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 Hope’s academic support programs ensure kids stay on track to graduation. Early childhood education, tutoring, access to a computer lab, a library, youth groups, and one-on-one support for at-risk students are all a part of Common Hope’s resource portfolio. This year, 125 Common Hope students achieved and maintained top marks in their classes. In Guatemala grades are measured from 0 to 100 points–– to qualify honored students reached an average of at least 80 points (80%) in all classes throughout the entire school year; some reached even higher marks of 85, 95, and 100. Consistent hard work and dedication secured their spot on Common Hope’s honor wall, and qualified them as 2019 Star Students. Hard work, dedication, and pride This is a first for Common Hope. For the first time Common Hope’s Scholarship department organized a ceremony to honor these high achievers. Nineth Garcia, Scholarship Manager, shared the importance of both helping at-risk students AND recognizing those who are doing well. All 125 Star Students and their family members were invited to attend the inaugural Star Student Ceremony. Country Director Rebecca Sanborn, Common Hope staff members, and school directors all participated in the event. Every student received a Star Student button with their name on it to put on their backpack as a daily reminder of what they have achieved. Nineth hopes that the buttons will motivate theses students to maintain their good grades and encourage them to collect another button next year. She also hopes it will serve as an incentive for their peers to become Star Students in 2020.“We want these students to feel proud of themselves,” said Nineth. ¡Felicidades a los Estudiantes Estrellas de 2019! Congratulations to the students and their parents! Common Hope looks forward to hosting the 2020 Wall of Honor and Star Student Ceremony!

Sponsorship mail – a special relationship between sponsors and students made possible by translators! Throughout the year, sponsors and students write letters back and forth to get to know each other and their families better, to learn more about each other’s cultures, to update each other on life events, and to exchange photos, drawings, and cards. Thousands of letters are exchanged each year, which requires a lot of volunteer help translating the letters from Spanish to English and vice versa. This is especially true during the holidays. Common Hope works hard to deliver letters in time for the holidays. This year we had help from our incredible School Community Partners, who helped translate more than 100 letters from sponsors to their students in Guatemala! Students at St. Croix Prep MIL GRACIAS to the following School Community Partners who hosted translation parties in their classes over the last few months! St. Croix Preparatory Academy Clear Springs Elementary Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion Minnewashta Elementary Deephaven Elementary Minnetonka High School A translation party is a great learning experience for students and a huge help to Common Hope Students at our School Community Partners vary in age and grade level, but most agree that translation parties are a great way to practice their Spanish language skills. Not to mention the parties are a lot of fun! Students from Clear Springs Elementary School said, “We like Translation Parties! It’s fun that we are helping people and making a difference––and at the same time we’re learning new Spanish words!” Their teacher Sam Howard, loves doing Translation Parties with his class because it gives the students an opportunity to learn about volunteerism. Karen Vidlock from St. Croix Preparatory Academy in Stillwater, MN has traveled to Guatemala multiple times on a Junior Vision Team with her students and is already planning a 2021 trip. Karen connected her colleague, Spanish teacher Meredith Smith, with Common Hope. Now, Ms. Smith hosts translation parties in her classroom as well. “Translation parties provide an authentic way for them to use their Spanish,” said Ms. Smith. “Often students only have the opportunity to use their Spanish in my classroom, but with this, they know their translations are going out [to Guatemala] and their Spanish skills helped to make a difference,” she continued. Mara Hansen and classmates from Minnetonka High School Students from Minnetonka High School really liked this learning experience and asked to do it again, saying that it allowed them to use their Spanish in a productive way that helped people. A special thank you to student, Mara Hansen, (pictured second from left) for organizing a translation party with her teacher Fred Moreno-Parra. “It’s fun to spend time with friends while translating and helping people.” Approximately 30 4th and 5th grade students at Minnewashta Elementary School came together for their fall translation party this year! Minnewashta students continue to be very engaged in Common Hope’s work and willing to help translate. Students said they loved to challenge their brain. “Some parts are hard but some parts are easy, but we can do it,” one student shared. Thank you again to all of the students and teachers who helped make it possible for Common Hope students and sponsors to receive their special letters in time for the holidays! If you would like to get your classroom involved, email Teresa at TeresaB@us.commonhope.org for more information.

Doña María (pictured center) with daughter Heidy, sons Axel and Ronald, and Rose and Charlie in 2015. Doña María and her husband, Don Gustavo, a farmer, have five children and are a part of Common Hope’s family. Their daughter, Heidy is sponsored by Rose and Charlie McMurray of Burnsville, Minnesota. Hanging on her wall in her two-room home, are multiple large 10-gallon pots. They are black on the bottom and have enjoyed significant usage. On a recent visit, Charlie noticed the worn pots. He could tell they were used often. “What do you make in your big pots?” asked Charlie (through his translator for the visit Rosi Ramos, Sponsorship Manager in Guatemala). “I make 100 tamales each week to sell in my village,” she replied. “I make about 100 at a time and I sell them for 3Q per tamale,” she explained. Rosi, being from Guatemala, was quite surprised by the cost. Rosi knew she could charge double that price for her popular, delicious tamales. “3Q? Usually tamales sell for 6Q or higher! Why don’t you charge more Doña María?” Rosi asked. “The people in our village are poor. They don’t have much money. I do not charge more because I don’t want to make money from my poor neighbors,” Doña María replied, genuine and unrehearsed. Doña María (pictured center) holding daughter Bayley, with daughter Heidy (left), sons Axel and Ronald, and Rose and Charlie on their most recent trip. Rosi and the McMurray’s were struck. Here, in a situation where additional resources could make all the difference, Doña María and Don Gustavo were choosing to pay it forward, in one of the only ways they can. She was choosing to go without so that someone else could go “with.” The extra 300Q Doña María could earn would certainly go a long way in this family of seven. Rose McMurray, put it so wisely in recalling the moment. “We were sitting there in her home looking around. Their house is very humble. It was overwhelming to hear her say that. The kindness and empathy she has….she’s just such a big-hearted person.” With a tear, she continued, “These are the people Common Hope is helping. They’re also making a difference in their own communities.” No matter how hard. During this wonderful time of year, this spirit of the holidays is SO ALIVE! We’re grateful to be able to help families like Doña María and Don Gustavo’s. We are grateful for people like Rose and Charlie McMurray and people like Doña María. Doña María is a wonderful example for all of the world to emulate. Many thanks to the McMurrays and to Rosi for sharing this story with us. And thank you to Doña María for being a wonderful example of kindness in the world. May we all be thankful for and generous with our gifts.

Celebrating Día de la Joventud (Youth Day), Family Day, Soccer championships, and so much more… ¡Qué alegre! At Common Hope’s New Hope School, Common Hope staff has been busy organizing a variety of events to honor youth and celebrate their families. International Youth Day Beyond supporting kids on the path to high-school graduation, Common Hope also seeks to prepare students to be compassionate leaders in their local communities. Providing kids with access to education is the most critical factor, but it’s also important to provide opportunities outside of the classroom for kids and teens to have fun and be themselves, learn and grow through new experiences, and connect with their peers in a safe environment. In celebration of International Youth Day, Common Hope hosted a special festival this year with fun activities like singing, dancing, and a soccer championship. That day there was also an election of a school government comprised of young leaders. Forming a school government prepares teens to take on more responsibilities and gives them greater confidence in their decision-making skills. “We want to remind our youth that they are not only important for Common Hope but also for society. The goal of these activities is to create safe spaces and experiences for youth,” shared New Hope’s Youth Coordinator, Jonathan. New Hope Family Day At a separate event, New Hope students and their families were invited to join in the fun at a Family Fair hosted by Common Hope! More than 800 students and family members enjoyed a day full of activities, games, costumes, snacks, and lots of smiles and laughter. New Hope’s Family Day celebrates the power of the family unit and focuses on strengthening family bonds while also having fun together! Promoting healthy lifestyles This was the third year that the Youth Race, “Respiremos Vida” (Breathing Life) took place at New Hope. The race is hosted in alliance with Guatemala’s Executive Secretary against Drug Addictions, with the goal to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent substance use. There was an outstanding turnout this year with 125 young people and 42 kids and parents participating in the race. New Hope’s youth leadership group helped coordinate the event and provided support for the race. Participants received a diploma, medal, and a backpack to commemorate the special event! 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

MEET SARA KENNEDY: A SPECIAL COMMON HOPE SUPPORTER AND AMBASSADOR Sara Kennedy from Virginia travels to Guatemala every year to volunteer with Common Hope. As a special education teacher, Sara knows firsthand about the opportunities that arise when students are granted access to education. “Keep studying and your problems of today won’t be your problems of tomorrow.” Today, Sara is still touched when she shares about the special bond she had formed with Reina and the impact she had on her life. But Sara’s impact goes beyond being a sponsor. For more than 10 years she has been volunteering her time and talents with Common Hope. From packing food baskets, to helping sort out bills and files in accounting, to organizing the pharmacy, to helping improve teaching methods for our partner schools, to translating many, many sponsorship letters – Sara has done it all. Sara trusts in the mutual partnership between Common Hope and the families we serve. When she is not in Guatemala, Sara collects donations for Common Hope and spreads the hope across her circle of friends with quite an impact. Many of her friends have travelled to Guatemala as Vision Team members, volunteers, or to visit their sponsored students. We are so grateful for all that you do for the families in Guatemala. Muchas gracias Sara! 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

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. She lives with her two daughters Iliana and María who have been affiliated with Common Hope for about a year. Two ears ago, Doña Sonia decided to move back to Antigua to care for her mother. It was then that she decided to use her skills to start her own business named Chocolate Artesanal Santa Ines.Doña Sonia knows better than anyone that the process of making chocolate is truly an art form. On the weekends she sells her delicous chocolate in the markets found in and around Antigua. ¡Felicitaciones Doña Sonia! 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

HOUSING IN GUATEMALA Over 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 agreed to co-sign a loan for a friend. Sadly, his friend defaulted on the loan. This meant Don Oscar was responsible for paying it back. For two years, Don Oscar didn’t receive a paycheck. The loss of income forced Don Oscar, his wife Doña Elida, and their three sons to move out of the house they were renting. before Due to their economic situation, the family moved to a very small piece of land and built a shelter from scraps of metal, plastic tarps, and whatever other materials they could find. They had only one proper wall, which was their neighbor’s. This one-room shelter could not protect them from the rain, wind, or cold. Rats sometimes invaded their space and the wind would blow trash in. During rainy season, the rain would get all of their belongings wet. Mauro, Leon, and Alexander, Don Oscar’s sons, had to do their homework multiple times because it would get wet. Frequently, everyone in the family was sick. The situation for the Landaverde Sac family was dire. AN OPPORTUNITY FOUND Doña Elida cannot read or write. Growing up, her family did not make enough money to send her to school. Her dream was to build a better life for her family. She wanted nothing more than to see her sons graduate from high school and create a better future for themselves and their family. The Landaverde Sac family began partnering with Common Hope in December 2013 before their economic situation changed. An urgent need for a new home was immediately identified by Common Hope’s social worker after visiting the site where they relocated. They were accepted into the Housing Program and Doña Elida began to fulfill the required number of volunteer hours in order to earn a new home for their family “Common Hope was a ray of light during this difficult time. We are proud of our new home and thankful for the opportunity for ourchildren to study,” says Doña Elida. after BUILDING HOPE In 2018, Doña Elida’s dream for her family became real. Working alongside the Allina Friends Vision Team, the family’s new home was constructed with lots of love and hard work. Thank you to the team members (pictured above) who made this possible: Nancy McCallum, Suzan Ford, Jennifer Most, Mary Rahman, Mary Smith, Stacey Peck, and Mary Lambert. Want to know more about the Landaverde Sac family? Join our social workers for a virtual visit with Doña Elida. Read our 2019 Spring Newsletter to learn more about housing conditions in Guatemala, Common Hope’s Housing Program and how you can get involved. 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

¡CELEBRAMOS! Thank you for making Noche de Colores such a success! On May 16, 2019 we celebrated a spectacular Night of Colors – NOCHE DE COLORES – filled with the flavors, music, and fun of Guatemala! Those who have visited Noche de Colores know the delightful atmosphere that arises when Common Hope supporters, sponsors, volunteers, donors, family and friends come together to celebrate Common Hope’s mission to fight poverty with diplomas. GUATEMALAN CUISINE The evening started off with a cocktail reception and typical Guatemalan appetizers while guests mingled and shopped for their favorite coffee, cocoa and nuts from Guatemala at the mercado. Thank you to local Guatemalan chef and author Amalia Moreno-Damgaard for curating our delicious appetizers and dinner menu bringing authentic Guatemalan cuisine to the table. Qué rico! ¡CARA O CRUZ! HEADS OR TAILS! Our guests’ favorite game at Noche de Colores benefitting Common Hope’s programs is called Cara o Cruz (Heads or Tails). Participants choose either heads or tails, a Quetzal coin gets flipped, and the winners keep standing until there is only one left standing. This year Nathan Faith was the lucky winner of $1,000! Unicamente en Noche de Colores! BUEN VIAJE SUITCASE RAFFLE 100 suitcases – 100 surprises! At Noche de Colores our guests could participate in the famous Buen Viaje (Good Trip) Suitcase Raffle. Each suitcase is a winner and contains a fun prize, with one suitcase containing a trip to Costa Rica. Congratulations to Lori Worwa for winning the grand prize of a week-long trip to Coco Beach in Costa Rica! Gracias a todos for joining the fun, and THANK YOU to Canetani Vacation Properties for sponsoring this activity! LIVE AUCTION EXCITEMENT This year at Noche de Colores we had five exciting items up for bid during our live auction: Taste of Guatemala – Street Food Fiesta with Executive Director Shari Blindt A framed photo print from National Geographic award winning photographer Buck Holzemer Drive Hope in Guatemala – A new flatbed truck for our Vision Teams in Guatemala Stay in Casa de Luz in Colorado Travel Home to Guatemala with Avi Teresa and Avi from the Common Hope team joined our auctioneer, Kristine Fladboe Duininck, and DOUBLED the fun of bidding on these items with their entertaining skits. The EXCITEMENT and laughter could be seen and heard all around the room. Mil Gracias to all Live Auction Winners! This year’s Live Auction raised more than $60,000 for Common Hope programs. GUEST SPEAKER AND COMMON HOPE GRADUATE, NIDYA GONZALES “Access to education makes you dream and education makes it possible to achieve those dreams.” This year Nidya Gonzales from San Juan del Obispo, Guatemala travelled to Noche de Colores to share her story. With tireless support from her parents, Nidya and her sister Vivian were the firsts in their family to graduate from high school. Her family was able to fight poverty with diplomas and could break a generational cycle of poverty. Nidya’s inspirational story, her dedication, and her perseverance to follow her dreams was so contagious that Nidya received standing ovation for her speech. We are so proud of you Nidya – estamos muy orgullosos! Earlier in the evening, we premiered a video featuring Nidya and her mother, Doña Flori. In the video, the family shared about their lives in Guatemala. This video was brought to life by the amazing duo of Buck Holzemer and Patti Petrich, who filmed on location in Guatemala earlier this year. At the event, Buck and Patti were recognized for 10 years of service to Common Hope – for 10 years they have volunteered their time and talents to share stories of hope with all of us. Their commitment was commemorated with a brick in our Pathway of Dreamsin Guatemala. Muchas gracias Buck y Patti. We appreciate you so much! FUND THE NEED Thank you to everyone who donated in the fund-the-need auction to help 100 moms and dads give their children the gift of education. Thank you for your generosity! MUCHAS GRACIAS! Guests could visit our Pathway of Dreams Sponsorship Gallery to meet students waiting for a Sponsor. Eighteen students got sponsored at Noche de Colores! That’s 18 students, 18 lives that will change for ever.  Eighteen students with dreams and hopes for their future, 18 students on their way to graduation, 18 students granted the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty with diplomas THANKS TO YOU. We welcome our new sponsors to the Common Hope familia and say muchas gracias y bienvenidos! Thank you for deciding to BE THE HOPE for these deserving students. TOGETHER, YOU RAISED $317,000! TOGETHER, WE ARE FIGHTING POVERTY WITH DIPLOMAS. We cannot express how grateful we are for your support! Thank you to all of our guests who made it such an incredible evening. Click here for more spectacular photos of Noche de Colores. 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

During the last few weeks Teresa, Outreach and Partnership Manager, visited Common Hope supporters from Minnesota to Colorado and participated in the fun activities they organized to support Common Hope’s work. Cumpleaños de Juan in St. Paul, Minnesota March started off with a fun birthday party organized by Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Paul to celebrate their sponsored student, Juan’s, birthday during their coffee hour. The church’s Men’s Club who sponsors Juan provided a birthday cake and had a card for everyone to sign together. They sent the card with pictures of the party to Juan who turned 14 on March 22nd. Next Stop: St. James, Minnesota Teresa visited St. James to meet with the members of two community clubs–the Citizenship and the Women’s Study Club. These clubs invited her to share about Common Hope’s work, Vision Team Trips to Guatemala, and Sponsoring a student. ¡Muchas gracias por la invitación! It was wonderful connecting with members of the St. James community. We love sharing about Common Hope not only with adults, but also with students to increase their cultural awareness. Teresa met some very engaged middle and high school students in the St. James School’s Social Justice Club. Fourth grade and kindergarten classes also participated in different cultural activities tailored specifically for their age group. DESTINATION: COLORADO Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church in Denver, Colorado Last week, the Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church hosted a tabling event for Teresa to speak between their worship services. This was an awesome opportunity to reconnect with Vision Team Alumni and Sponsors, and meet new people interested in Common Hope’s mission. Thank you Susie Higginbottom for organizing this event. It was wonderful to see everyone again, including Montview Church Vision Team Alumni! Common Hope Fiesta Thank you to Diana and Lee Castellion for hosting an incredible Common Hope party with authentic Guatemalan food at their home! Diana invited Sponsors from Littleton United Methodist Church, Vision Team members from her previous teams, Columbine United Church members and Latin American Heritage Camp members to meet Teresa who shared about Common Hope, the results of our recent impact study, and the success of the Early Childhood Reading program. ¡Gracias por la hospitalidad! Learning Lunch at Angevine Middle School, Lafayette, Colorado Teresa had a wonderful time presenting at a Learning Lunch for 6-8th graders at Angevine Middle School. The 6th graders were particularly engaged, asking a lot of questions about how they could best contribute to help those in Guatemala and how they could get future classes involved. We look forward to continuing to build our relationship with the awesome students at AMS! Denver’s Common Hope Connection Happy Hour Teresa invited our amigos from Denver to join for a Common Hope Connection Happy Hour at Devour the 303. It was a delightful evening full of great conversations with Common Hope supporters and friends. There were many wonderful Common Hope connections made! Thank you again to everyone who joined us and to Devour the 303 for being such gracious hosts! Visiting our friends at Pie Consulting in Denver The next Pie Consulting Vision Team is coming to Guatemala in September! Teresa visited the Pie Consulting office in Denver to host an Info Session for employees to dive into Common Hope’s work and the upcoming Vision Team trip. Thank you for partnering with Common Hope, we’re looking forward to welcoming you in September! AMIGOS DE DENVER, We hope to see you for Noche de Colores on Tour in Denver on October 3, 2019! HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED If you would like to learn more about sharing Common Hope’s mission with your school, office or church, email Teresa at teresab@us.commonhope.org. Be sure to follow us on Facebook to get the latest updates about Common Hope events all over the country! Denver friends can join us at Noche de Colores on Tour on October 3, 2019 at the Glenmoor Country Club in Englewood. Tickets will be on sale this summer! Our Bay Area amigos can join us at Noche de Colores on Tour on September 19, 2019 at the Terrace Room at Lake Merritt in Oakland, CA. Sponsors near and far are encouraged to celebrate their student’s birthday, either by hosting a small party like Immanuel Lutheran or by sending their student a note wishing them felíz cumpleaños. Sponsors can also make a gift to Common Hope’s Gift Fund, which provides a gift to every student on their birthday. 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

Local celebrity chef and author, Amalia Moreno-Damgaard has been serving on the Common Hope Executive Board since 2010. A Guatemalan, she understands, intimately the beauitful culture of Guatemala. Gratefully, this year she is again creating the menu for NOCHE DE COLORES on May 16, 2019. She has been recently recognized as one of Guatemala’s Hottest Chefs in 2018 by Culture Trip, a global online platform operating in travel, media and entertainment named by Forbes as one of the fastest-growing companies to watch. You will definitely want to join us at Noche de Colores this year! Get your tickets today! We took a minute out of Amalia’s busy schedule to do a quick Q&A and learn more about Amalia what inspires her! When did you start cooking? What inspired you to become a chef? As a little girl, I used to help my maternal grandmother in the kitchen. We also went to the plaza (vegetable market) together in her hometown. In addition to learning cooking techniques and tips from her, I learned how to bargain with the merchants (as is common practice in Guatemala). I didn’t know it then that I was learning kitchen lessons for life. It was this early start that I believe inspired me to start cooking professionally. What inspired you to become a Speaker and Author? I started speaking when I was teaching cooking classes at various Twin Cities’ culinary schools. Later I published my first cookbook and this helped increase my public speaking bookings. Today I use gourmet cuisine as a platform to educate my audiences about a variety of topics from food culture and diversity and cultural nuances, to career transitioning, entrepreneurship and wellness, and more. What one thing do you miss most about Guatemala? My family, the food, and traditions. What is your favorite thing about Common Hope? The culture. As an individual that has done amazing things and has incredible accomplishments – what is one accomplishment you wish for Guatemala? A higher literacy rate and equality. What is your favorite city in Guatemala and why? Panajachel, Sololá. It’s a magical place because it reminds me of my dad and of my time growing up in Guatemala having a good time with my friends. Thank you to Amalia for participating in our quick Q&A and for supporting Common Hope’s mission! You can frequently catch Amalia on Twin Cities Live. She also writes about food, drink, and culture for Revue Magazine, Guatemala’s English-language magazine. And if you want to bring the flavors of Guatemala to your own kitchen, pick up a copy of her award-winning cookbook, Amalia’s Guatemala Kitchen: Gourmet Cuisine with a Cultural Flair. 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

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. Elizabeth Franco With funds donated by generous supporters, Common Hope was able to provide support in a few different ways including purchasing and donating relief supplies, food, and shelving to organize medical donations. Additionally, Common Hope made a financial donation that enabled the hiring of a relief coordinator, Elizabeth Franco, who worked to coordinate the combined efforts between NGOs (ConstruCasa, SERES, WINGS, Women’s Justice, UNICEF, PCI-USAID, Plan International, and the Red Cross), organized community committees, as well as the state and municipal representatives. Elizabeth worked on the ground level getting to know the key actors as well as tirelessly connecting the dots between everyone. The first brick laid that will become a new home for a family Laying the first brick In February 2019, Common Hope’s Executive Director, Shari Blindt, and Country Director, Rebecca Sanborn, visited the site where houses will be built for some of families displaced by the eruption. There, they laid the first brick that will become the foundation of one of the new homes. Common Hope used relief donations to pay for the construction of five of those homes, which will be built in partnership with ConstruCasa, a local NGO that builds block homes who we have had a partnership for many years. Common Hope is grateful that together we can leverage our long-standing partnership with ConstruCasa to give families the opportunity to rebuild their lives with a safe, clean, and dignified place to call home. At the brick laying you could feel that after eight months, these families were hopeful for their futures. Additional Relief Efforts After being hired to coordinate relief efforts, Elizabeth Franco immediately went to work. She spent the majority of her time in the field, visiting the two main shelters to learn the needs, both immediate and long-term. She checked in with representatives at the national and local level to discuss challenges and setbacks after the eruption. One of the biggest challenges was finding reliable and timely information from government institutions regarding donations, what decisions were being made, and information about the populations affected. By attending meetings, being in the field, crossing data, and tapping networks, Elizabeth successfully ensured the transparency of how donations were allocated and delivered as well as opened up communications channels which became lifelines for the affected population. “The approach, coordinating everyone, was very effective because one of the greatest challenges is knowing what to donate, how to donate, and when is the best time to make the donation so it is effective. I think we managed to overcome those challenges, since the donations were guided transparently and effectively. We were able to support the affected families with suitable donations beyond their immediate needs,” says Elizabeth. water pump donated by Common Hope In addition to essentials like food, water, clothing, and medicine, funds donated to Common Hope for relief efforts also provided things like board games for children, workshops for youth, cleaning supplies for shelters, cement, scissors, cell phones for community leaders, and a vast array of other needed items. One of the most critical donations made by Common Hope was a water tank and pump, which provided water to the entire community living in temporary shelters of Escuintla who had very limited access to water for only a few hours a day. This was critical not only because of the scarcity of water and the high temperatures in the area, but also because the temporary shelters are made completely out of wood and therefore pose a high risk for fire. Now, with the tank and water pump there is a first response in the event of fire. Participants of the Playing for Peace workshop Funding also provided a workshop for youth called, Playing for Peace. This workshop is specifically designed for populations that have experienced trauma and hardship and was therefore chosen to lay the groundwork for the youth towards their path of emotional recovery in the face of the eruption. Given that there isn’t much for young people living in a temporary shelter to do, Playing for Peace also gave the youth an outlet. Those leading this workshop continue to work with young people to help them find their resiliency in the face of such a tragedy through another partner NGO called SERES. Looking forward Recovering from a natural disaster takes time. The homes being built by ConstruCasa are expected to be completed in June and Common Hope will continue to provide support and hope to the families affected by the eruption. “For me it is a privilege to be able to do a job that has the purpose of leaving a positive mark on our Guatemalan society. I believe that empathy and awareness of the different needs of people are of great importance in order to understand their realities,” remarked Elizabeth after her final report to local NGOs. We would like to say thank you to Elizabeth Franco for her ceaseless efforts and to all those who donated to the Fuego Relief Fund. Together, lives are being rebuilt…poco a poco. 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

A rural Mayan village San Rafael El Arado is a small, Mayan village located around 40 minutes north of Antigua, Guatemala. In this rural area living conditions are difficult – health care services, education, electricity, and clean water are scarce resources here. Most people here are farmers. Common Hope started to work in this community in 2007. Common Hope supports the local school with reading programs, homework help, books and pre-school programs, and also partners with another NGO to provide medical and dental services to the community. Brayan’s life in San Rafael Brayan lives together with his parents and eight siblings. His older sister is studying in middle school, which is a great achievement in this community. His brother Darwin helps Brayan improve his reading skills by reading together. Brayan likes to read fairy tales, to color and to draw. He takes care of the cow they have at their home. He feeds him and takes him for walks. Brayans’ family also has a rabbit, pigs, and chickens which lay eggs for them. After school Brayan sometimes goes with his family to work in the field. They are farmers and their main crop is green beans. Brayan enjoys going to school and hopes to graduate one day. 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