Paula Galvez Molina, an Emporia State senior and physics and mathematics major, has been fundraising to help children in Lemoa, Guatemala. Galvez Molina herself is from Guatemala.
An issue facing the children of the community is the enforcement of a school lunch fee. This fee is mandatory, if a student does not pay the school lunch fee, they can not attend school. This fee has put 100 kids at risk of not getting an education.
“The reason why they are asking for these school lunch fees is because kids don’t eat, and they are very malnourished,” Galvez Molina said. “So of course if you are not well fed, you fall asleep in class, you don’t pay attention, it’s harder to focus, it’s harder to learn. So it’s a way to incentivise and to help them learn. That’s why they make this fee mandatory.”
The lunch fee is $6 per month.
Galvez Molina, a member of the Honors College, used her community engagement practicum as an opportunity to gather funds to pay the school lunch fee for the 100 kids who are at risk of not being able to go to school. Galvez Molina’s fundraising goal, which takes into account transfer and exchange fees, is $7,300.
Her first fundraising effort was at the Diddy Catholic Center where she was able to raise $2,134.
Galvez Molina also reached out to businesses in Guatemala for donations. One business donated about $1,500 to Galvez Molina’s efforts. Another business donated computers, tables and chairs to the school and about $400 to the Lemoa nutrition center.
The nutrition center is a non-governmental organization that provides food and educational resources to the families of approximately 300 children (about 80% of all children in Lemoa) all of which have serious nutritional issues, according to Pura Vida Ministries, an organization that helps support the nutrition center.
“I also reached out to businesses in Guatemala because this is a project for Guatemala,” said Galvez Molina. “So Guatemalans should be helping their own communities. I do believe that we have to help our own people, we can’t just get help from the outside.”
Another fundraising event Galvez Molina hosted was ‘Eat for Guatemala’ on April 20 at Casa Ramos. During this event, a portion of the restaurant was served by Galvez Molina and her friends. All tips acquired from this portion of the restaurant went towards Galvez Molina’s fundraising goal.
“Paula is pretty brave to reach out to people like this,” said Carlos Ramos, the owner of Casa Ramos. “There needs to be more people like that. Don’t be afraid, there are businesses that would love to help.”
All donations that night were matched by Casa Ramos. The total raised was $1,600, which leaves her $1,400 under her goal.
Galvez Molina will continue to fundraise for the Lemoa community until all children are able to pay the school lunch fee for this academic year.
“I have already committed to the children,” Galvez Molina said. “If I don’t fundraise enough money, they will not be able to attend the last couple months of school.”
This isn’t the first time Galvez Molina has helped the Lemoa community.
Galvez Molina first went to Lemoa after graduating high school. She volunteered at the Lemoa nutrition center. After leaving, Galvez Molina felt a need to continue supporting the Lemoa community.
In March 2020, Galvez Molina raised $3,900 for the nutrition center.
