Donate
Please donate generously towards the Comisiones De Prevención Municipal Covid 19 Panajachel
Education Programme
Helping families to escape poverty through thorough childhood education.
Consider donating monthly to sponsor a child through their entire academic development.
About Us
Think Twice was registered as a Charity with the Charity Commission in England & Wales with Charity number 1144619 in November 2011. The organisation was est. for the benefit of the impoverished indigenous communities in Guatemala. Our work to date has involved the relief of poverty, the advancement of health and education.
Our accomplishments to date have included:
- Sponsorship Programme: Youths from marginalised and some of the poorest villages of Rio Dulce have successfully graduated Middle, Ciclo Basico, 7–9, 3. Middle, Ciclo Prevocacional, 13–16, 3, General Secondary Education, Secondary, Ciclo Diversificado and Technical Secondary School (Upper Secondary) levels of education during years 2011-2020.
- Nutritional Programme (Rio Dulce): Providing healthy foods and mitigation of malnutrition of the students at Casa Guatemala during years 2012-2013.
- Shelter (Rio Dulce): Construction of houses for single mothers and families during years 2011-2012.
- Medical support (Rio Dulce): First medical response in medical crises and mitigation of medical emergencies during years 2012-2016.
- In 2020, we are working in the highlands of Guatemala, Department of Solola, Panajachel in the battle against COVID-19 and economic crisis.
Poverty in Guatemala
Guatemala has experienced continued economic stability, but this has not translated into growth acceleration to close the income gap with rich countries. In fact, poverty and inequality in the country are persistently high, with Indigenous Peoples continuing to be particularly disadvantaged…– The World Bank
Over half of the population is below the national poverty line, and 23% of the population lives in extreme poverty.
Poverty among indigenous groups, for which Think Twice has worked with since 2011 which make up more than 40% of the population, averages 79%, with 40% of the indigenous population living in extreme poverty.
Please visit The World Bank for an up to date overview of Guatemala’s demographics, economy and impoverished populations in 2020.
Educational Sponsorship Programmes
In the battle against poverty and with the support of sponsors, youths from marginalised poor backgrounds continue to successfully graduate Middle, Ciclo Basico, 7–9, 3. Middle, Ciclo Prevocacional, 13–16, 3, General Secondary Education, Secondary, Ciclo Diversificado and Technical Secondary School (Upper Secondary) levels of education.
Consider a monthly payment and sponsor a child through their entire education.
Battling COVID-19 in Guatemala
Think Twice was quick on the scene with the foresight to know that success against coronavirus would require not only national leadership, but engaged local responders, and strong cooperation with NGOs.
In the department of Solola, the Western highlands of Guatemala, in a town called Panajachel at Lake Atitlan, Think Twice initiated a collaboration with local NGO’s, the local government and the Bomberos in a rapid response to a pending COVID-19 epidemic and economic collapse – subsequently, the Comisiones De Prevención Municipal Covid 19 Panajachel was formed.
COVID-19 is a disease caused by an easily transmitted respiratory virus, SARS-CoV-2, with no current vaccine, approved treatment, or cure. Mathematical models and experience from China, European nations and the US with new cases suggest a serious potential loss of life in Guatemala from COVID-19, a nation already suffering from widespread extreme poverty and one of the highest malnutrition rates on the planet.
Travel and tourism in Guatemala make up around 8 % of Gross Domestic Product. However, in tourist destinations, such as Panajachel, the majority of the population survives by it. Due to the nation’s ban on international regional travel restrictions, Panajachel’s economy has been destroyed overnight with no immediate prospects of repair. Without immediate aid, its population not only faces the prospect of a serious loss of life pertaining to a COVID-19 epidemic but also to extreme malnutrition and common water and sanitation-related diseases.
The role of Think Twice in the first instance is to spearhead and empower a strategic partnership between the Bomberos, NGOs and the Municipality and to coordinate emergency food aid for the population. The second phase is to devise a longer-term and a sustainable solution to the food shortages and the prospects of common water and sanitation-related diseases in the community as the economy deteriorates further and the population inevitably drifts deeper into poverty. The third and longer-term phase of the project will divert the dependence on tourism in the population to a more self-sustainable economy through education of new vocational skills and entrepreneurship, agroecology utilization and advancement of existing and natural resources.
Donate
Please donate generously towards the Comisiones De Prevención Municipal Covid 19 Panajachel
Contact
Ross Burland, Founder, Guatemala: 5514 7090 / 7822 7983
A message from the Co-Founder:
“I founded Think Twice at the most organic level, on the ground with a first hand experience of the lives that we as an organisation now serve.
Through collaboration, this is our beginning and our success will be their education, health, nutrition, peace of minds and happiness while preserving their uniqueness through empowering their wonderful culture.”
– Ross Burland, Co-Founder
https://www.fxstreet.com/author/ross-j-burland