What We Do

What we do

• • Meet with the village leadership

  • Help them implement their agenda to advance the village's prosperity

  • Meet with the scholarship students

  • Health workshops

  • Meet with the farmers to see development of the agricultural diversification program

What we have done

• • Scholarships, particularly for middle school aged girls who are staying in school longer

  • Microloans for both men and women

  • Built and Outfitted a Resource Center:  Brenda Armstrong Library & Computer Center.  See photos below.

  • Replace old computers , printers, etc. as needed.

  • Medical information for midwives, nutrition, health workshops for men women

  • Economic development of markets for village goods

  • Initial work on family planning

  • Internet over satellite

  • Teacher training

  • Yearly teacher training for elementary and middle school teachers

  • Provide musical instruments for the youth marching band

  • Provide basic music lessons for children and youth

  • Fundraise to outfit the church kitchen with new pots, utensils, furniture to store kitchen supplies, etc

  • Vacation Bible School to children.

  • Scholarship for local pastor so he could get his middle school education and also so he could attend religious classes for lay pastors.

Brenda Armstrong Library & Computer Center 

The library was built thanks to the funds raised by Guatemala Village Partners and the Kirk of Kildaire Presbiterian Church.  Much of the basic work was done by families in the village.  Inauguration was in 2010.

The library was named after one of the original members who traveled to Pala and who encourage the team came back to continue assisting the families in the village.

The team hired a Library Director, a Computer Center Director and Assistant from the local village.

PLAN FOR PALA’S PROGRAM MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY  

When we began our partnership with Pala 14 years ago with the hope of arriving at a time when we could transition management of the programs to them.  We feel the time has arrived.  We announced to those present at the community wide meeting our concept of implementing a five-year plan for Pala   We held a frank discussion and answered questions about what this entailed.  Ultimately our plan is:  

• continue to make annual trips each January through January 2025,

• during this time frame we will work together with people in Pala to set up guidelines so the programs will continue, 

• Patty Ajanel, In-Country Director of Operations, will visit Pala twice each year in our absence to oversee programs and help them become more confident in their abilities to manage the programs. 

• we will continue to provide funding for the scholarship program as financial sponsors continue to participate. 

• funding needs for programs like the library and computer center will be assessed as the transition develops.     

• the library staff continues to support and help the local school teachers and students in the village.

Updated Jan. 2024

Our Library Director giving reading lessons to students at the local school.