Teachers2Teachers-International and the Sacatepéquez State Education Department helped Common Hope sponsor its first-ever conference for primary school educators on teaching math. Program staff from Antigua, New Hope, and other educational non-profits were invited, along with representatives from all six of Common Hope’s Partner Schools. There were 125 educators in attendance for the two-day conference. The Teacher2Teacher training team, who facilitated the workshops, included ten mathematics educators from three different countries: Guatemala, Canada, and the U.S. (including seven different states – NC, CA, NY, NM, TX, PA, OH). Daniela Lombardo, Director of Education Programs for T2T-I, remarked, “This event was the first of its kind: a space for international and local educators to explore the concept of students engagement in mathematics in the form of a professional conference.” The focus of the conference was to provide teachers with concrete, practical tools for making math fun and more understandable in the classroom. The workshops were based on tools from the resource book “Principles to Action: Ensuring Mathematical Success for All,” published by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (www.nctm.org/PtA) By using interactive games that engage the student in the learning process, students can learn mathematical concepts and have fun, too. Oscar Perez, a middle school math teacher with the organization Niños de Guatemala, reflected that “the tools we learned will help me strengthen and expand the way that I teach math to my students, especially using concrete materials that will make the content more accessible so that they can learn better.” Linda Gojak, former president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, was the conference keynote speaker and kicked off the conference by asking everyone rethink how to teach math. She challenged the idea that if a student doesn’t do well in math, it must be because there is something inherently wrong with the student, instead of analyzing that there is something wrong with how it is being taught in the first place. She further reasoned that the best way to teach math is by connecting it to everyday life, helping math make logical sense, helping students recognize patterns and think mathematically. Maira Leticia Vázquez, teacher at Common Hope Partner School San Miguel Escobar Vespertina, said that “Participating in the conference was very motivational because everyone has the myth that math is something ugly and that is what we have transmitted to our students because that is how we learned it. These types of workshops help us change our panorama. We can begin to make sense of math and are then able to transmit the concepts in a different way to our students.” Hosting the Math Conference is part of Common Hope’s transition into Phase 2 of the Partner School Initiative. Phase 2 provides teachers with strategies to improve math and reading instruction, lesson planning and implementation of the national curriculum, and other resources authorized by the Ministry of Education. The Guatemalan Ministry of Education launched a new math program in 2006 called Guatemática, but there has been limited training and distribution of required materials. Common Hope has established a formal partnership with the Guatemala Ministry of Education to train and certify teachers in the Guatemática curriculum in 2016. You can learn more about Phase 2 of the Partner School Project in our Special Edition of the Fall Newsletter. Daniela Lombardo also explained that T2T-I has plans to continue their partnership with Common Hope saying, “Teachers2Teachers-International had the pleasure of collaborating with Familias de Esperanza to provide an interactive learning experience for teachers in the Antigua area. We are eagerly planning and preparing to continue supporting teachers in 2016 through this partnership, and are excited to see all that is to come in the following months!” Common Hope also looks forward to collaborating with T2T-I in the coming year as a way to provide more support to teachers, which in turn provides high-quality education to the students we serve. Thank you to T2T-I and to all of the great teachers who attended the conference. You can also read more about the T2T-I workshops on their blog. Get Involved Donate now Become a partner Sponsor a child Vision teams Accomplishments Our partners Sign up for email updates Sign Up For Email Updates Thanks for signing up to get the latest Common Hope news delivered to your inbox. You'll get 1-2 emails a month with current news and information about upcoming events and activities. Please note that we never share lists of any kind with other parties. If you ever want to be removed from the mailing list, please let us know, and we will respect your wish. Email* First Name* Last Name* How did you hear about us? Found you on the webHeard about you from a friendI'm already involvedNews article or storyOther Careers | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Go Paperless

Fostering a culture of reading among our students and families continues to be a priority for Common Hope. Although students might read in the classroom, very few young people in Guatemala read for pleasure. Even if students have the desire to read, there are almost no libraries where students can borrow books. According to a study issued by the Guatemala Ministry of Education, 57% of students graduating from high school in the department of Sacatepequez (the area where Common Hope works) have only read 1-2 books over the course of a year for their own personal interest. In addition, the study found that 14% of graduating students had never read a book for pleasure. These numbers clearly show the importance of Common Hope’s reading promotion programs with children, parents, and students in the public schools we partner with. “Books became a tool not only to strengthen their vocabulary, but the images allowed children to expand their imagination and see a world beyond what was in front of them.” The impact of books in a rural community Access to books is even more challenging in rural and remote areas like San Rafael el Arado where there was no library in the school or in the community. Since Common Hope began to work in San Rafael, Site Coordinator Lesbia Marroquin saw the need to include activities that helped our social work staff connect with the children we were working with, while also helping us see what they were learning in school. Books became a tool not only to strengthen their vocabulary, but the images allowed children to expand their imagination and see a world beyond what was in front of them. Mirna, a social worker in San Rafael, began an initiative where she would loan books to children and families. This created a sense of commitment to care for the books and return them. Day after day, children would come to the social workers’ small office to borrow a book. One child has read over 60 books! Another student always carries a book with him and reads during recess and in his free time. “Through books, children would discover a friend they could take with them and spend time with. These interactions between the child and the book propelled them to come back week after week to borrow another book from our little office,” said Lesbia Three trips, 300 books, one generous gift The new library space before In October 2014, Kristine Carver and her mother Cheryl Rutoski traveled to Guatemala on Cheryl’s first trip to the country. As a third grade teacher, Cheryl was very interested to see what the school system was like in Guatemala. She spent time volunteering in the library in Antigua, and loved interacting with the children through books. Kristine and Cheryl also traveled to San Rafael to see their sponsored student, and during a visit to the school, they quickly learned that the school did not have a library. It was in that moment that Cheryl decided she wanted to see what she could do. Kristine and Cheryl partnered with Lesbia, and the school agreed to make a spot for the library. Back in the States, Kristine and her family, Brian, Max, and Malaina got right to work collecting books. They returned to San Rafael in March of 2015 with approximately 50 books and saw the space where the new library was going to be. This motivated them to collect even more books from friends, neighbors, and coworkers to take on their next trip in the summer. By August 15, their suitcases were packed with approximately 300 books! The new library space after On this trip, Kristine was joined by her friend Zach who was adopted from Guatemala, and his adoptive mother Catherine. When they returned to San Rafael, they found the library had been freshly painted and bookshelves had been built. Carpeting and foam puzzle pieces were provided to cover the floor. They quickly got to work dusting off windows, hanging decorations, installing the bookshelves, and filling them with books. They finished right in time for the special inauguration event, where the kindergarten class came in to sing, dance, and do an art activity. “The kids were so in love with all of the books and decorations,” Kristine said, “and they loved the mats on the floor!” Kristine also had the opportunity to bring her sponsored student, Gabino, and his family to the library for their visit, which she said was very special. “We really hope other sponsors who visit San Rafael are able to bring their students to the library and read a book with them. It is such a special place!” A place to read, learn, imagine, and grow All of the different donations to San Rafael have had a significant impact on the community, and now this new library will, too. Lesbia says that they are working with the school principal to make plans for how make best use of this gift from Kristine’s family. “With time, we will strengthen our practices and new ideas will merge on how to use the library effectively,” says Lesbia. As of now, the library is open three mornings a week and is staffed by a Common Hope student who is studying Accounting on the weekends. Additionally, the Education Promoters plan for the youngest students to do their reading activities in the library each week, and teachers are using the library to do reading lessons with their students. Common Hope would like to extend a warm thank you to Kristine and her family for their generous donation and continued support. You have helped open the world of reading to the children in San Rafael. Now they have a dedicated place to read, learn, imagine, and grow–and that is an incredible gift. Get Involved Donate now Become a partner Sponsor a child Vision teams Accomplishments Our partners Sign up for email updates Sign Up For Email Updates Thanks for signing up to get the latest Common Hope news delivered to your inbox. You'll get 1-2 emails a month with current news and information about upcoming events and activities. Please note that we never share lists of any kind with other parties. If you ever want to be removed from the mailing list, please let us know, and we will respect your wish. Email* First Name* Last Name* How did you hear about us? Found you on the webHeard about you from a friendI'm already involvedNews article or storyOther Careers | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Go Paperless

19-year old Josh Manansala has supported Common Hope for some years now. In 2012, Josh visited Guatemala for the first time by going on a Vision Team with his parents, who also have been sponsors since 1992. He and his family have been visiting Guatemala frequently ever since. Josh wanted to make even more of a difference, so he began sharing his musical talents by giving music lessons to children. With a heart for Guatemala and Common Hope’s mission, Josh decided to combine his passion for doing good with his love for music and help Common Hope. Josh says it seemed natural to donate part of the proceeds for his music efforts to Common Hope. Just this year, the organization he aptly named Keys4Hope donated $1,000 to Common Hope to help cover the cost for Keila Flores to have knee surgery. Keila is 16 years old and has pathological synovial plicae of the knee, a very painful condition that inhibits her from bending or extending her knee. She had not been able to run or walk without severe pain since she was very young. After Keila´s surgery, she hopes to play soccer again because she hasn’t been able to play for a very long time. Keila is very grateful for the support of Keys4Hope and Common Hope. Josh met Keila when he recently traveled to Guatemala on a Common Hope Vision Team. It was a great experience for Josh because he saw the difference that they made in Keila’s life. “It made it real for me to see a tangible impact. The students we teach music to are benefiting and so are children here in Guatemala,” says Josh. Josh starts school at the University of California Los Angeles this fall and plans to give music lessons to at least one student while away at college. Furthermore, he plans to host fundraising recital events to raise even more funds to donate. Thank you, Josh, for supporting Common Hope and making a difference in Keila’s life—we hope to see her on the soccer field very soon! Get Involved Donate now Become a partner Sponsor a child Vision teams Accomplishments Our partners Sign up for email updates Sign Up For Email Updates Thanks for signing up to get the latest Common Hope news delivered to your inbox. You'll get 1-2 emails a month with current news and information about upcoming events and activities. Please note that we never share lists of any kind with other parties. If you ever want to be removed from the mailing list, please let us know, and we will respect your wish. Email* First Name* Last Name* How did you hear about us? Found you on the webHeard about you from a friendI'm already involvedNews article or storyOther Careers | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Go Paperless

The Common Hope social work department recently partnered with the youth program to give theatrical presentations about domestic violence, in all its forms – physical, psychological, emotional, sexual, and economic – in the community of Ciudad Vieja. Domingo Tzorín and Romelia Porón, social workers at Common Hope, understand that domestic violence is prevalent in many families. They wanted to do a workshop to raise awareness of this issue, “but we wanted it to be more dynamic and not just a regular workshop,” said Domingo. So, the social workers approached the Youth Program and asked if they would be interested in creating short plays about domestic violence and later present them to parents in the community. The event was so successful that the families are asking for another event with theatrical presentations. We can’t wait to see what other creative ideas come out of this great partnership between the social work department and the youth program. Get Involved Donate now Become a partner Sponsor a child Vision teams Accomplishments Our partners Sign up for email updates Sign Up For Email Updates Thanks for signing up to get the latest Common Hope news delivered to your inbox. You'll get 1-2 emails a month with current news and information about upcoming events and activities. Please note that we never share lists of any kind with other parties. If you ever want to be removed from the mailing list, please let us know, and we will respect your wish. Email* First Name* Last Name* How did you hear about us? Found you on the webHeard about you from a friendI'm already involvedNews article or storyOther Careers | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Go Paperless

August 9th is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and this year the United Nations selected the theme, “Ensuring indigenous peoples’ health and well-being” to highlight the issue of indigenous peoples’ access to health care services, which remains a critical challenge for indigenous peoples around the world. Common Hope’s goal is to break the cycle of poverty through education. We want our affiliated students to graduate from high school, but we know there are many critical issues that threaten a child’s ability to stay in school. A child’s ability to show up and do well in school depends greatly on his or her health. Access to medical care reduces school absences due to illness and helps prevent health conditions from becoming medical emergencies. Many of the families affiliated with Common Hope are indigenous and providing health care services to them is one of our major program areas. Language map of Guatemala. Source: Wikipedia Guatemala is a country rich in Mayan history and culture. Did you know there are more than 20 different Mayan languages spoken in Guatemala? For many indigenous Guatemalan’s, Spanish is their second language, usually something they learn once they start school. San Rafael el Arado, one of the communities where Common Hope works, is a Maya Kaqchikel community. The Maya Kaqchikel people are one of the four largest indigenous groups in Guatemala along with the K’iche’, Q’eqchi and Mam Maya communities. To read more about Common Hope’s work with the San Rafael click here. Join us on this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples as we celebrate the diversity and hope of the Mayan communities in Guatemala. Visit the UN website to learn more about the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Want to help provide medical care for indigenous people like the Maya Kaqchikel? Click here to support Common Hope’s critical Health Care Program. Get Involved Donate now Become a partner Sponsor a child Vision teams Accomplishments Our partners Sign up for email updates Sign Up For Email Updates Thanks for signing up to get the latest Common Hope news delivered to your inbox. You'll get 1-2 emails a month with current news and information about upcoming events and activities. Please note that we never share lists of any kind with other parties. If you ever want to be removed from the mailing list, please let us know, and we will respect your wish. Email* First Name* Last Name* How did you hear about us? Found you on the webHeard about you from a friendI'm already involvedNews article or storyOther Careers | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Go Paperless

Sharon Harren has worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters for twenty years. As a gift of appreciation, the Big Brothers Big Sisters staff teamed up with Common Hope to fulfill one of Sharon’s biggest dreams: the chance to meet her formerly sponsored student, Victor Hugo. Sharon began her journey of sponsorship 24 years ago when Hugo was 7 years old. Throughout the years, they exchanged letters, photos and stories like many sponsors and students do. The day came when Hugo graduated from high school, and that marked the end of their letter writing. Sharon thought she would never have the chance to hear from Hugo again, though she says she never stopped thinking about him. On June 22nd, Sharon’s dream came true when she found herself sitting in front of a screen, talking with a now 31-year-old Hugo, his wife Rosidalia, and two young daughters. Their long-awaited encounter brought Sharon, Hugo and Rosidalia to tears of joy. Hugo started the conversation by practicing his English; with a full heart he told Sharon: “Thank you so much for all you did for me, I am the person I am today because of you. You are a very special person to me.” Sharon’s daughter, Pam, and Sharon talking with Hugo and his family during her surprise Skype visit Sharon was moved by his words and expressed how proud she was of him and his beautiful family. Though over a decade had passed since their last letter, Sharon affirms that their conversation flowed with ease since they had known each other for so long. They reminisced about old times. Hugo shared with Sharon how he remembered going to Common Hope’s offices in Antigua to write her letters, and how he would always ask her: “When can I meet you? The visit was also filled with questions about what Hugo had been up to since they lost touch. Hugo told Sharon that, although he hadn’t written her a letter in a long time, he had never stopped thinking about her either–he still keeps a photograph that she sent him when he was a boy. As they continued their conversation, Sharon became aware of the profound impact she has made on Hugo and his family’s life. Rosidalia, who is a social worker, expressed to Sharon, “If it hadn’t been for your support for Hugo’s education, we would have never met, since we met when he was studying to become a teacher.” Rosidalia also gave thanks for Sharon and Common Hope’s support and said that Hugo “learned the importance of giving to others and creating opportunities for other children in Guatemala, which is the work he does now as the director of Semillas de Amor.” Sharon, humbled by such appreciation, later reflected on what she did as a sponsor to support Hugo. She states, “It’s almost embarrassing to me because, what was it [that I gave up]? Maybe two lunches out a month?And how does [giving that up] hurt any of us? I will say, it was also him. He had to have to motivation to do his part. And that makes all the difference in the world.” Sharon and Pam conversing with Hugo and his family Their one-hour Skype date was filled with stories, sentiments and gratitude. Sharon says it was so wonderful to see how Common Hope helped Hugo become the man he is today. As a sponsor, she has made a lasting impression on Hugo and Sharon’s story is a true testament of what sponsorship can do for a student. We are confident that, with the help and support of our dedicated sponsors, we will share more stories like theirs in years to come. Sponsor a student and make a difference If you are interested in making a difference like Sharon has done, you can become a sponsor today! To learn more about sponsorship, visit our Sponsorship page or contact Natalie Miller at 651-287-0727 or email NatalieM@us.commonhope.org, Get Involved Donate now Become a partner Sponsor a child Vision teams Accomplishments Our partners Sign up for email updates Sign Up For Email Updates Thanks for signing up to get the latest Common Hope news delivered to your inbox. You'll get 1-2 emails a month with current news and information about upcoming events and activities. Please note that we never share lists of any kind with other parties. If you ever want to be removed from the mailing list, please let us know, and we will respect your wish. Email* First Name* Last Name* How did you hear about us? Found you on the webHeard about you from a friendI'm already involvedNews article or storyOther Careers | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Go Paperless

The most crucial and influential years of education occur very early in a child’s life. Unfortunately, many impoverished students are already behind when they begin primary school because they haven´t been exposed to reading. First graders are expected to have basic reading and writing skills by the end of the year, yet one third of students fail first grade every year in Guatemala. Students who are not able to develop the skills to be successful at a young age will continue to struggle in school, and the majority will eventually drop out. This is why Common Hope emphasizes early childhood development and promotes reading with children and parents through our Early Childhood Reading Program. We see the importance of working with parents and their young children to prepare them for school, create a culture of reading in the family, and increase the role parents play in their child´s development. How the program works Parents put their skills into action This past June, the Early Childhood Reading Program partnered with the Nurturing Parenting Program to organize a Family Fair in the central plaza of Santa Catarina, one of the communities where Common Hope works. Jacqueline Figueroa, Reading and Creativity Promoter, and Vanessa Cassiano, Nurturing Parenting Program Coordinator, met for a month and a half with parents who had volunteered to organize an activity that would share what they had learned from the two programs with the community of Santa Catarina. The mothers came up with different ideas for activities they thought would be fun and creative ways to promote reading and healthy parent-child relationships. “The best part was to see the mothers teaching each other skills they had learned from the programs and exchanging ideas and experiences,” says Jacqueline. During the planning process, many mothers were shy and nervous about leading an activity on their own, but when the day of the fair came, they stepped up and did a great job. The fair included a reading corner with books for parents and children to read together, as well as different game stations that the mothers facilitated, which promoted respect, understanding and critical thinking skills. Empowering mothers The mothers also handed out flyers about the Nurturing Parenting Program and the Early Childhood Reading Program to invite parents in Santa Catarina to participate with their children in these important Common Hope programs. After the fair, Jacqueline reflected that, “It was a wonderful experience for the families and it really empowered the mothers who organized it to realize that they have knowledge and skills to teach other parents.” The fair was such a success that the mothers are already asking when the next activity will be. Help promote early childhood literacy You can help ensure that our youngest students have access to reading by giving the gift of books, and we’ve made it easy! Just visit our online Amazon wish list titled “Early Childhood Reading Needs,” select the books you would like to purchase and have them shipped to our U.S. office! All books will be shipped in a container with our school supplies, which is scheduled to leave for Guatemala in mid-October. For more information, email Kallie Sandell at kallies@us.commonhope.org, or call 651.287.0712 Get Involved Donate now Become a partner Sponsor a child Vision teams Accomplishments Our partners Sign up for email updates Sign Up For Email Updates Thanks for signing up to get the latest Common Hope news delivered to your inbox. You'll get 1-2 emails a month with current news and information about upcoming events and activities. Please note that we never share lists of any kind with other parties. If you ever want to be removed from the mailing list, please let us know, and we will respect your wish. Email* First Name* Last Name* How did you hear about us? Found you on the webHeard about you from a friendI'm already involvedNews article or storyOther Careers | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Go Paperless

The Youth Support Program in Antigua provides academic and emotional support for 796 youth, helping to ensure that they reach their goal of graduating from high school. The program also plays a crucial role in achieving Common Hope’s long-term goals that youth develop critical thinking skills and possess the confidence, compassion, and organizational skills that will enable them to be multipliers of our work and agents of change in their communities. Katie Dutko, the Youth Leadership Program Facilitator, says, “The youth who participate in our programs learn to build trust and strong bonds and want to support each other.” Recently, the youth in Antigua have demonstrated how they are putting the skills they’ve learned into action to help their peers who are in need. Lending a helping hammer Last month, a member of the youth group and her family had to suddenly move out of their home and they were left with nowhere to go. When the other kids in the program learned about the family’s situation, they decided to help the family build a new place to call home. As a group, they began working sweat equity hours that will count towards the construction of the family’s new home. Ensuring a friend stays in school In December, a group of Common Hope students found out that a friend, who is not affiliated with Common Hope but who participates in some of our youth activities, was not going to be able to continue studying. The young girl’s father had abandoned the family and her mother didn’t have enough money to continue paying her school fees. The group decided to spend their December holiday doing fundraising activities in the community to help raise money for their friend. When they returned from vacation in January, the youth group invited the mother and daughter to come to Common Hope where they presented their friend’s mom with the funds they had raised. It was a beautiful representation of how the youth at Common Hope understand the importance of education and want to ensure that their friends also continue studying. What you make possible Poor living conditions, domestic violence, and hunger are just a few of the tremendous obstacles that the youth of Guatemala face on a daily basis that can prevent them from receiving an education. The Youth Support Program is there to help our students, along with youth from the broader community, overcome these obstacles standing in their way. Stories like these serve as great examples of how the confidence, compassion, and skills that the youth have built inside our walls are extending outward. Not only are they receiving support, but they are also multiplying this support in their own communities, helping to build hope for a better future. Your generous gifts are what make critical programs like the Youth Support Program possible. Thank you for supporting nearly 800 students who participate in this program. Click here to give a gift that supports the youth of Guatemala. Get Involved Donate now Become a partner Sponsor a child Vision teams Accomplishments Our partners Sign up for email updates Sign Up For Email Updates Thanks for signing up to get the latest Common Hope news delivered to your inbox. You'll get 1-2 emails a month with current news and information about upcoming events and activities. Please note that we never share lists of any kind with other parties. If you ever want to be removed from the mailing list, please let us know, and we will respect your wish. Email* First Name* Last Name* How did you hear about us? Found you on the webHeard about you from a friendI'm already involvedNews article or storyOther Careers | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Go Paperless

Chef Vinicio, Doña Teresa, and Doña Olinda have been busy in the kitchen preparing some tasty Guatemalan dishes! This month we are sharing their recipe for Caldo de Res or Beef Stew. You may be thinking, “Hmm, beef stew in the summer time?” But this isn’t the type of hearty stew you make on a cold winter day. Made with lots of veggies in a light broth, it’s appropriate to eat even when the weather is warm. Carrots, potatoes, güisquil also called Chayote (smaller squash), and güicoy (larger squash) What you will need: 2 lbs beef (with or without the bones) 1 Güicoy (a type of zucchini or squash) 2 Güisquil (Also known as Chayote in Mexico) 1 Yuca (Cassava) 2 carrots 1 lb of potatoes 2 corn cobs 1 lb of onions 1 bunch of cilantro 1 lb rice Preparation: 1. Boil the beef until tender with 1 chopped onion, several pieces of cilantro (remove the stalks of cilantro once beef is cooked) and some salt. When beef is cooked thoroughly do not discard the broth. 2. In a large pot of water, cook each vegetable one at a time. Because all the vegetables have different cooking times, begin with one, then remove it from the broth, then place the next vegetable in the broth to cook it, each time removing the vegetable from the broth (potatoes, carrots, güicoy, güisquil, yuca, and corn). 3. Once all the vegetables have been cooked in the one pot of broth, add the pound of chopped potatoes, the remaining onions (chopped), chopped cilantro (about 1/2 cup) into the vegetable broth. 4. Then combine the beef and the beef broth in with the vegetable broth and add all the cooked vegetables into the one large pot. Allow to simmer for 15-20 minutes. 5. Serve over steemed white rice, garnish with cilantro, and wedges of lime. And don’t forget the magic touch of corn tortillas to dip into this delicoius stew! Get Involved Donate now Become a partner Sponsor a child Vision teams Accomplishments Our partners Sign up for email updates Sign Up For Email Updates Thanks for signing up to get the latest Common Hope news delivered to your inbox. You'll get 1-2 emails a month with current news and information about upcoming events and activities. Please note that we never share lists of any kind with other parties. If you ever want to be removed from the mailing list, please let us know, and we will respect your wish. Email* First Name* Last Name* How did you hear about us? Found you on the webHeard about you from a friendI'm already involvedNews article or storyOther Careers | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Go Paperless

Frederick, South Dakota, a small town of roughly 250 residents, is home to a group of people who are making a difference for our families in Guatemala. Teresa Hermodson-Olsen, our Sponsorship Coordinator in the St. Paul office, traveled there last month to get the word out about Common Hope, child sponsorship and our 2015 School Supply Drive. The outcome was, to say the least, very successful! Her first stop was at the Frederick Area School District, a school whose entire K-12 grades consist of approximately 165 students from Frederick and surrounding towns. The students were excited to hear Teresa talk about Guatemala and Common Hope, and in preparation for her arrival, they organized their own school supply drive. This small yet mighty group of children and adolescents collected nearly 850 school supplies for our students in Guatemala! We are very proud of them and thankful for their hard work. Teresa was also invited to be the guest speaker at St. Paul’s Lutheran Women’s salad luncheon in Frederick. She says the women demonstrated a great deal of interest and enthusiasm for Common Hope’s work, and by the end of the get-together, the women’s group and three other individuals decided to sponsor a child—a total of four new sponsors in one day! We are touched by their generosity and zeal for our mission! Thank you to those in Frederick, South Dakota who gave Common Hope a warm welcome! Your financial donations, school supplies and sponsorships mean a lot to us and to the families we serve. Your enthusiasm and dedication serve as a testimony that you don’t have to be a big city or organization to make a big difference. Get Involved Donate now Become a partner Sponsor a child Vision teams Accomplishments Our partners Sign up for email updates Sign Up For Email Updates Thanks for signing up to get the latest Common Hope news delivered to your inbox. You'll get 1-2 emails a month with current news and information about upcoming events and activities. Please note that we never share lists of any kind with other parties. If you ever want to be removed from the mailing list, please let us know, and we will respect your wish. Email* First Name* Last Name* How did you hear about us? Found you on the webHeard about you from a friendI'm already involvedNews article or storyOther Careers | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Go Paperless

Mother’s Day is an important day to recognize and celebrate mothers all over the world. In Guatemala, Mother’s Day is celebrated on May 10th. We would like to take this opportunity to lift up some of the mothers who are taking an active role in their children’s lives by participating in Common Hope’s Nurturing Parenting Initiative. We believe in emphasizing a comprehensive approach to education, and a big part of that includes supporting parents to be more engaged in their child’s education and development process. Through our Nurturing Parenting Initiative, parents go through a ten-week series of workshops that focus on providing parents with positive parenting techniques. The curriculum includes a combination of reflection and sharing of personal experiences for parents and children, as well as modeling and practicing techniques parents can use to raise their children in a nurturing environment. At the end of the workshops, parents who graduate will be able to manage conflicts without using verbal or physical violence, set realistic rules and expectations, and communicate more lovingly. The initiative contributes to Common Hope’s efforts to create a solid home base. Thus, students can excel in school and families can work to reach their goals of building a better life. Three mothers share their experiences Wendy with her three children Wendy is a mother of three and was brought to tears as she expressed how much the Nurturing Parenting Initiative had touched her. “My children are very mischievous and the program helped me to be more calm and patient with them. I have learned how to use my self-control and not scold them by shouting too much.” Wendy went on to share some of the techniques she learned, “I tried to use “time-out” before, but I didn’t really know how to apply it and so it never worked. Now, I have learned how to use it and it is working really well with my children.” It is clear that the program not only influenced the way Wendy cares for her children, but also how she cares for herself: “The program helped remind me to value myself as a mother and to value my children and do the best I can for them. The most important role of a mother is to love her children and look out for their future; to ensure that they have a happy childhood so that they can have a happy adulthood.” Lourdes with her daughter Cinthia Elizabeth Lourdes is a mother of two who was also very moved by the experience of participating in the initiative. A key part of the curriculum is to develop tools to prevent domestic violence, and during a reflection moment, Lourdes clearly demonstrated what she learned from the program: “I learned to treat my children with more love and care and that hitting is not the way to scold them. I learned how to implement the technique of rules and consequences. Before, I would be exhausted from being mad all the time because they wouldn’t do things around the house. Now we have our house rules visible so my children know that there will be consequences if they don’t follow the rules.It is clear that Lourdes now understands the importance of nurturing her children as part of being a good parent: “The most important thing for a mother to do is to listen to her children, to support them and to give them lots of love. I will carry with me the experiences from the Nurturing Parenting Initiative for my entire life.” Silvia, single mother of four teenagers and adults Silvia is a single-mother of four and although her children are teenagers and adults now, she was still able to implement some of the new techniques she learned in the program. Silvia shared that the tool of confrontation has been the most helpful, “My oldest son is grown and doesn’t have to mind me anymore, but I was able to use confrontation to talk with him and share with him how I feel.” Many mothers will talk about the importance of loving their children, but not every mother knows how to show it: “I learned how to use praise. I love my children, but now I’ve put that love into practice and it has helped create a better relationship with them.” Creating a continuous support system A beautiful aspect of the program is that it also helps create a support network among parents. Many mothers talked about the friendships and bonds they build with other parents during the workshops and some of them enjoyed the program so much that they volunteered to help with the next cycle of workshops. One mother who was working as volunteer said, “The same way that Common Hope gives to us, we also have to give.” The Nurturing Parenting Initiative has proven to be a great success. We have seen an increase in participation with 89 parents graduating from the program in 2013 to 139 parents who graduated in 2014. We have plans to continue growing the program in order to impact more families, and we have already launched the program in San Miguel Milpas Altas, which was a great success with 13 new parents graduating from the program. Later this year, we plan to launch in New Hope as well. Some of the mothers and children who are participating in Crianza Con Cariño, or the Nurturing Parenting Initiative Get Involved Donate now Become a partner Sponsor a child Vision teams Accomplishments Our partners Sign up for email updates Sign Up For Email Updates Thanks for signing up to get the latest Common Hope news delivered to your inbox. You'll get 1-2 emails a month with current news and information about upcoming events and activities. Please note that we never share lists of any kind with other parties. If you ever want to be removed from the mailing list, please let us know, and we will respect your wish. Email* First Name* Last Name* How did you hear about us? Found you on the webHeard about you from a friendI'm already involvedNews article or storyOther Careers | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Go Paperless

Barb and Gary Strandemo have a true love for Guatemala, and perhaps their deepest connection is through their daughters, Ana and Rosa, whom they adopted from there. Tragically and unexpectedly, their youngest daughter, Ana, passed away a couple years ago. Ana had recently graduated from college at the time of her passing; graduating was an achievement that she held very near to her heart and it was also a remarkable accomplishment given her chronic disease. Her love for education and opportunity is carried on through the Ana Strandemo Memorial Scholarship, which has been arranged by her parents Barb and Gary as a means to honor their daughter and to give Guatemalan youth the chance to study at the university. The Ana Strandemo Memorial Scholarship provides one scholarship a year to a deserving Common Hope high school graduate who wants to pursue a university-level degree. The scholarship covers tuition for one academic year, and the plan is to increase the amount of scholarships in future years. Barb says that given that Ana was a college graduate, she and Gary felt that creating a scholarship in her honor was very fitting. For Barb and Gary, it was very important to find a meaningful way to honor Ana. “I guess it all started with such an outpouring of love at the time of her death,” Barb explains, “We had money given in memory of her and we asked ourselves: Where would we like that to go? And Common Hope was of course one of the main places.” Barb and Gary are very active Common Hope supporters. They have visited Guatemala numerous times, they recently hosted a very successful fundraiser, they have been a part of two Vision Teams and they sponsor a little girl named Jarlyn, who they met on their trip with their daughter Rosa last year. During their Vision Team stays, Barb and Gary had the chance to meet both students who have received scholarships in Ana’s memory. The first scholarship recipient is Luis, an ambitious student who is pursuing his business degree. Barb and Gary met him for the first time last year and visited him again this year. Barb describes him as “a delightful young man who is very motivated and who wants to help his father’s business become more successful.” In March, Barb and Gary met the second scholarship recipient, Melissa, for the first time. Melissa is a teaching assistant at New Hope school. She works full time during the week and attends classes on Saturdays. Barb says that they had a very special connection with Melissa since she is pursuing her degree in psychology and Ana graduated with a degree in psychology. Luis and Melissa are very appreciative of the scholarship they received. When meeting with the Strandemos, both were eager to learn more about Ana and the story behind the scholarship. We know that, thanks to the Ana Strandemo Memorial Scholarship, there will be more students like Luis and Melissa who will continue their studies beyond high school—they will go forth with a diploma in their hand and Ana in their hearts. Gary and Barb with Melissa, the second scholarship recipient who currently works at New Hope School and is pursuing a degree in psychology. Get Involved Donate now Become a partner Sponsor a child Vision teams Accomplishments Our partners Sign up for email updates Sign Up For Email Updates Thanks for signing up to get the latest Common Hope news delivered to your inbox. You'll get 1-2 emails a month with current news and information about upcoming events and activities. Please note that we never share lists of any kind with other parties. If you ever want to be removed from the mailing list, please let us know, and we will respect your wish. Email* First Name* Last Name* How did you hear about us? Found you on the webHeard about you from a friendI'm already involvedNews article or storyOther Careers | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Go Paperless