2019 Annual Report

2019 ANNUAL REPORT
20 YEARS OF HOPE
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SAFE PASSAGE
was founded by Maine native, Hanley
Denning. In Guatemala to improve her Spanish, Hanley was brought to see
the largest municipal open landfill in all of Central America - the Guatemala
city garbage dump.
Amid acres of garbage, toxic fumes, and flocks of circling vultures, she
witnessed thousands of people scavenging the dump looking for anything
they could eat, sell, or recycle. Here, families - young and old alike - worked
together hoping to earn as little as $4 a day.
The horrific sights and smells stayed with Hanley, prompting her to create
an educational reinforcement program known as Safe Passage. Although
education in Guatemala is public, it is beyond the reach of anyone unable
to afford nominal fees, textbooks, and uniforms.
Hanley dreamed of providing a leg up to the children and families who
scavenged the garbage dump, recognizing that the only way to move
beyond a life of poverty was through education.
Over the last two decades, Safe Passage has grown from a reinforcement
program in an old church serving a handful of children to a thriving full-day
school for students from preschool through 7th grade, as well as providing
reinforcement education for older students, and access to social services,
healthcare, and nutrition.
While our scope has increased, at our core is Hanley’s original vision:
to provide a pathway for a better future through the power of education;
a safe passage out of the cycle of poverty.
Today we look back on where we came from, and look forward to where
we are going next. Thank you for being a part of our journey, and for
making all of this possible.
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Photograph by Lexie Harrison-Cripps
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What started as one woman’s vision in 1999
...has grown to so much more in 2019
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TRAE HOLLAND
Executive Director - Head of School
Dear Safe Passage Family,
2020 will mark the 20th anniversary of both this incredible organization and the
loving legacy of Hanley Denning, whose vision of an empowered and healthy
community endures among us here in Guatemala City.
What started as a project with 40 young ones is now serving over 513 students
and their families through our three full-day academic programs, half-day
academic enrichment program, and support services in the areas of psychology,
social work, and nutrition.
Whether it be you, our supporters who make our work possible, or the
passionate educators and professionals who bring our school and organization
to life, we all remain inspired by the students. They and their families embody
such persistence and joy, even in the face of the most tremendous hardships
and adversity.
And so, it is with great pride that we share with you Safe Passage’s Annual
Report for 2019, which demonstrates that we enjoyed another year of steady
growth for the organization.
We teach our students that to live in the world we want, we must create the
world we want. Thank you all for proving this to our young ones by way of your
constancy and care.
Warmly,
Trae Holland
Executive Director - Head of School
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EDUCATION
What started out as a half-day reinforcement center fo
full-day educational preschool, primary school, and no
well as Adult Education and high school reinforcemen
Photograph by Michele Stapleton
PERSONAL HYGIENE
Personal hygiene has
always been important
at Safe Passage. Every
student starts their day
with brushing their teeth.
Teaching them about
hygiene is, in Hanley’s own
words, a matter “of
self-esteem and dignity.”
THEN
HEALTH CLINIC
We expanded our onsite
health clinic in 2007
when we partnered with
Shared Beat. Students,
and their families are
invited to preventative
health screenings,
as well as access to
physicals, treatment, and
prescriptions.
&
NUTRITIOUS MEALS
For many of our students, what they eat at Safe Passage are the only full meals they’ll eat
all day. Students have a daily regimen of healthy snacks and meals, and also learn about
how to make healthy food choices.
Photograph by Michele Stapleton
Photograph by Michele Stapleton
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nt center for 40 children has blossomed into
ool, and now middle school programming, as
nforcement, serving over 500 students in total.
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Photograph by Lexie Harrison-Cripps
SOCIAL SERVICES
From the beginning, it’s
been important for social
workers to maintain a
connection with students,
their families, and the
community at large.
Today, our social services
encompass social workers,
psychologists, and the
Family Nurturing (Crianza
con Cariño) program.
NOW
LIBRARY
Instilling a love of reading
has always been important.
As we’ve expanded, so
have our libraries: today
we offer more than 5,000
books, both in Spanish
and English, to students at
every level.
SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
Starting with less than 40 sponsors in 2000, the Sponsorship Program today includes 575
sponsors around the world who support our students, both financially and by sending
words of encouragement to continue their education.
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers have played an
incredibly important role
in Safe Passage since the
very beginning. Today, we
welcome short and longterm
volunteers from both
Guatemala and around the
world.
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SPOTLIGHT ON
A GRADUATE
Meet Hizel, 24
Hizel graduated in 2014 from Safe
Passage’s high school reinforcement
program. She went on to graduate
with a degree in Pedagogy and Human
Rights from the University of San Carlos
in 2018, and now currently works at
Banco Industrial, a prestigious bank in
Guatemala.
While at Safe Passage, Hizel learned
how to create a life plan for herself,
as well as how to resolve conflicts
assertively and effectively, which were
essential skills needed to improve her
dire situation at home.
As Hizel grew up, she saw many around
her fall victim to the hard circumstances
of the garbage dump community: girls
who became mothers at a young age,
friends who turned to drugs, and people
who joined gangs. Hizel thinks that if it
weren’t for Safe Passage, her life might
not look so different.
Hizel’s vision for her future is to obtain
a master’s degree and then work in an
institution that supports children and
adolescents who live in the same highrisk
environments as the one she came
from.
Because of your support, the dreams
of Hizel and her peers can be made
possible. Thank you.
HOW OUR CURRICULUM COMBATS
EXTERNAL CHALLENGES
Expeditionary Learning (EL) was chosen as the
guiding methodology for our full-day school as
it best fits the needs of our student population.
EL promotes a positive learning setting, which
gives students the motivation and confidence
to learn despite difficult environments outside
of school. Furthermore, a 2013 study revealed
that EL education has a particularly positive
impact on low-income students.
“[EL] creates a school culture where students
work together and carry out expeditions --
projects in which the students look for ways
to make their community better. We hope
that when our students graduate, they have a
better sense of what it means to be responsible
citizens working together towards this goal.”
- Patricia Barneond
Director of the Primary & Middle School
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WHERE ARE OUR GRADUATES NOW?
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8%
10% 9%
57%
11%
4%
Working in Formal Economy (61)
Working & Studying (12)
Studying (10)
Internships (4)
Working in Informal Economy (9)
Not Working or Studying (11)
THE NEXT STEP
Safe Passage believes that young
adults are key figures for social
change. When we invest in the
future of our graduates, we are
investing in the future of our
community. And we cannot invest
in our future without the help of our
supporters.
We started Next Step graduate
program (Próximo Paso) in 2013
to guide graduates through often
daunting post-graduation through:
Above: Graduates in the TELUS scholarship program
Below: Students making connections at a job fair
• Internship Placement
• Job Fairs
• Help with Resume Building
• University Application Assistance
• Interview Preparation Workshops
• Alumni Resources and
Connections
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FIRST
6th grade graduation
Photograph by Michele Stapleton
160
monthly visits
to the on-site
health clinic
513
students
and
317
families
served
97%
of 6th graders
passed to 7th
grade
PROGR
HIGHLIG
Photograph by Michele Stapleton
FIRST FULL-DAY MIDDLE SCHOOL
with the opening of 7th grade in January
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Support Team Visits
STEAM
(Science, Technology,
Engineering, Arts
& Mathematics)
curriculum introduced
in 4th & 6th grades
GRAM
LIGHTS
575
Student
Sponsors
180
Hanley’s
Helpers
46
parents
participated in
Adult Education
64
Guatemalan
Volunteers
49
International
Volunteers
PLAYGROUND
ground breaking
ceremony for the future
McAdams Family
Learning Garden and
Annex
Photograph by Lexie Harrison-Cripps
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CELEBRATE!
A vital tool in recognizing our
students’ achievements, here are
some of the celebraciones
from this year:
Photograph by Lexie Harrison-Cripps
Photograph by Lexie Harrison-Cripps
Día del niño, October
Quinceañera, July
6th grade graduation, November
Family Nurturing Graduation, October
Día de la familia, June
Holiday party, November
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HANLEY’S VISION
Strategic Development
“I refused to accept things as they were. In order to carry on, I visualized
the hope I saw and rallied others around that vision.”
- Hanley Denning’s 2006 speech in Traverse City, Michigan
In 2019, the Safe Passage Board of Directors, staff, and stakeholders developed a strategic plan to
meet Hanley’s challenge. Implementing our middle school in a sustainable way requires evolution:
our school & curriculum, facilities & supporting programs, finance, performance management, and
learning. At the heart of this work is the commitment to these values and guiding vision:
COMMUNITY
DIVERSITY
Working to transform lives by providing
students in the Guatemala City garbage
dump community with an excellent
education, a higher quality of life, and
pathways to a job with dignity so they can
achieve a better future for themselves
and their families.
RESPONSIBILITY
COMPASSION
PERSEVERANCE
Learn more about our Strategic Plan: www.safepassage.org/strategic-plan
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Data reflects figures from July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019
Use of Funds†
75% Program
18% Fundraising
7% Administration
†For operating purposes.
Data sourced from IRS 990.
Program Breakdown
67% Education
19% Nutrition
8% Health & Wellness
4% Family Services
2% Adult Education & Creamos
Sources of Operating Revenue
53% Annual Campaign
24% Sponsorship
6% In-Kind Donations
6% Endowment
4% Grants
3% Support Teams
3% Events
Safe Passage is a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) organization. Camino Seguro is a Guatemala-registered
non-governmental organization. View our Financial Statement and IRS 990, audited annually by
Wipfli LLP of South Portland, Maine by visiting www.safepassage.org/financials
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DONATE
www.safepassage.org/donate
SPONSOR
www.safepassage.org/sponsor
JOIN A TEAM
www.safepassage.org/teams
VOLUNTEER
www.safepassage.org/volunteer
VISIT
www.safepassage.org/visit
Photos on both pages by Michele Stapleton. Unless noted otherwise, photos thanks to Daniel Osario,
Carlos Manuel Arreaga Rodas, and various other staff and volunteers.
BOARD MEMBERS
As of June 30, 2019
President Susanna Place U.S.
Vice President Tania de Zedan GT
Treasurer Maureen Pennington de Riojas GT
Secretary Rebecca Martin Evarts U.S.
Ernesto Jose Viteri Arriola GT
Xavier Andrade GT
Jessica Britt GT
Jordan Denning GT
Sandra de Gonzalez GT
Carolyn Johnson U.S.
Douglas McAdams U.S.
Guillermo Montano GT
Kolia O’Connor U.S.
John Patterson U.S.
Ellen Meyer Shorb U.S.
Rodrigo Toledo GT
Ines Torrebiarte GT
Guatemala
6a. Avenida 11-95 Zona 7
Colonia Landivar, Ciudad de
Guatemala
(502) 2440-4388
visitors@safepassage.org
www.camino-seguro.org
U.S. Office
49 Farm View Dr, Suite 302
New Gloucester, ME 04260
(207) 846-1188
info@safepassage.org
www.safepassage.org
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OUR MISSION
Safe Passage works to transform lives by
providing students in the Guatemala City
garbage dump community with an excellent
education, a higher quality of life, and pathways
to a job with dignity so they can achieve a better
future for themselves and their families.
WWW.SAFEPASSAGE.ORG
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