Projects: Scholarship Fund Marimba

Foundation Flor Ayuda (Bloem = Flower = Flor) has more than 10 years of experience in assisting
projects for the impoverished population of Guatemala. I myself (Theo Bloem, a retired cardiologist)
went to volunteer in de Colonia El Milagro (a district with 100,000 inhabitants in the neighborhood of
Guatemala City) in a small hospital that had been established by Memisa (Medical Mission Action).
Later, many projects, including schools, medical clinics, running water, small agricultural projects,
a library with a computer lab with Internet access and finally a Scholarship Fund, have been realized
with the help of private donors, businesses and other organizations. Only 2% of all donations we
receive are spent on administrative costs. This percentage is so low because the members on our Board
are all donating their time and services to Flor Ayuda.
We gladly ask you to consider helping our educational goals.

'You’re not allowed to go to school bare foot'.
The dirt-poor Indian population of Guatemala is mostly illiterate and they have no money to send their
kids to school. Since tuition money is not available the children mostly go to work.
Four years ago Grupo Marimba was established in Guatemala for children who are in secondary school.
Objective is to provide scholarships to motivated and talented children from impoverished families.
The Marimba Committee is made up of volunteers and parents who with professional leadership select
deserving students for the scholarships. The members of this Committee maintain a regular contact
with the parents/caretakers of the students throughout the school year. In monthly meetings, the
parents who are mostly illiterate themselves, are helped to remain actively involved with the
education of their children. Due to the required involvement of the parents with their child’s
education we often see an improvement of the socio-economic situation of the whole family including
literacy.
Flor Ayuda wants to recruit donors who are willing to contribute yearly to our Scholarship Fund
Marimba. Money donated to this Fund are used to pay tuition, school uniforms, shoes, books and other
school supplies and if needed subsidize travel costs of the student.
Yearly costs for a scholarship for one student is about EUR 300, but smaller amounts are always
welcome.
In Guatemala the school year runs from January to November and in 2005 we could sponsor 125 students,
in 2006 there were 167 and in 2007 there are 194 students benefiting from this program.

What is the payoff?
The payoff is a future for children who otherwise would be condemned to a life of poverty. Many of
them are eager to learn and have great potential. Without high school and a vocational education they
won’t be able to move ahead. That’s why it is so important to provide as many scholarships as
possible and therefore we need your help.

A parent meeting	Students with a Marimba Scholarship

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