GUATEMALA SCHOOL OPENS THAT WAS BUILT WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE “MANO A MANO” GROUP ESTABLISHED BY IBERIA EMPLOYEES
Wendy De Berger, Guatemala’s First Lady opened a school complex has been opened in the Guatemalan village of Los Macizos, Chiquimulilla, that was built with the help of “Mano a Mano” (“Hand to Hand”), a relief organisation founded by employees of the Spanish airline Iberia. The organisation launched the project a year ago, in the wake of Hurricane Stan, which wrought severe damage in the country.
The school will serve local children between the ages of 2 and 16. The complex also features a medical clinic and a sports pavilion.
The building of this school complex was possible thanks to the cooperation among the Guatemalan government, the Guatemalan embassy in Madrid, and the Mano a Mano organisation, which supplied a large part of the funding, obtained in a solidarity campaign among Iberia employees last Christmas. A total of more than 113,000 euros was collected for the airline’s two in-house humanitarian organisations, Mano a Mano and the Association of Iberia Employees with Disabled Children (APMIB).
In addition to the project in Los Macizos, Mano a Mano is involved in other initiatives in Guatemala, such as the infant-care centre in Guatemala City for abandoned, abused, or indigent children up to the age of 6. The group also contributes to the boarding school on the banks of the Dulce river, where some 250 children are given food and lodging, health care, and education.
Mano a Mano also facilitates travel to Spain to Guatemalan children needing medical treatment that is unavailable in their country.
Iberia is Spain’s leading airline and also leader on routes linking Europe with Latin America. It posted 2005 sales of more than 5,6 billion euros, and net earnings of 396 million euros. It is also distinguished by its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible conduct. Along with its franchise partner Iberia Regional, Iberia operates some 1,000 flights each day to about 100 different destinations. Last year Iberia carried a total of 32.4 million passengers. It is a charter member of the oneworld airline alliance, along with Aer Lingus, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, LAN Chile, and Qantas.
