AVIVARA
My fiance and I spent four months in Guatemala between May and August 2011. I was working as an education policy intern with USAID during that time, and Avivira helped my fiance locate a physical therapy internship in a hospital in Antigua. Neither of us had been to Guatemala before, so we were understandably nervous before we left. Avivira greatly helped us with information and specific answers to our questions before we left. The project staff was incredibly responsive to our concerns and always responded promptly to any emails we sent. Upon arriving in Guatemala City, Avivira staff met us at the airport and took care of everything to ensure an easy transition. They were very informative, especially regarding safety concerns and locating essential shops and services in Antigua. They dropped us off directly at our homestay, which they had arranged in advance. The homestay turned out to be fantastic, and we honestly did not have a single complaint about Avivira the entire time we were in Guatemala. The organization was there to assist us whenever we had questions or concerns. Their local expertise was especially helpful during the first few weeks in the country. I can't say enough great things about this organization. Their work in supporting primary schools in rural villages around Antigua is incredibly important, and their support of volunteers who come to Guatemala to make a difference is impressive.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
rural villages near Antigua, Guatemala
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
multiply their efforts. Avivira is a very small organization that manages to make a large impact in the few dozen rural villages where they work. Their grassroots educational reform approach is excellent, as their close ties with the communities and families they serve helps maximize their impact and support the sustainability of their efforts. Guatemala is a country desperately in need of educational reform, and Avivira is helping to achieve that goal one village at a time.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
What one change could this group make that would improve your volunteer experience?
Honestly, I there isn't a single change that I can recommend. The staff and Avivira took great care to ensure that all of our needs were met before, during and after our trip to Guatemala. Their professionalism, generosity, and attention to detail helped make our volunteer trip go smoothly. Perhaps the single piece of constructive advice I would have is for Avivira to market their organization more online or through university study abroad offices so more people can take advantage of the amazing and life-changing opportunities they help facilitate.
Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)
Yes, both my fiance and I had life-changing experiences in Guatemala. We improved our Spanish language skills, had the opportunity to work on important social projects aimed at the most marginalized members of society, and made many great friends while there.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
My friend and I are both part of our school's Engineers Without Borders student chapter, and developed a proposal that was funded by scholarships and private donations. Our goal was to see how our collective experience in developing country engineering might be of use in Guatemala.
As we worked on our proposed project goals, we were able to use Gary and Ann as excellent resources for every aspect of our trip, and because we were able to visit communities that Avivara had an established presence, we were quickly able to develop a trusting relationship and get a very honest and candid perspective from the community leaders. This process would have taken us weeks, perhaps months, to develop and we would never have been able to gather the information and data in our two weeks that we were able to obtain.
Because Avivara is primarily involved in improving education and related projects, our engineering-related goals were a new experience for them as well. I was amazed at how resourceful and flexible everyone was that we interacted with, and I am still processing all of the experiences that we were able to have. Needless to say, our project would NEVER been as overwhelmingly successful at what we were trying to accomplish without the help of Avivara.
Our goal is to develop an ongoing project and sufficient funding to collaborate with Avivara in future endeavors in the Antigua region, and when we return, we definitely look forward to working with them again!
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The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Guatemala
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
multiply their current efforts by 1,000!! With our experience with aid organizations both locally, and abroad, if all organizations could tailor their efforts to their specific communities like Avivara does, I think many would be much more successful. Obviously their model of assistance wouldn't work for every scenario, but the impact they are making is large and obvious, and perhaps most importantly, it is a very personal impact judging by the way they are greeted when they arrive at the schools.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
What one change could this group make that would improve your volunteer experience?
Perhaps giving a better description or review of the local home-stay options they typically use. Not that there was anything wrong with where we stayed, but other than talking with Gary, we really had no idea what type of situation to expect.
Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)
While it made me very aware of so much that we take for granted here in the U.S. (and somewhat guilty for that fact), it is an incredible feeling to see face-to-face what impact your presence and interest generates.
How did this volunteer experience make you feel?
As an individual, oftentimes I feel like "What impact can I make?", but when you get in these situations where even by listening and showing you care, you are making a positive impact - it is an incredibly powerful experiences!!
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
Soy un maestro de educación primaria que ha trabajado en la Escuela de El Yalú, del municipio de Sumpango, en el país de Guatemala, en esta escuela trabajé durante siete años, una aldea en la que la población es de escasos recursos, donde los niños en la mayoría de días llega a la escuela sin una tortilla o pan en el estomago, ahora trabajo en la Aldea Rancho Alegre, siempre de Sumpango, en esta aldea la situación no es muy diferente, pero cada día debo luchar por darle lo mejor a mis alumnos. Pero esta labor ahora es fácil gracias a la ayuda que me brinda Avivará, quienes me ha dado material didáctico que utilizo con mis alumnos y cada día ellos están en la disponibilidad de ayudarme y ayudar a mis niños con cuadernos, lapices, borradores y muchas cosas mas, por todo esto y muchas ayudas mas que me han brindado mis niños llegan mas motivados a estudiar.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Mi esperiencia con avivará ha sido muy buena, son una organización que viene a la escuela y escuchan cuales son las necesidades y en que nos pueden ayudar, estan dispuestos a colaborar y dar material didáctico y de infraestructura en cualquier momento, no son como muchas organizaciones que solo ayudan una vez y desaparecen, una organización muy bien estructurada y siempre dispuestos ha colaborar con la educación de Guatemala. Matiox por eso y mucho más.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Todo en la organización lo he visto muy bien siempre van renovando y creo que no hay que mejorar nada por que todo está excelente. Sigan adelante en esta labor tan importante para nuestro país.
I went to Guatemala earlier this year to see for myself the work that Avivara is doing to help students and parents and teachers in poor, small villages. I was very impressed with the approach the organization takes to its mission. It is analytical and amounts to a wholistic rather than band-aid approach. That is to say, Ann, Gary and Gustavo have put a lot of thought into how to get the best results in reducing poverty and misery of poor villagers and stem the tide of famlies that give up and move to the horrid slums of Guatemala City to try to eke out a living. They concluded that by giving the type of support that will help keep children in school, so they can go on to highschool and even beyond, where they can learn a skill or profession that, in turn, will help support and sustain their families in their home villages. I was also impressed with their bottom-up approach to giving aid -- which is to asking (rather than deciding themselves) what the teachers, parents and children need to assist in school development and increase the changes of students staying in school, then letting the locals do their job. I have rarely seen such dedication and thought put into a charitable organization. There is no waste and no b.s.-- these people are serious, love their work and know how to do it.
Photos
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
in attending meetings with villagers where Avivara gets the parents involved in the school and seeing the excitement that the parents feel in being part of the process.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
I've been involved with Avivara since its inception. I've known Ann and Gary for many years, and met Gustavo during a visit to Guatemala in 2007. It seemed entirely natural that the three of them, with their combination of skills and ideals, would come up with the germ of the idea that would become Avivara. These three individuals are all remarkable educators. Their unique ability to work within the cultural context of the Guatemalan highlands makes Avivara effective to an extraordinary degree. Potential donors should know how efficiently donated funds are used; only 11% of donated monies go to administrative and fund raising expenses. The remaining 89% goes directly to programs. A careful review of the Avivara website will reveal, for an interested individual, the nature of the well crafted programs. Suffice it to say that the programs provide meaningful opportunities for a wide age range of students. Donors are kept well informed by monthly newsletters. Indeed, this is a remarkable organization!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Knowing how many schools receive support, how many students receive scholarships, how education can change lives.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
The consistent hard work, very hard work, on the part of the three people "on the ground" in Guatemala.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
All deeply committed, and always thoughtfully looking for ways to advance education in the highlands of central Guatemala.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Change the course of Guatemalan history.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
Avivara is an organization dedicated to improving the educational opportunities for poor Guatemalan children who likely would otherwise not be able to attend school. I have known the founders, Gary Teale and Ann Austin, for over 25 years, and can say from firsthand knowledge they are very qualified educators and dedicated to improving the lives of less fortunate individuals. In Guatemala, they have teamed up with a local Guatemalan educator, Gustavo Valle, who works with Avivara to identify schools that have critical needs and students who have shown interest and potential, but who's families cannot afford to have them attend school. For almost 3 years now Avivara has been providing financial asistance to those schools and children in rural villages of Guatemala. As a board member, I know that Avivara adheres to the Better Business Bureau's Standards for Charitable Accountability, has very low administration and fund-raising expenses compared to the program expenditures (89% to programs, 11% to admin and fund-raising), and has a strong commitment to keeping donors informed through the newsletter.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
my ongoing involvement as a volunteer board member.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
seeing improved lives for the children of Guatemala.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
exremely dedicated and qualified for the task at hand.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
help educate 20,000+ Guatemalan children who could eventually help to bring their familes out of poverty
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
When I first traveled to Guatemala to volunteer, I expected to stay for three months. Struck by the natural beauty of the country and the warmth and generosity of the people, as well as the tremendous need, I found that three months was wildly insufficient to grow my understanding of this special place and establish the bonds of relationship that would allow me to function effectively as a volunteer. I called my boss at home and told her I wouldn't be returning within the year. Since that year, I have returned annually for a couple months each time, with plans to continue, renewing relationships forged over that first year, and getting to take advantage of Avivara's permanent presence. Ann and Gustavo's daily travels to the communities with which they work have built a strong a dynamic network of educators and students benefiting from resources to which they would not otherwise have access. I have seen a common pitfall among nonprofits - the imposition of external goals and worldviews on the people being "helped." Avivara's philosophy of service strives to avoid this. I have seen Gustavo and Ann facilitate many meetings with school staff or scholarship students, providing a platform for the interchange of ideas and inspiration among staff members, or the mutual support of high schoolers struggling through the same challenges of long walks and bus rides, homework, and the competing pulls of rural home and the new urban community. Sharing stories that otherwise would have gone unspoken, people gain strength and build community to help them through their challenges. I am proud and pleased to work with an organization that operates in this way. I have gotten to watch four of my shy English students from the town of La Trinidad be chosen for scholarships, begin school in the "big city" with trepidation, mature into well-spoken and confident young adults, and hold their own in conversation in a circle of a dozen parents and Avivara folks over plates of tamales and shared laughter. These are the experiences to treasure in working with Avivara. The small scale and well-considered philosophy of the organization allow personal connections to grow and flourish - the kind that change lives in deeply meaningful ways - both students and teachers in Guatemala, and those of us from abroad who are lucky enough to be involved.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
many layers of involvement both in Guatemala and the US. I have seen elementary students who never pick up a book on their own give up a sunny afternoon of soccer in the weed-fields to cluster around to hear the end of a chapter book be read aloud.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
grow the resources available to Avivara to allow the staff more regular visits to the US for fund-raising and storytelling purposes, while still maintaining a majority involvement in the daily workings in Guatemala.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the friendships with good people I would never have met without Avivara. The enthusiastic teachers of El Yalu, for example, who hike the mountains and share a homemade meal with us on a day off, and make tornadoes in a bottle with their students...
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
committed and passionate, graceful and sensitive in their cross-cultural dealings, flexible with the inevitable challenges of the dynamic nature of the work.
Ways to make it better...
I could somehow live in Guatemala for more of every year. The connections and opportunities for involvement just compound with time; at every departure I leave more English students, more workshop possibilities, more friends.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
balancing the sharing of stories and experiences with us from the US who can contribute, while maintaining the personal connections with people that enable the work, and the trusting relationships with the communities that they have established.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
I first visited Guatemala in 2006 and saw firsthand that the situation in the indigenous areas was a wake up call to what REAL poverty looks like. After researching Avivara's goals for education, especially for young indigenous women, I determined that they handled their finances very judiciously. They carefully use their donor's contributions to award scholarships to highly motivated students and provide school supplies and equipment to needy schools while keeping their administrative costs to an absolute minimum. I wish them the best and will continue to support them financially in the future.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
working on their behalf in fund-raising efforts in my local and church community.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
recommend that they train additional staff to maintain their sustainability into the future.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
its deep commitment to education for the children of Guatemala.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
extremely dedicated, highly proficient in teaching and administrative skills and passionate about their mission.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
KICK BUTT!
Ways to make it better...
I could visit Guatemala more often.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
the difficulty in raising funds during the current recession and health and security risks encountered by the Avivara staff.
One thing I'd also say is that...
it is important to get across to Americans that there is more to life than just stuff, and that people in the world are starving and simply need an opportunity to better themselves with dignity and self-respect.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
I have known Ann and Gary Teale for years. I have taught in elementary, middle school and high school. I taught with Gary for many years in a K-8 school in Seattle. I had the pleasure of teaching Ann's daughter (Gary's step-daughter twice) in middle school (7th and 8th grade math) and in high school math at Holy Names Academy in Seattle. As a teacher with a modest income, I research carefully where I donate my hard earned income. Loving education as I do and after reading "Three Cups of Tea" and the following "Stones Into Schools" both by Greg Mortenson I am convinced the way to benefit the world is through education, especially for girls. When you educate a boy, you educate an individual. When you educate a girl, you educate a whole family, and a community. I believe this to be true and the last best hope for the middle east, Pakistan and Afghanistan along with Central America, along with any other depressed populations of the world. I donate to Avivara because I know that every dollar is handled with respect and integrity with the focus on the ones who need the money the most. There is no question that Ann and Gary are good stewards of the money and the students in their care. I feel very excited that the little that I can donate is making a big difference to a female student in Guatemala and that this will enhance the rest of her life and also everyone her life touches, her children and her future students. Hurray! Life is good when you can give. I feel blessed, Judy Hall
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
that the donations are used for the benefit of the population in need.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
Three trips to Guatemala and a 4 year association with the founders of this organization have convinced me of three things: (1) the beauty of Guatemala and the resilience and resoursefulness of the Guatemalan people; (2) the tremendous needs to develop an educated and fully employed population - especially in the rural areas; and (3) the need for a caring and culturally sensitive approach to assisting small communities who are struggling with poverty and a long history of neglect or repression. Avivara's approach of partnering with schools and teachers to help achieve improvements that they choose is one that works. Increased student attendence, teacher capabilities and study opportunities are immediately available. Their personal friendships with parents and students are lasting and genuine. They have accommplished a lot in a short time and with few resources. They select their projects and plan carefully for their success - making the best possible use of donations of money and time. I would recommend Avivara to anyone interested in making a positive impact on the lives of rural Guatemalans.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I have seen the excitement in students, their teachers and their parents as they recognize the new opportunities that are available to them. The really important results will appear as more students are becoming educated leaders in their communities.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About once a year
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
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