At its November, 2005 meeting, the Board of Directors of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of S. Maine, Portland voted enthusiastically to add a new dimension to the OLLI offerings, a yearly outreach to a developing country integral to which are opportunities for OLLI members for travel, service and educations. This year they are reaching helping hands to Guatemala and the Safe Passage program in Guatemala City.

Safe Passage is a program that has achieved remarkable results to feed, clothe but, most importantly, educate the poorest of the poor children of Guatemala City. It was begun eight years ago at the Guatemala City dump by Hanley Denning, a Maine native and graduate of Bowdoin College. She is showing what amazing accomplishments for others can be achieved through compassion, courage and commitment.

Empowered by the Board’s initiative a contingent of the spring semester class, “Maine and Third World Realities,” was in Guatemala for nine days in March serving and learning. They were commissioned to be there on behalf of the OLLI community and to bring back the stories to educate and guide the program in how they can extend their hands to the dump children of Guatemala City.

Members met and learned from the Hands Around the World representatives when they returned late in March. They heard how Hanley and her talented staff are working to provide safe passage for hundreds of children out of poverty to self-sufficiency and dignity.

Taken from the March 2006 newsletter.