Safe Passage works with the poorest at-risk children of families working in the Guatemala City garbage dump. Within a safe and caring environment, they provide a comprehensive and integrated program that fosters hope, good health, educational achievement, self-sufficiency, self esteem and confidence. The primary focus is on creating opportunities and dignity through the power of education. Paul Sutherland serves as the chairman for this extraordinary group of caring and talented individuals. Below we have posted a message from Paul on behalf of the folks down at Safe Passage.
Chairman’s Message:
Thank you!
Thank you for your interest in Safe Passage. I hope you will visit Safe Passage’s website at www.safepassage.org and discover what a remarkable difference the committed and engaged employees, volunteers, and supporting folks from around the world have made in the lives of Guatemala’s children. These pioneers have helped to create an environment that I believe will cause positive sustainable change for Guatemala’s children, their families, and our world.
Everything connects! Everything is interconnected, and I believe as long as children go to sleep unsafe, unfed and without the opportunity to pull themselves up, we will live in a world of fear, war and suffering. This is the reason that I became involved with Safe Passage. I am committed to being able to sleep at night KNOWING that the 545 children at Safe Passage will be given every opportunity to be the best that they can be – the next president of Guatemala, an entrepreneur who builds a company from scratch and employs 100’s, or simply Guatemalans with good jobs.
I believe a country’s strength comes from strong, well-educated citizens, professionals, and entrepreneurs who are committed to building strong institutions of responsibility and self-reliance in their countries. Many countries try to attract multi-national jobs for their citizens and while this if okay, it has a downside. Multi-national jobs are "good" until the first world executives say, "Ya’ know, we can produce our goods cheaper in another country. Let’s take the smartest individuals from this developing nation and move the plant to cheaper country X." Conversely, local owners and citizens with deep roots stay in their country; local entrepreneurs see more than markets, bottom lines, numbers and number of employee "equivalents." They see their employees as friends, as family and feel a kinship and real responsibility for them, their families and their country. They don’t say, "Let’s fire everyone and move to cheaper country X," just to make another nickel a share.
An entrepreneur’s bottom line is different than a multi-national’s because it is localized. Hopefully at Safe Passage, we will be able to create Guatemalan leaders, leaders for good families, leaders for good, new businesses, leaders for society and government, and good, responsible leaders who will create peace and stability for Guatemala and our world.
Why do I think Safe Passage’s committed stakeholders will make a difference? This is because they already have and they continue to do so each day! The reason I know this is because I have seen it first hand and I invite you to personally see what has been created in the dump of Guatemala! I invite you to visit Safe Passage to meet the children and to chat with the teachers and staff. I am confident that if you do, you will be amazed and changed forever by your visit. My sincere hope is that once you experience the accomplishments of Safe Passage, you will then ask yourself, Gosh, how can I help? How can I help these bright, beautiful, happy, hard working, enthusiastic children who are full of hope? I must warn you that if you look into even one of our children’s eyes, you will be forever changed.
Interested in visiting Safe Passage? Email: volunteers@safepassage.org
Unable to visit, but want to learn more on how you can help? Follow this link to the " How You Can Help" section of the Safe Passage (http://www.safepassage.org) website
