WHAT WE NEED

Here are some of the things that we need.  Basic supplies for the kids and the types of volunteers that are required to help keep the orphanage running smoothly.

If you are able to supply any of the following items, or similar things then please contact us.

People

Volunteers who could fill the following roles would be most welcome.  If you are interested, then please read the volunteering page and then apply!

• Doctors / Nurses  Read more...
• English teachers
• Spanish speaking teachers (kindergarten - 6th grade)
• Arts and crafts teachers
• Natural Science / agriculture teachers
• Orientadores (The job of an orientador is to act as a 'psuedo parent' to a group of children.  They basically stay with the kids and make sure that they get up, brush their teeth, go to school, eat meals and help kids out if they have any problems. Read more...)

Medical Supplies

We have to supply the clinic and pharmacy with a complete array of first-aid necessities. Medicines such as:

• Antibiotics
• Antihistamines and antipyretics
• Peptobismol
• Rehydration
• Flu and cough medicine
• Parasite medication
• Creams, liquids and medicines required for curing skin infections, skin rashes, ear infections and conjunctivitis
• Shampoos and creams for lice and scabies
• Chewable vitamin tablets (we would like to be able to give every child a tablet each day - that equates to around 100,000 tablets a year)
• Tine tests for TB

School Supplies

• Textbooks
• Notebooks
• Ballpoint pens (red, black blue)
• Pens and miscellaneous materials for the “arts and craft” class (painting, drawing and visual arts)
• Erasers
• Chalk
• Pencil sharpeners
• Notebooks
• Blank A4 paper
• Lined A4 paper
• Scissors
• Glue (stick glue, liquid glue)
• Marker pens
• Sticky tape

Teaching Materials

• English language textbooks (as a second language for beginners)
• Spanish language textbooks
• English / Spanish books to contribute to the library
• Mathematics teaching materials (books, abacuses, calculators, rulers, compasses)
• Teaching games

Physical Education Supplies

• Balls (for football, basketball, baseball, volleyball)
• Bats
• Nets for these games
• Swimming equipment (water toys, rubber rings, snorkeling masks, goggles, oars)

Miscellaneous Supplies

• Shampoo
• Toothpaste
• Rubbish bins, brooms, dust-pans
• Tooth brushes and other items for personal hygiene (for ages 10+)
• Septic tanks
• Plastic plates, knives, forks and spoons (not disposable ones)
• Toilet paper
• Soap
• Feminine Pads (not tampons!)

Financial Demands

The following is a list of the expenses from 2007.  The funds to pay for these things are generated from the Hotel Backpackers, the Farm Shop and from donations from the generous people that support Casa Guatemala and the work that we do. 

If you are able to, then please donate some money towards these expenses:

• Teachers
  

  We are expecting to have approximately 300 children at the school for the school year of 2007. To educate these children in an appropriate manner we need the following materials:

  • Textbooks, notebooks, pencils, pens and miscellaneous materials for the “arts and craft” class (painting, drawing and visual arts)
  • Rubbish bins, brooms, dust-pans
  • Tooth brushes and other items for personal hygiene
  • Septic tanks

  The school has 18 teachers that receive all costs of living, food and transport expenses, as well as a salary; for a total cost to Casa Guatemala for each teacher of USD $3,000.

  Total cost of the school salaries for the year: USD $54,000.
  

• Agricultural work

  The agricultural school has 15 full-time workers that have two main functions:
  
  • Working on the farm. This involves:
    taking care of the animals: the pigs, the chickens and the fish ponds
    tending the greenhouses and the vegetable gardens
    
  • Helping teach the students the agriculture classes.

  Total cost of the agricultural salaries for the year: US$45,000.

• Nutrition
  
  The canteen at Casa Guatemala feeds roughly 250 children and 150 adults every day. All of the children and the adults are divided into groups so that everyone can have a seat in the dining area.
  
  During 2005 we spent USD $72,000 on food.  This amount of money was not enough to guarantee a well-balanced and healthy diet for the children.
  The USD $72,000 equates to USD$6,000 a month or USD $200 a day. Given that we are serving 3 meals a day to roughly 360 people this means that each meals costs Casa Guatemala USD $0.18.

  We need to increase this amount to USD $0.25 to guarantee a better and more varied diet for the children. This is one of the top priorities for Casa Guatemala in 2007.

  Total cost for the year 2007: US $125,000

• Other employees of Casa Guatemala

  Ten child care workers with a combined annual salary of: USD $30,000.

  Five kitchen workers with a combined annual salary of: USD $12,000.

  Five laundry and cleaning staff with a combined annual salary of: USD $12,000.

  Six employees for miscellaneous tasks, including: driving the boats (lanchas), working the generator and maintaining the structures of Casa Guatemala. Combined annual salary of: USD $30,000.  

• Transport and other expenses

  It is only possible to access Casa Guatemala by water. Therefore, all children, visitors and materials are transported to the orphanage on two small motorboats. The annual consumption of petrol, assuming current petrol prices, for the daily use of the boats is estimated at: USD $38,400

  All of the electricity in the Casa Guatemala village required for lighting the compound and for pumping the water comes from a generator. The annual consumption of petrol for the generator, assuming current petrol prices, is estimated at: USD $15,200

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