MIDTOWN RALEIGH NEWS
Temple Beth Or helps change lives in
Guatemala
By: Jennifer Gregory
Guatemala
By: Jennifer Gregory
Cindy Schneider couldn't get the image out of her head of the family of eight she had just met sleeping on the floor. She was on a mission trip 10 years ago with her daughter's high school and had spent the day meeting families in rural Guatemala.
"I had trouble falling asleep in my warm hotel room that night, because I knew that they were huddled on the dirt floor without any blankets on the cold night," said Schneider of Raleigh. "I couldn't pretend that I hadn't seen the way that they live and knew that I had to do something."
After taking several more trips to Guatemala and learning more about the culture, Schneider realized that many children were unable to attend the public school.
"Many of the families couldn't afford the school supplies because they are supporting a large family on $2 per day. The children had no uniforms and didn't even have shoes for their children's feet that the schools required, and the children would get turned away," Schneider said.
She learned that for $150 a year, she could give a child what he or she needed to attend school. So she started the Nueva Generación foundation to help Guatemalan families. Schneider approached the Rabbi at her temple, Temple Beth Or in Raleigh, and the congregation joined in her effort, including sponsoring many children and taking two mission trips. Nueva Generación has provided scholarships to 125 children and even opened a preschool in Guatemala.
"It's amazing to think that every morning, 14 little preschoolers get to go to school because of our efforts. Getting an education really changes their whole life," Schneider said.
Because housing is a big concern for many families, the organization is now building small huts for sponsored families and recently completed its third house.
Temple Beth Or was recently awarded the Union for Reform, Judaism's Consultation on Conscience award for its involvement with Nueva Generación and Schneider's efforts. The award is one of the highest honors given to a Reform congregation.
"When we sit in Raleigh and hear about terrible things happening around the world, it is easy to feel helpless," Schneider said. "But I've seen firsthand how even one person sponsoring a child can make a huge impact on their life."
"I had trouble falling asleep in my warm hotel room that night, because I knew that they were huddled on the dirt floor without any blankets on the cold night," said Schneider of Raleigh. "I couldn't pretend that I hadn't seen the way that they live and knew that I had to do something."
After taking several more trips to Guatemala and learning more about the culture, Schneider realized that many children were unable to attend the public school.
"Many of the families couldn't afford the school supplies because they are supporting a large family on $2 per day. The children had no uniforms and didn't even have shoes for their children's feet that the schools required, and the children would get turned away," Schneider said.
She learned that for $150 a year, she could give a child what he or she needed to attend school. So she started the Nueva Generación foundation to help Guatemalan families. Schneider approached the Rabbi at her temple, Temple Beth Or in Raleigh, and the congregation joined in her effort, including sponsoring many children and taking two mission trips. Nueva Generación has provided scholarships to 125 children and even opened a preschool in Guatemala.
"It's amazing to think that every morning, 14 little preschoolers get to go to school because of our efforts. Getting an education really changes their whole life," Schneider said.
Because housing is a big concern for many families, the organization is now building small huts for sponsored families and recently completed its third house.
Temple Beth Or was recently awarded the Union for Reform, Judaism's Consultation on Conscience award for its involvement with Nueva Generación and Schneider's efforts. The award is one of the highest honors given to a Reform congregation.
"When we sit in Raleigh and hear about terrible things happening around the world, it is easy to feel helpless," Schneider said. "But I've seen firsthand how even one person sponsoring a child can make a huge impact on their life."
Guatemalan family
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Dr. Joel Schneider with patient
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Our Director, Cindy Schneider
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Volunteers with Guatemalan children
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Volunteer with Guatemalan children
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