A Strong Start for Our Students and Families

Over the past few weeks, we held our annual “Back-to-School Fair” across all our sites and, as always, it reminded us why supporting education in Guatemala is so important. Here are some highlights from this special activity:

• Connection: One of the most meaningful aspects of the back-to-school fairs is the opportunity it creates for our entire staff to spend time with the families and students we serve. From the accounting department to IT, operations, volunteers, and members of the St. Paul team, everyone came together to support and serve the families at every station of the fair. These moments and conversations help us understand what each family is facing, their dreams, challenges, and aspirations as the year begins, allowing us to walk alongside them more intentionally throughout the months ahead.

  
  

• Health: Every student and family goes through a medical check-up, which includes checks of vision, blood pressure, blood sugar, height and weight. This ensures that everyone starts the year in good health. The information collected allows our health program team to identify any conditions that may need ongoing attention and provides appropriate follow-up care throughout the year. In a country where public healthcare is often scarce or inaccessible, this kind of consistent, personalized medical support makes a significant difference in the lives of our students and families.

• Community: New families get to meet longtime students and parents, tour our facilities, and connect with our teachers, which reminds us that joining Common Hope | Familias de Esperanza means joining a community! These bonds are important as they strengthen the sense of belonging and trust, making it easier for families to seek support if needed.

  
  

• School Supplies: Each student receives a school kit that includes notebooks, pencils, scissors, and other supplies they will need for the year. This is crucial for high school students, who often require specialized materials that families cannot afford. By reducing this financial burden, we aim to help families keep their children in school. The cost of supplies is one of the most common reasons students drop out, so ensuring that every student has what they need from day one gives them a significant advantage.

This year's Back-to-School Fair we supported more than 2,700 students and families across our sites, all of them kicking off the year with the school supplies, medical care, and community support they need to thrive.  We couldn't be more excited about what this year holds for each and every one of them, so please stay tuned as we kick off our 40th anniversary year on the right foot!