Join Us!
Invest Directly in Projects and Initiatives!
Glasswing selects projects that meet pressing needs while leveraging the skills and abilities of hundreds of volunteers from all sectors of society, stretching every dollar invested.
We bring together funding, materials and people to have a greater impact on communities, promote social integration, and make positive change more sustainable. With each of our projects, we channel the energy of people who want to make a difference and are dedicated to building a brighter future. The projects impact thousands of people - including both community members and volunteers (from engineers to psychologists) - and bring people together in order to build a stronger society. Glasswing International is a registered 501c3 in the United States. Donations are eligible for tax deductions.
IN EDUCATION
Project in Focus: "Extreme School Makeover"
Glasswing launched its innovative "Extreme School Makeover" Program in March 2009. This project aims to change the lives of children throughout El Salvador by transforming public schools. Each school selected by Glasswing is in dire need of a makeover - with deteriorated walls and roofs, inadequate sanitation and bathrooms, a lack of education materials, unsafe or inadequate recreational space, and no running water.
Each makeover focuses on both:
Infrastructure: installing water systems and play spaces, fixing roofs, and making restrooms functional
Educational Materials: Teacher training, Early Childhood Stimulation Materials
With support, Glasswing aims to makeover 12 schools each year in order to give thousands of students a true learning environment that can optimize their educational development and achievement.
How You Can Help!
Ongoing Program: Mentoring
Glasswing launched its Mentoring Program for children - Amigos en el Camino/Friends Along the Way - in El Salvador in 2009. This program builds upon Glasswing's existing commitment to improving the lives of children and youth in the country. Glasswing was trained by Big Brother/Big Sister, New York City, and has modeled the program - the first of its kind in Central America - on the successful and renowned Big Brother/Big Sister Mentoring Program. Pairing of community members with children to provide one-on-one mentoring has been shown to improve school performance, as well as decrease violent behavior and substance use.[1]
[1]Tierney, J.P., Grossman, J.B., and Resch, N.L. (1995) Making a Difference: An Impact Study of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Philadelphia : Public/Private Ventures
How You Can Help!
Ongoing Program: Volunteers in Education
Throughout the year Glasswing mobilizes hundreds of volunteers to teach thousands of students in the Salvadoran public school system all year round. The students and the schools typically do not have the resources to provide textbooks, notebooks, or even photocopies of materials. Help us train and equip our volunteers and their students, as well as expand our reach to new schools.
Glasswing volunteers currently teach English, computers, art, health, entering the workforce prep, dance, among many other topics, throughout the school year.
How You Can Help!
Ongoing Program: Strengthening Communities
Throughout the year, Glasswing mobilizes thousands of volunteers, in hopes of conducting over 50 projects throughout the year. We need your help to make it possible. These projects support dozens of communities.
Your support can help us meet more needs in the community, through materials, recruiting more skill-based volunteers, and providing opportunities to integrate different sectors of society through joint efforts to improve communities.
How You Can Help!
Ongoing Program: Investing in Health and Child Nutrition
Access to high quality health care is a luxury in most of the developing world. Clinics are constantly saturated with illnesses ranging from respiratory infections to hypertension. Due to resource constraints, doctors, nurses, and rural health promoters often lack the most basic materials they need to provide quality health care services to the thousands that visit their facilities weekly.
Poor nutrition is a major problem plaguing young children in El Salvador, with studies showing that children under 5 are malnourished, which leads to stunting in growth. Micronutrient deficiencies have also been documented and reveal a need for increased vegetable consumption and nutrition education.
Glasswing seeks to invest in health by (1) providing heath professionals with the essential diagnostic equipment and means to provide care for low-income populations and (2) improving access to healthy foods and nutrition information/education in public schools.