Overcoming barriers to succeed in school In Guatemala where more than 30% of children fail first grade at least once and only 32% complete junior high, we celebrate students who stay in school and keep working. In addition, Common [...]
Guatemala is touted as the birthplace of chocolate, with the Mayans worshiping the cacao tree and calling chocolate the “food of the gods.” Doña Sonia lives in the town of Santa Ines, a small village just outside of Antigua. [...]
HOUSING IN GUATEMALAOver half the population of Guatemala lacks dignified housing with utilities and sufficient space. Sometimes, circumstances beyond a family’s control force them into an unsafe living situation. Such was the case for the Landaverde Sac family.Don Oscar had [...]
After the eruption of Volcán de Fuego on June 3, 2018, Common Hope | Familias de Esperanza opened its doors as a meeting place for representatives from local NGOs in the Antigua area to unite and coordinate relief efforts. [...]
Dr. Walter Estrada and Patty Ramírez joined other community leaders and advocates from around the world in Santiago and Concepción, Chile for the 10th Annual International School on Popular Education in Health. Popularly known as Escuela, the International School hosted an [...]
Every 1st of November, Guatemalans celebrate Día de Todos los Santos (All Saints Day) also called Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in some parts of Latin America. Día de Todos los Santos is a very special [...]
By Retta Laumann and Yael Cohen When we were thirteen and tasked with choosing a service project for our Bat Mitzvah project, we were inspired by Retta’s adopted Guatemalan brother to sponsor a child from a similar background. While [...]
In March, students from the Minnetonka High School International Baccalaureate (IB/IS) program raised money for Spanish books, specifically Spanish novels for teenagers. At their IB/IS Global Gathering and Giving Event, they raised more than $250! The students also made [...]
Worry dolls (also called trouble dolls; in Spanish, Muñeca quitapena) are small, hand-made dolls that originate from Guatemala. According to legend, Guatemalan children tell their worries to the Worry Dolls, placing them under their pillow when they go to [...]
