Bill and Fe Pettersen along with Marie Owens and Todd Hill reported on the 2023 Graduation, of Elmbrook Rotary sponsored students. Bill and Fe have followed the educational journey of their student, Evelyn Roxana, from 7th grade to high school graduation. She graduated with special training to become a chef and is interning in a restaurant while working in a factory.
Over the years, Elmbrook Rotary has been involved in Guatemala by sponsoring students, building homes and providing other health and education related services on their annual pilgrimage with Common Hope.
The Common Hope Mission… promotes hope and opportunity in Guatemala through:
- Support and encouragement to help Guatemalan students graduate from high school.
- Construction of homes for families in need with the essentials of clean water and electricity.
- Needed Healthcare providing medical preventative care, dental and prenatal services.
- Family development programs offering legal aid, and parenting programs.
Guatemala has a 69% literacy rate, and a 18,6% high school graduation rate with 1/3 of adults never attending school. With the mission of Common Hope, Guatemalan students are twice as likely to work in a formal job, have a 53% improved job class over their parents, and female graduates earn 47% more that female non-graduates. Graduates are 50% more likely to report being in good health, and 90% are optimistic about achieving a higher standard of living.
Bill, Fe, Maire, and Todd attended the graduation of three students, Evelyn, Wagner, and Diego. Evelyn has been sponsored by the Pettersen’s since 2017. Now, at 21 years old, she is graduating from high school with culinary skills that will provide a route to her goal of becoming a chef.
Graduation was a day of celebration and sharing between students, families, and sponsors. Marie was invited to the graduation as the Elmbrook Rotary Club representative to be present for Wagner and Diego’s day of celebration. She talked about the day’s activities starting with breakfast followed by the graduation ceremony, a celebration parade, party, and fireworks. There have been 2,000 students that have graduated and are recognized with a brick set in the graduation pathway of dreams… walking into hope and walking into the future. The warmth and welcomeness of the families “made me feel like their best lost friend or aunt. I felt like I was part of their family. The gratitude to the sponsors was overwhelming”.
The transformation that Evelyn experienced through Fe and Bill’s sponsorship has provided her with a new world of opportunities. She has grown from a young girl struggling to stay in school to a graduate, on the path to success and financial stability.
The connection through correspondence over the years has been heartfelt for both sponsors and students. In her most recent letter, Evelyn wrote, “I say goodbye with care, love and appreciation for all the support you have provided me”.
How can you become involved with Common Hope?
- Volunteer to take the annual trip to construct a home, assist in healthcare or at a school.
- Sponsor a student at $70 per month or share a sponsorship with another Rotarian.
To learn more about Common Hope, ask one of the many club members who have either sponsored a student or have provided labor and love in building homes, visit: www.commonhope.org.
