SAFE PASSAGE
Programs
Safe Passage Educational Programs
See Schedule OSAFE PASSAGE PROVIDES INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN OF FAMILIES WHO MAKE THEIR LIVING FROM THE GUATEMALA CITY DUMP AND INTEGRATED SUPPORT FOR THEIR FAMILIES. IT IS A U.S. REGISTERED 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES FINANCIAL AND OTHER MANAGEMENT, FUNDRAISING, AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE GUATEMALA-REGISTERED CAMINO SEGURO NON-PROFIT ASSOCIATION.OUR VISION: SAFE PASSAGE IS AN INTERNATIONAL MODEL FOR HOW TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION OF THE WHOLE CHILD FOCUSED ON WELLNESS, LIFELONG LEARNING, VOCATIONAL SKILLS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CAN BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY.OUR HISTORY: BEGINNING IN 1999, HANLEY DENNING STARTED ENCOURAGING PARENTS WORKING IN THE GUATEMALA CITY DUMP TO ENROLL THEIR CHILDREN IN LOCAL SCHOOLS (WHICH IN GUATEMALA ARE HALF DAY - FOUR HOURS) AND THEN WOULD PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL REINFORCEMENT, HEALTH, FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES THE OTHER HALF OF THE DAY WHEN NOT AT SCHOOL: THIS WAS THE INITIAL PROGRAMMING OFFERED BY SAFE PASSAGE. A PRESCHOOL OFFICIALLY OPENED IN 2007. BY 2012, AS THE PROGRAM EVOLVED, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MADE THE DECISION TO BECOME A FULL-DAY, PRE-K THROUGH 9TH GRADE SCHOOL, ADDING A GRADE EACH YEAR. SAFE PASSAGE HAS SINCE EVOLVED INTO A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION SERVING STUDENTS FROM AGE 3 THROUGH AGE 20 (INCLUDING A HALF DAY EDUCATIONAL REINFORCEMENT AND CAREER PLANNING PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS). THE FIRST 9TH GRADE CLASS GRADUATED IN 2021. STARTING IN 2015, THE GUIDING METHODOLOGY FOR THE FULL DAY PROGRAM (PRESCHOOL, PRIMARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL) HAS BEEN EXPEDITIONARY LEARNING, A HANDS-ON, EXPERIENTIAL APPROACH TO LEARNING THAT HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE WITH HIGH-RISK CHILDREN AND YOUTH. EXPEDITIONARY LEARNING MOVES STUDENTS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM TO WORK TOGETHER IN UNDERTAKING PROJECTS IN "EXPEDITIONS" THAT INVOLVE INVESTIGATING ISSUES IN THEIR COMMUNITY IN WAYS THAT INCORPORATE SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, READING, MATH, TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS. EXPEDITIONS CAN BE FROM SEVERAL WEEKS TO A FULL SEMESTER OF REAL-WORLD, IN-DEPTH STUDY THAT PROMOTES CRITICAL THINKING, LITERACY, AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. STUDENTS PRESENT THEIR WORK TO OTHERS AS PART OF A RIGOROUS ASSESSMENT PROCESS AND LEAD REGULAR CONFERENCES WITH THEIR PARENTS. OUR MODEL CONSISTS OF ACTIVE AND ENGAGING SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION FOR ALL STUDENTS. EXPEDITIONARY LEARNING ALSO PROMOTES A SCHOOL CULTURE ROOTED IN KINDNESS, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, A SENSE OF ADVENTURE, AN ETHIC OF SERVICE, AND DESIRE FOR EXCELLENCE. "CREW" ADVISORY MEETINGS SUPPORT AND HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE. STUDENT CREWS ARE LED CONSISTENTLY BY THE SAME ADULT FOR 3-4 YEARS, PROVIDING MUCH-NEEDED STABILITY AND SUPPORT FOR WHAT OFTEN BECOMES A "SECOND FAMILY".IN 2021, SAFE PASSAGE COMPLETED THE BSICO (MIDDLE SCHOOL) PROGRAM, COMPLIMENTING OUR PRE-PRIMARY AND ELEMENTARY FULL DAY PROGRAMS. IN 2022, SAFE PASSAGE'S FIRST GRADUATING 9TH GRADE COHORT MOVED TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL DIVERSIFICADO PROGRAM (HIGH SCHOOL) WHILE THEY CONTINUE TO ATTEND LOCAL SCHOOLS THAT OPERATE HALF-DAY PROGRAMS. THE HALF DAY HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM IS CALLED "OPORTUNIDADES." THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES STRUCTURED CLASSES IN ENGLISH AND COMPUTER LITERACY, TUTORING, AND PROVIDES SUPPORT THROUGH SOCIAL WORK, PSYCHOLOGY AND NUTRITION. STUDENTS ALSO RECEIVE INTERNSHIP AND JOB PLACEMENT COUNSELING, DEVELOP CONNECTIONS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, ATTAIN VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND FOR THOSE PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION, RECEIVE COLLEGE COUNSELING. AS PART OF AN INTEGRATED, HOLISTIC APPROACH TO EDUCATION AND POVERTY REDUCTION, SAFE PASSAGE ALSO RECOGNIZES THAT FACTORS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON STUDENT SUCCESS. A TEAM OF PSYCHOLOGISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS HELPS STUDENTS ACROSS ALL DIVISIONS AND SECTIONS OF THE SCHOOL WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES, PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES, OR FAMILY PROBLEMS. A HEALTH CLINIC AND HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDE SERVICES TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. THE FAMILY NURTURING PROGRAM TRAINS PARENTS TO DISCIPLINE WITHOUT VIOLENCE AND BUILD POSITIVE FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS. PROGRAM PARTICIPATION: CURRENTLY THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM SUPPORTS AN AVERAGE OF 560 STUDENTS FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. SAFE PASSAGE ALSO PROVIDES VARIOUS SERVICES TO OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS (OVER 300 FAMILIES).GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$1.8MCommunity Support and Health Services
See Schedule OLOCATION: PROGRAM FACILITIES ARE LOCATED ON FIVE SITES IN THE DUMP COMMUNITY BETWEEN ZONES 3 AND 7 IN GUATEMALA CITY. THESE SITES INCLUDE THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER WITH KITCHEN AND ATHLETIC FACILITIES (FOR PRESCHOOL STUDENTS AGES 3 TO 6). THE PRIMARY SCHOOL (FULL-DAY GRADES 1 TO 6, PLUS A LIBRARY, KITCHEN, AND LUNCHROOM). A CONVERTED HOUSE AND WAREHOUSE THAT HOUSES AN ON-SITE HEALTH CLINIC, AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES. A LARGE NEW CENTER, BUILT IN 2015 WITH HELP FROM EMPLOYEES OF A LOCAL CALL CENTER ON A DONATED PARCEL OF LAND ADJACENT TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE DUMP, FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM, OPORTUNIDADES AND PROGRAMS IN CREATIVE ARTS, SPORTS, ENGLISH LANGUAGE, WEEKEND AND EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS. SAFE PASSAGE CURRENTLY RENTS SPACE TO PARTNER ORGANIZATION, CREAMOS. SAFE PASSAGE ALSO MAINTAINS A FUNDRAISING AND SUPPORT OFFICE IN NEW GLOUCESTER, MAINE. STAFF: THE GUATEMALA PROGRAM EMPLOYS ABOUT 110 STAFF MEMBERS, ALMOST ALL GUATEMALAN NATIONALS, TO CARRY OUT PROGRAM OPERATIONS. PRIOR TO COVID, NUMEROUS INTERNATIONAL AND GUATEMALAN VOLUNTEERS (AVERAGING 20-25 AT ANY ONE TIME) WOULD LEND SUPPORT FOR TERMS RANGING FROM 5 WEEKS TO 3 YEARS. THESE PROGRAMS WILL RECOMMENCE DURING THE 2023 SCHOOL YEAR. SAFE PASSAGE'S U.S. OFFICE IN MAINE EMPLOYS 6 STAFF MEMBERS AND ENGAGES MANY LOCAL VOLUNTEERS. 2022 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: PARTIAL REOPENING OF SCHOOLS FOLLOWING A TWO-YEAR GOVERNMENT-MANDATED CLOSURES, ENABLING STUDENTS TO RETURN ONE DAY PER WEEK IN PERSON, THEN TWO DAYS PER WEEK BY JULY. SAFE PASSAGE INTEGRATED HEALTH TEAMS WERE ABLE TO ASSESS AND EVALUATE ACADEMIC LEARNING LOSS AND PSYCHOSOCIAL HEALTH DEFICITS SUSTAINED BY DISTANCE LEARNING DURING THE TWO-YEAR PERIOD, TO BETTER PLAN FOR FULL-TIME RETURN IN 2023 TO IN-PERSON LEARNING. SAFE PASSAGE PILOTED A NEW AGE 3 CLASSROOM, "GUARDERIA," RUNNING THE AGE DOWNWARD TO REACH CHILDREN YOUNGER AND TO ENROLL NEW FAMILIES. A SECOND CLASSROOM WOULD BE ADDED IN 2023. AGE 3 STUDENTS' SCALES DEMONSTRATED REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE PILOT PROGRAM, BETTER PREPARING THEM FOR PRESCHOOL (AGE 4+). THE EARLIER STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED IN THE IMMERSIVE PRESCHOOL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, WITH NUTRITIOUS MEALS, AND INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES, AS WELL AS THE FAMILY NURTURING PROGRAM WHICH ENGAGES ALL PARENTS IN PARENTING CLASSES, AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN LATER YEARS.RESPONSE TO THE COVID CRISIS AND DISTANT LEARNING: BEGINNING MARCH 16, 2020, AFTER THE GUATEMALAN GOVERNMENT DECLARED THAT NO IN-PERSON CLASSES WOULD BE PERMITTED ACROSS ALL INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTRY, SAFE PASSAGE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN WORKING TO CONVERT OUR EXISTING EXPEDITIONARY LEARNING CURRICULUM TO A DISTANCE LEARNING MODEL. GIVEN OUR PARTICULAR CHALLENGES AND POPULATION, INCLUDING THE ABSENCE OF VIRTUAL CAPACITY, TECHNOLOGY OR IN SOME CASES EVEN ELECTRICITY IN THE HOMES OF OUR STUDENTS, EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP CREATED A NEW SERIES OF TAKE-HOME PACKETS AND IN-HOME PROJECTS TO ENSURE LEARNING CONTINUED APACE. AS THE YEAR CONTINUED, TEACHER AMBASSADORS WERE APPOINTED TO SERVE STUDENTS, AND EVENTUALLY STAFF CREATED INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS TO AUGMENT INSTRUCTION. BY THE END OF THE 2020 SCHOOL YEAR SAFE PASSAGE STILL ACHIEVED A 96% GRADUATION AND ADVANCEMENT RATE AMONG ALL STUDENTS AND SATISFIED ALL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT PROGRESS AND MEETING OF STANDARDS. A PARTIAL HYBRID RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING WAS PERMITTED IN 2022 AND A RETURN TO FULL-TIME IN-PERSON LEARNING WAS PERMITTED IN 2023. OUR EDUCATION AND INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES TEAMS WERE FULLY PREPARED AND HAVE IMPLEMENTED A WHOLE SCHOOL LEARNING LOSS AND PSYCHOSOCIAL HEALTH RECOVERY PROGRAM TO HELP STUDENTS CATCH UP ACADEMICALLY AND IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS. INCREASED ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY: SAFE PASSAGE HAS CONTINUED TO PRIORITIZE IMPROVING ACCESS TO COMPUTERS, TECHNOLOGICAL CURRICULUM AND INTERNATIONAL WEB BASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. IN 2022, IN A HYBRID LEARNING MODEL, 20 MORE LAPTOPS WERE ADDED TO OUR EXISTING CATALOG OF 60 LAPTOPS AND 40 TABLETS FOR STUDENTS FOR PART-TIME USE AT SCHOOL. THESE ALLOW FOR AN INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING PROGRAM ALLOWING EACH STUDENT TO FOCUS ON THEIR AREAS OF SPECIFIC NEED. TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE FOR LEARNING, IMPLEMENTING THE ENGLISH LITERACY PROGRAM, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING ACCELERATED LEARNING PROGRAMS AS PART OF THE LEARNING LOSS AND RECOVERY PROGRAM.NUTRITION, MEDICINE AND COUNSELING: SAFE PASSAGE CONTINUES TO RESPOND TO DEFICITS IN HEALTH AND LEARNING THAT STUDENTS SUSTAINED DUE TO A TWO-YEAR GOVERNMENT-MANDATED SCHOOL CLOSURE. IN 2022, A HYBRID, PART-TIME IN-PERSON LEARNING MODEL WAS PERMITTED BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, WHICH ENABLED INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES TEAMS TO EVALUATE AND BEGIN ADDRESSING PRIMARY HEALTH NEEDS, AND ALSO PSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDS FOR STUDENTS IN NEED OF INTERVENTION.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided––English Language Instruction Program
See Schedule OENGLISH-LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION AT ALL LEVELS: RECOGNIZING THE ADVANTAGES THAT ENGLISH-LANGUAGE SPEAKERS HAVE IN THE JOB MARKET IN GUATEMALA, AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A STRONG CADRE OF LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS AS WELL AS CORPORATE PARTNERS, SAFE PASSAGE IS NOW PROVIDING ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION FROM AGE 3 THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, USING INTERACTIVE METHODS CONSISTENT WITH SAFE PASSAGE'S EDUCATIONAL PEDAGOGY. IN 2021, SAFE PASSAGE REFORMED ITS ENTIRE ENGLISH INSTRUCTION CURRICULUM AND PROGRAM TO EMBED ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING ACROSS ALL DISCIPLINES AND LEVELS, WHILE ALIGNING BEST PRACTICES AND DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOMES. WITH THE NEW CURRICULUM AND PROGRAM DESIGN COMPLETED IN 2021, AND UNDER CONTINUED GUIDANCE OF THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THIS VITAL PROGRAM WAS REFINED AND IMPLEMENTED IN 2022 BY OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEERING/ENGLISH DEPARTMENT LEAD.NEW FACILITIES AND PLAYGROUND: GIVEN PAST CHALLENGES WITH SECURING THE NEEDED SPACE FOR STUDENT PLAY AND PHYSICAL LEARNING, BETWEEN 2020 AND 2022, SAFE PASSAGE CONSTRUCTED A PLAYGROUND FOR OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH WILL NOW PRECLUDE TRANSPORTATION OF STUDENTS TO OUR PRE-PRIMARY FACILITY FOR THEIR PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING. 2022 MARKED COMPLETION OF THE ROPES COURT WITHIN THE PLAYGROUND AND A GARDEN LEARNING CENTER. THIS WILL ENABLE MORE PLAY TIME AND OUTDOOR LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND AVOID UNNECESSARY EXPOSURE OF STUDENTS TO EXTERNAL DANGERS DURING TRANSIT, GIVEN THE EXISTING HEIGHTENED LEVELS OF VIOLENCE IN OUR BROADER COMMUNITY DUE TO GANG ACTIVITY, VIOLENCE AND CRIME. IN 2022, WE WERE BETTER ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE GROWING NUMBER OF STUDENTS WITH ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS AND PLAY AREAS FOR OLDER ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING NEW YOUNGER STUDENT PLAYGROUND. THE NEW STEM LAB AND UPGRADED COMPUTER LAB WERE ALSO READY FOR STUDENTS RETURN.NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDING AND COMPLEX (BASICO): WITH THE ADDITION OF GRADES 7 THROUGH 9, STUDENTS ARE UTILIZING EXISTING SPACE IN OUR PRIMARY FACILITY. GIVEN ISSUES OF SPACE AND INSTRUCTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, SAFE PASSAGE RAISED THE REQUISITE FUNDS IN 2021 FOR A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY COMPLEX, THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO START IN 2023, WITH COMPLETION AND OPENING TO STUDENTS IN 2024.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided––
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