Founder & Director
Chairman of the Board 2007 - Present
Las Manos de Chrisitine
Educational Non Profit - U.S. 501c3
Dream it.
In 2007 we made the decision to create LMdC to help support the Educational NGO Safe Passage after the founder, Hanley Denning, was tragically killed in a car accident. They were doing great work with the community that lived in and around the Zone 7 city dump in Guatemala, and a group of educators, myself included, wanted to help. We leveraged our experience at Oxford Language Center, and built an English Language Program inside the existing Safe Passage school. We worked hand in hand for several years before LMdC handed over all materials, curricula and programs to Safe Passage, and partnered with the eco hotel Earth Lodge to pilot our educational programs in the El Hato public school.
Build it.
The public school in El Hato is underfunded, overcrowded and lacks resources. We decided that the most sustainable way to use funds for education is to integrate our programs into the local public school system, adding much needed infrastructure, expertise and resources that they could not afford. We began by building an English Language program and classroom, and provided after-school tutoring, arts and library services. We then built a Montessori Classroom and early childhood program for children from 3 to 6 years of age. Our most recent effort is the continuing education scholarships for young women who want to earn a chance to go to university.
As the Founding Director I have…
Established a new 501(c)(3) organization to meet the educational needs of the underserved population in Guatemala City. Built the NGO, as Director from 2007-2010, to provide early childhood, English language, and continuing education programs to communities in need.
Develop and implement fundraising strategies by identifying, researching, contacting and building relationships with prospective donors as well as organizing fundraising events and campaigns.
Design promotional materials, wrote the newsletters and website to increase awareness of the organization’s work, goals, and financial needs.
Successfully led a design and construction project to build environmentally friendly classrooms, a library and children's playground and the surrounding gardens at the El Hato Public School in Guatemala.
Partnered with the Guatemalan public school of El Hato, Sacatepequez to build needed infrastructure for the Early Childhood program and library and develop curriculum and teacher training programs to support at-risk students throughout the community.
Responsible for the legal and financial stability of the organization to provide sustainable educational services and continuing education scholarship programs to disadvantaged students.
Green Design & Construction
Local & Sustainable
Building Methods
We have worked with the most amazing and passionate local green builders and designers. Pablo Swayze introduced us to his innovative designs using lamina, and we have used Elias Fishers eco blocks that are basically pressed earth legos, and Drew and his crew from Earth Lodge helped us build retaining walls and structures using an Earth bag method that is a perfect solution for building in the steep mountains of Guatemala.
Las Manos de Christine is a nonprofit organization that broadens opportunities for local children in the impoverished village of El Hato, Guatemala, by providing health and educations resources to the public school and support for locally-led community development efforts. We have been working in the El Hato public school since 2010, after our successful work with Camino Seguro that began in Guatemala City in 2007.
We have numerous programs that continue to run within the school, and we have started and completed many successful projects in the last few years.
Continuing Education Scholarship Program
Early Childhood Education Program
After School Tutoring, Arts and English Programs
Health and Nutrition
Library & Educational Support
OUR MISSION
To broaden opportunities for children in impoverished areas by providing health and educational resources and supporting community-led development efforts.
OUR CORE VALUES
Respect for local culture, knowledge and autonomy - Our role is to help, not control.
Education - We believe in the power of knowledge as a key means of advancement.
Fun learning-environment - Learning is best accomplished when it is enjoyed.
Responsibility to community - All of us – our organization and our students – strive to be responsible citizens of both the local and the world communities.
Health - A healthy environment and nutritious diet are essential to the dignity and advancement of all people.
Adaptability - We set goals, evaluate our progress, and make changes if needed.
Accountability - We are accountable both to the community and to our donors.
Sustainability - Our work must be sustainable, and ultimately our role must be entirely passed to the community.