the age of 5 suffering from chronic malnutrition, affecting their mental and physical growth. Children in America are roughly 25% taller than these malnourished children. According to UNICEF, Guatemala has the worst malnutrition problem in Latin America, even higher than Africa. 57% of the population currently lives under the poverty line and cannot afford an adequate diet. Mothers are often unable to provide breast milk for their infants due to malnutrition. 75% of the primary indigenous rural population lives on less than $2 per day. Average annual income for Guatemalans was $2,640 in 2006.
Educational Statistics:
Primary school girls out of school: 34%
Grade 1 intake rate: 60.7%
Pupils reaching Grade 5: 49.6%
Average years of schooling for adults: 3.5 years
Public spending on education (total % of GDP): 1.28%
Guatemala's Demographics: Guatemala is located in Central America, bordered by Mexico, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, the Gulf of Honduras, Caribbean Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. It has a tropical climate with consistent warmth and pronounced wet and dry seasons. Besides the coastal areas, it is a mountainous country of rolling hills, deep river valleys, plateaus, and numerous volcanoes. Guatemala's population is 14,655,200, and the languages spoken are primarily Spanish and Amerindian.
