PTK Raises Money To Build School In Guatemala

Phi Theta Kappa Omicron Tau, the Kendall Campus campus Phi Theta Kappa chapter, is trying to help kids in Guatemala one pencil at a time.

The honors society, is trying to raise $25,000 to help build a school in La Ladrillera, Guatemala; where resources for education are difficult to come by, through an organization called “Pencils of Promise”.

“They don’t even have their own classroom, they have a big room divided up by grades,” said Yudiana Gonzalez, 20, vice president of membership.

Each year, the PTK headquarters gives the chapters topics to choose from for service projects.  This year’s project was picked in the Fall 2012, in which education is the hallmark.

“Education is very dear to us, we all take education for granted. School is something that is second nature to us and to them it’s a luxury,” Carolina Gonzalez, 18, Vice President.

So far, the chapter has raised $4,000 and is hosting fundraisers throughout the semester such as a  “Dance for a Promise,” which will take place on the dance will take place on Mar. 15 from 6 p.m.through 12 a.m.

The Kendall Campus cafeteria will be transformed into a lounge area, different clubs and organizations will set up information booths, and DJ Chris Cruz from Y100 Miami will deejaying throughout the event.

Entrance fee is $25 for those wishing to receive a T-shirt, or $10 for a ticket without a shirt.

T-shirts can be bought separately for $15.

Corporate sponsors are also being asked to donate and all donors will have their logo displayed at the event.

System Industrial Group, a cable, telephone and Internet service provider, has already donated $1,000.

“It’s striking a cord,” said Melissa Buehler, Kendall Campus professor and adviser to PTK.

“It’s getting people to reevaluate their own education.”

Pencils of Promise (PoP) is a non-profit organization that builds schools and increases educational opportunities in the developing world. They are currently engaging in projects in Laos, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Ghana.

They were founded in October 2008 by Adam Braun with $25 in hopes of building one school, and grew out of a movement of young professionals lending their time and skills to the organization in a volunteer capacity throughout 2008 and 2009.

“They’re also very well known, they have celebrities like Justin Bieber and Sophia Bush that support them,” said Gonzalez.

The name, “Pencils of Promise,”  derives from an encounter he had with a child where he asked  “if you could have on thing in the world, what would it be?”,  and the child replied “a pencil.”

For more information on how you can get involved or donate, please contact Phi Theta Kappa Omicron Tau at Kendall Campus Coffee House Student Life Room 100 or omicrontau.ptk@gmail.com