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 60-70 bookmarks with motivational phrases in Spanish for the Common Hope library in Antigua. Now the books have made their way to Guatemala and are available at Common Hope’s library! The books, along with the fun bookmarks, are being used in our Early Childhood Reading Programs and Skill Building Groups. A special shoutout to Connor Hanson, who represented Common Hope at the event and shared information about how these books will benefit Common Hope students in Guatemala. Connor is a member of the Minnetonka Vision Team Junior that visited us in Antigua this summer. Thank you Connor and everyone at Minnetonka High School who support education in such an important way! We are grateful to have Minnetonka HS as one of our School Community Partners. Below are some photos of the books and bookmarks being put to good use, along with some photos from the Minnetonka Vision Team Junior trip! If you would like to learn more about our School Community Partner program, please visit the Partner section of our website for more information. 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

*Please Note: Common Hope does not ship worry dolls. If you are looking to purchase worry dolls, please consider ordering from UPAVIM Crafts, a Guatemalan cooperative providing safe work opportunities with a sustainable living wage for women. Shop UPAVIM Crafts – Worry Dolls 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 bed at night. By morning the dolls have gifted them with the wisdom and knowledge to eliminate their worries. The story of the worry doll is a local Mayan legend. The origin of the Muñeca quitapena refers to a Mayan princess named Ixmucane. The princess received a special gift from the sun god that allowed her to solve any problem a human could worry about. The worry doll represents the princess and her wisdom. This is Do Doña Lucia taught herself  how to make worry dolls to sell in the markets in Antigua. Unfortunately she earned very little at the company and was often not even paid for her work. She decided to quit her job and sell her worry dolls independently! Because of her bravery, Doña Lucia now contracts with various clients in Antigua that sell her worry dolls, ensuring that she is able to pay the living expenses for her and her five children. The worry dolls are made of wire, wool and colorful textile leftovers. Doña Lucia dresses them in traditional Mayan style, but she also makes other styles like a bride and groom or a doctor. The size of the dolls can vary between ½ inch to 2 inches. Doña Lucia says when she began making worry dolls she would make 10-15 per day. Today after years of practice she is making 50-75 per day! Doña Lucia and her family began working with Common Hope five years ago. They are using the clinic and have participated in the Nurturing Parenting Program. Because of Doña Lucia’s hard work and some support from Common Hope programs, there is less the family needs to worry about. To see the progress her family has made brings Doña Lucia a lot of joy. This year she has started to participate in our Day in the Life activities that we offer to visitors. She hosts small groups to share with them her art and profession of making worry dolls, an activity that requieres fine motor skills and is a lot of fun! *Please Note: Common Hope does not ship worry dolls. If you are looking to purchase worry dolls, please consider ordering from UPAVIM Crafts, a Guatemalan cooperative providing safe work opportunities with a sustainable living wage for women. Shop UPAVIM Crafts – Worry Dolls × Commenting on this post has been disabled by the admin. 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 inspired mind can accomplish great things no matter the age! Common Hope School Partner Bonita Springs Charter School proves it and are this month’s honored supporters in action. Just last December, Spanish teacher, Sarah Egberg confirmed that Bonita Springs Charter School was excited to be a Common Hope School Community Partner to not only learn more about Guatemala, but to also put their learning into action. “I am so lucky as a teacher to be able to share with students what I find so beautiful and amazing about Guatemala–the languages, art, culture, and the people. At Bonita Springs Charter School it’s extra special because many of the students’ families are from Guatemala originally, so they are able to share their experiences as well. Once I told my students about Common Hope and the great work they do, they were really motivated to help in any way they could,” says Sarah.

What a week! Volunteers Emma, Ellie and Peter worked with Common Hope Volunteer Experience Coordinator, Emily Scriver, and Visitor Experience Coordinator, Claire Dresselhaus, to develop a full week of hands-on activities to generate excitement for SCIENCE among Common Hope students. The group created a series of lessons, experiments, games and crafts around science themes to engage students in a dynamic way that not only inspires an interest in science, but at the same develops their skills in listening, fine motor development, teamwork, stimulation and exercise. SCIENCE WEEK theme days included SPACE DAY, WEATHER DAY, NATURE DAY and MAD SCIENTIST DAY. Each day included a lesson focused on a scientific method, a hands-on learning activity or experiment and craft or game. The students created their own erupting geysers, mapped the distance between planets, made tornados and blizzards in jars and more. The week engaged active minds and hands, encouraged curiosity and creativity and planted the seeds of interest for science for our students. Thanks to all who helped make this such a fun and motivating opportunity for Common Hope youth!

[update as of June 14 | 3:30pm CST] Thank you to everyone who donated to help those in need after Volcán de Fuego’s eruption. Those donations to our Emergency Relief Fund will continue to be used to help relief efforts, both short and long term. We will continue to coordinate with the shelters and local NGOs to meet specific needs as they arise, and will also continue to address the everyday emergencies for those we serve. At this time, we will be suspending our relief campaign. Thank you again for your heartfelt generosity and support. If you would like to make a donation to Common Hope, you can do so at https://give.commonhope.org [update as of June 8 | 9:00am CST] Yesterday we were able to deliver hygiene kits and other supplies to a shelter in the affected area. Supplies appear to be well stocked and we will continue to coordinate with local NGOs and shelters to fulfill needs as they arise. [update as of June 7 | 1:30pm CST] Many of you are following the news accounts this week on the recovery efforts in Guatemala after Fuego’s eruption on Sunday. Thank you for your heartfelt messages – we are sharing them with our colleagues in Guatemala so they can feel the spirit of support that surrounds them from this amazing Common Hope family. We are actively working with other nonprofit organizations to best understand how we can coordinate our support of relief to affected communities. At this time the immediate needs are being met through generous support from across the country, including organizations like ours. We anticipate the need to be greater following the immediate recovery. For this reason, we are not collecting general supplies for the relief efforts, and instead will focus on cash donations that can be used for immediate or longer term emergency needs for families. Direct relief: On Tuesday morning Rebecca hosted colleagues from 12 nonprofits that all work in the Antigua area to collaborate and coordinate our efforts to best support immediate relief efforts for those affected, and to share with each other additional needs as they arise. We are centralizing our support, and agree that there are greater mid and longer term needs that will need to be addressed after the initial rush of relief is past. Two organizations work directly in the area impacted, and they are coordinating needs from the shelters that we cannot reach. Yesterday they requested 150 personal hygiene kits for families in the shelter. We’re putting those kits together this morning (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, towels, toilet paper and combs/brushes) and will deliver them today. When our staff delivered boots and water yesterday to the recovery crews they were clear that at this time they did not want any volunteer support. We do not plan on providing volunteers, but will focus on continuing to respond to material needs as they are identified. Our NGO network will meet again on Monday. Other efforts: During this tragedy we are reminded of the need for our programs in Guatemala. There is a correlation between those affected most by this disaster and poverty. Our mission to fight poverty by educating children, empowering families, and providing a safe, stable, and healthy place for all to learn and grow is even more important during times like this. Our commitment to the families we serve is to be a stable, consistent partner in their efforts to build better lives for themselves. As such our programs have resumed in all communities – Antigua, San Rafael, San Miguel Milpas Altas and New Hope — and families and students are participating. A few examples of how we are working specifically to help our staff and families process events this week include: Dr. Walter provided our staff and social workers with information to share regarding best practices for minimizing the dust in the air and how it affects respiratory. Our psychology team worked with our Antigua social workers yesterday on how during their visits to best talk with families to help everyone process through this in a healthy way. We are monitoring the computer labs to ensure that kids are not watching horrific news on the internet. We are sharing videos instead that are content appropriate about the volcanic event to help families and kids understand. Guatemala is expecting rains this weekend. Please keep the people of Guatemala in your thoughts and prayers – that the rains simply clean the ash from the trees and the crops, and are quickly followed by bright sunshine. Putting together hygiene kits All kits included 1 towel, 1 comb, 1 bar of soap, 10 shampoo packets, 2 tooth brushes, 1 tube of toothpaste, 2 rolls of toilet paper [update as of June 5 | 5:30pm CST] The team was able to deliver supplies to Alotenango this afternoon. They delivered undergarments for men, women, and children among other clothing needs. They were also able to provide boots to the rescue workers whose boots are melting due to the high heat. Delivering supplies in Alotenango [update as of June 5 | 10:30am CST] Thank you for your heartfelt prayers and wishes for our staff and families in Guatemala, and for all those who have been affected by Fuego’s eruption. We’ve received so many beautiful notes from you over the past two days. Last night we forwarded a compilation of them to our team in Guatemala. They were a bright spot in an otherwise gray day, so thank you for keeping everyone in Guatemala in your thoughts and prayers. Yesterday was a day for us to assess where we were at, and to prepare for normal operations to fully support our families. Things look pretty normal inside the Antigua Family Development Center – a big difference from yesterday when our staff was cleaning up (see photos below). Outside, however, it is dusty and the air quality remains an issue. Cleanup is everyone’s major focus right now, and there is good progress being made in the area. Cleanup at our Family Development Center Sweeping ash at our Family Development Center Yesterday we were able to purchase goggles and extra masks for our staff to use as they cleaned the Antigua site. They were able to fully sweep out the ash, and our maintenance crew completed cleaning the rooftop of the ballcourt late yesterday. The areas of greatest impact are nearby, but are outside of our current service area. We were able to meet with the leaders of the closest shelter in Alotenango yesterday, where there are 317 men, women and children staying. Their greatest needs were for medicines and clean undergarments. Pablo Cermeno was able to purchase new clothing in Guatemala City yesterday, our hospitality team purchased used clothing and is washing it this morning, and Dr. Walter is preparing the medicines so we will be delivering those later today. Our social work and sponsorship departments in Antigua attended to families who either called or came to the project site Today we resumed normal operations in Antigua, and expect to hold our programming as usual. In addition: Our social workers are back out in the villages, and we will have more information for how our families are doing at home in the Antigua, San Rafael, and San Miguel Milpas Altas areas by the end of the day. A group of NGO’s is meeting this morning at the Antigua site to compare what we are seeing in the area and determine how we can work together to meet the greatest needs. We will send staff out to the shelter we visited yesterday, and will attempt to reach other shelters to check with their needs as well. We had some questions regarding where the path of the volcano was in relation to where we are at, so the following map shows where Alotenango is in relation to where we are located. The areas of greatest impact are nearby, but are outside of our current service area. The worst of the impact was from Alotenango and beyond towards the coast, which you can see in the following maps. Our Family Development Center in Antigua San Miguel Milpas Altas San Rafael el Arado Towards New Hope site Some general information: The airport re-opened yesterday, so travel in and out of Guatemala has resumed. Schools are closed throughout the area through this week. If you’d like to donate to the continued relief efforts, you can do so at our Volcán de Fuego Relief Page. Additional Information: PBS News Hour, What Made Guatemala’s Fuego Volcano eruption so deadly BBC World News Guatemala [update as of June 4, 2018 | 3:00pm CST] Reports now indicate that the airport in Guatemala City has reopened. [update as of June 4, 2018 | 11:30am CST] On Sunday morning (June 3) Volcán de Fuego erupted producing a significant volcanic ash storm and lava flow. The eruption has closed the airport and caused visibility and safety issues due to slippery roads of rain/ash mix. For those directly in its path, there has been many injuries, lives lost and significant destruction. We understand the situation in Guatemala to be extremely difficult and our hearts are with all those affected by this tragedy. At this time, we are grateful there has not been report of any incidents to families or staff of Common Hope. We continue to assess the situation in the communities where we work and will share updates as they come. Here is what we know: Our Emergency Response Team is in place and has been assessing the situation since yesterday. We have followed up with all Common Hope families located in the Alotenango area, and they are safe but shaken. This is the closest area we serve to the path of the ash. We have received no reports of any incidents to other Common Hope families or staff We have response team members visiting shelters in the area to determine how we can support their efforts, and will know more later today. Our Antigua Site is open to receive families but with limited services We are initially focused on cleaning the site thoroughly of ash so we can resume normal activities. We need to purchases additional face masks, goggles, and garbage bags. Our clinic is open with limited staff Our social work and sponsorship departments are open and receiving families Our youth programming, library, and daycare are not open today. We will reassess later today for tomorrow and the rest of the week. New Hope is largely unaffected. We do not know the full extent of how the eruption will impact our families and staff in the coming days. We do know that there will be on-going cleanup in the days and weeks following. We also know that the air quality is currently an issue. The CDC is advising the use of face masks, especially for those with lung conditions. We know many of you want to help. As a partner in the community, our Emergency Response Team is visiting local shelters in the affected areas to determine what their greatest needs are and how we can best support the relief efforts over the coming days and possibly weeks. Major corporations have already stepped up to provide food and water, so we anticipate the immediate needs to be more related to clean up efforts. If you’d like to donate to our Emergency Relief Fund to support any relief efforts, you can do so here. At this time we are only anticipating help with cleanup and possibly support for the shelters. As that becomes more clear we will share an update. For those of you with travel plans in the near term, we will contact you directly. The situation is constantly changing. Please check back for continued updates as more information becomes available. Additional Information: U.S. Embassy Guatemala City, Guatemala BBC World News CDC, Protecting yourself during ashfall 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

With a heart full of appreciation, we say “hasta luego” to Steve and Marilyn Brown, long-time sponsors and volunteers for Common Hope. Over the past 18 years, they’ve spent a total of 3 years in Guatemala volunteering their time. For that reason, we want to honor them and their dedication to helping Common Hope families. Learn more about how Steve and Marilyn started collaborating with Common Hope, what they have accomplished and what they wish for. On January 1, 2000, Steve and Marilyn flew to Guatemala for the first time, excited and a little bit nervous. They came with their daughter Sarah for a Vision Team. Steve and Marilyn met their sponsored children, and fell in love with Common Hope’s work. Since then, Steve and Marilyn have come to Guatemala almost every year for about 3 months each trip. They spend their time volunteering here at Common Hope and at different projects in Antigua including Obras Sociales de Hermano Pedro. Steve with the kiddos after helping to refresh their outdoor play area Reminiscing, Steve remarked that when they first started volunteering the campus looked much different than it does now. The Education Buildings were in beginning phases of construction, the pharmacy was not where it is today, and the sports courts did not exist. Instead there was a chicken farm, a garden, and a carpenter shop. There also was no Pathway of Dreams at that time. Steve said, “It makes me feel happy walking down the lane of stars at the project. When I first came here that didn’t exist. Now I can witness all the effort that has led to more than 2,000 graduated high school students today. It makes me feel proud to be part of this accomplishment.” Steve has supported Common Hope in a range of different projects and programs throughout the past 18 years. His first focus was to support the Visitor Experience program, including leading the Pueblo Tours, and translating sponsorship visits and social work visits. When needs started to change, he continued to support many other programs in different ways: Translating sponsorship letters and helping in our new communities Creating the housing manual guide Revamping the daycare center garden Infinite amount of painting and maintenance projects Repairing books in library and making a mural there Constructing bulletin boards And finally this year, constructing and installing our new educational bunk beds Women enjoying Marilyn’s sewing class Marilyn supported our adult education classes by teaching a sewing class to women. Year after year, she graciously coordinated a six-week sewing and craft class for small groups of women. Many women anxiously awaited this course, where they had the chance to learn new skills such as knitting and crochet. “It was 4:00pm and the sewing class was about to end, so I told the women that is was almost time to go, but no one wanted to leave,” said Marilyn about one of her happiest moments at Common Hope. After such a long time coming to Guatemala and getting to know its people and culture, Steve and Marilyn agree that Guatemala has become their second home. In March, the Common Hope staff hosted a special get-together for Steve and Marilyn as a way to say thank you. It was a very emotional gathering for everyone who has gotten to know the Browns over the years, and also for Steve and Marilyn. Tears of joy and appreciation could be seen in many eyes that day. We thank Steve and Marilyn for all of their effort, time, and care they have dedicated to Common Hope and wish them all the best for their future! They will be greatly missed at Common Hope | Familias de Esperanza as they touched many lives during their 18 years of volunteering. Steve and Marilyn, you will always have a home at Familias de Esperanza! VIEW GALLERY 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

Over her 11+ years at Common Hope she has made many friends – so stop by the office and share a cup of coffee to wish her well! If you can’t make it, you can leave a message below for her to read! You can also make a $12 donation in honor of Jessie’s 12 years with Common Hope. COFFEE AND DONUTS OPEN HOUSE for Jessie Friday, March 9, 2018 9am – 11am Common Hope Office 1400 Energy Park Drive, Suite 23 Saint Paul, MN 55018 Stop by Common Hope for a cup of Felix’s coffee and donuts from Jessie’s favorite donut shop, SugaRush and help us celebrate all of Jessie Szopinski’s many accomplishments during her nearly 12 years at Common Hope! 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 University of Akron recently joined us on their second Vision Team to Guatemala. We were so impressed by the students’ enthusiasm, hard work, and desire to turn every experience into an opportunity to learn. We were also impressed by their ability to fundraise. Prior to their trip, the students came up with a fun, unique fundraising event that made a splash on campus. With a donation to their Vision Team, a participant would be given the opportunity to “pie” their professor or watch their professor get “pie’d.” Students jumped at the opportunity to watch their professors and President Wilson get pie’d. In the blink of a pie, the team raised $1,000 in donations for Common Hope. Talk about the frosting on the pie! When the team returned from Guatemala, they got President Wilson and all of the professors and participants together for the official “Pie’ing.” The students even broadcasted this big event on the University TV station with help from their Vision Team Leader and Professor of Practice, Juan Contreras. Now that’s the kind of reality TV show we would love to watch! With a little teamwork, creativity, and help from their professors, the University of Akron students excelled at fundraising while also engaging their student body and administration. Check out more photos and video from their Pie Fundraiser! A special thank you to Professor Juan Contreras and the University of Akron for photography and video usage. 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

If you’ve been to Guatemala, you may have visited Tikal. Considered the most “famous” of Guatemala’s Mayan ruins, visitors to Tikal can take a trip back in time and experience what life was like for the ancient Maya people. Today, the BBC reports that researchers have discovered more than 60,000 Maya ruins hidden beneath the forest. The latest laser technology was used to scan over 800 square miles, leading to this breathtaking discovery. How cool! So what exactly did they uncover? The technology revealed the ruins of simple homes, grand palaces, highways, and defensive fortifications. Now, researchers believe this area to have been home to millions more people than previously believed. Stephen Houston, Professor of Archaeology and Anthropology at Brown University, reported that he believes, “this is one of the greatest advances in over 150 years of Maya archaeology.” Looks like there’s even more reason to visit Guatemala! You can read the full BBC report here. 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

Increased costs for comprehensive programs in education, health care, housing and family development, coupled with a multi-year reduction in the value of the US Dollar in Guatemala are the primary drivers for this increase. In November, the Development Committee recommended to the Board of Directors a $5 increase per month to each sponsorship level beginning in March, 2018. The board unanimously agreed to move forward with the increase, contingent upon the opportunity for sponsors to contact Common Hope and discuss other arrangements if the increase presented a hardship for the sponsor. We want to reiterate that these decisions to not come lightly. We value all that every individual gives to make hope and opportunity possible for our families in Guatemala. We recognize that Sponsors are at the heart of our work. The Common Hope model of success counts on sponsorship. Everyone at the organization wants to reiterate that we hope you will call us if you find this increase a challenge. Please direct any questions about this notice to Stacey Minnick, Jessie Szopinski, or Teresa Hermodson-Olson at 651-917-1045 or feel free to email us at sponsorship@us.commonhope.org. As a reminder, the first sponsorship increase of $5 per month for both guiding and lead sponsorship levels will take effect March 1, 2018. Monthly or annual statements will reflect this increase beginning on March 1, 2018 as well. Some have already contacted our offices to increase their sponsorship to cover the full amount of program delivery, or $96/month ($1,148 annually). If you would like to increase your sponsorship donation to cover the full cost of program delivery, visit commonhope2stg.wpengine.com/sponsorshipincrease. Thank you for giving so generously! 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

We are excited to announce that Common Hope has been awarded a grant from the Amalia & Nicola Giuliani Foundation for Religion & the Arts for our Education Support Program (GFRE). The GFRE honors the legacy of Amalia and Nicola Giuliani and their sons, Vin, an artist, and John, an artist and priest, whose lives were dedicated to the celebration of human creativity and spirituality in service of human transformation and the building of the earth. Funds from the GFRE will support the emotional and psychological activities that are a part of Common Hope’s Education Support Program. Common Hope’s staff psychologists work with children and youth to promote emotional resiliency to help keep them in school and on track to graduate. The groups are organized around three guiding principles: believing they are capable, recognizing they are responsible, and getting organized. The workshops teach effective study habits, time management, and organizational skills that raise academic and creative self-esteem. The sessions use art, music, and creative play to foster reflection and motivate them to stay in school. With the generous support from the GFRE we are providing children from disadvantaged communities with the skills and tools to become better learners so that they can be promoted to the next grade and eventually complete their high school education. Thank you, Giuliani Foundation, for partnering with us to break the cycle of poverty and build a more hopeful future for children in Guatemala. You can learn more about the Amalia & Nicola Giuliani Foundation on their website at www.giulianifdn.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

It’s summer break and college students everywhere are looking for their ideal summer internship. But all too often, students find themselves in internships that don’t prove pertinent to their field of study. On the contrary, the University of Notre Dame has established a summer program that allows their students to have a truly unique and immersive learning experience. Managed by Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns, the International Summer Service Learning Program (ISSLP) is an eight-week study abroad program that gives students across a variety of majors an opportunity to examine causes of poverty and create links of solidarity across borders. The ISSLP places students in 18 developing countries from Thailand to India to Uganda. For the last 10 years, Common Hope has been one of two Partner Organizations in Guatemala and one of 31 worldwide. At the Common Hope project site in Antigua, students have an opportunity to work in health care, housing, and/or education. Joe says this experience has shown him what kind of doctor he hopes to be This summer, Common Hope | Familias de Esperanza has the pleasure of hosting medical students Sonia Gonzalez and Joe Weiler. The two are working in Common Hope’s Antigua clinic and spend two days a week in the clinic in San Rafael. As undergrads, they are shadowing our medical staff, taking patients’ vital signs, and assisting staff as needed. Though the day-to-day tasks are fairly straightforward, Joe explains that what he’s learned is invaluable. “I’ve been able to learn how I hope to be as a doctor by observing how the staff here provides compassionate and effective care. Additionally, I better understand the problems that are present in the communities like poor air and water quality that ultimately lead to health care issues,” Joe says. They have different areas of study (Sonia is pre-med and Joe is studying neuroscience), but both agree that working in clinics is giving them the experience and understanding that will help them finish their education and pursue their desired careers. Joe and Sonia pictured with members of the Antigua clinic staff Beyond Health Care In addition to working in the clinics, Joe and Sonia also volunteer at youth activities on weekends. Sonia says this has really resonated with her and she values the relationships she’s built over the last two months. “I didn’t expect to bond with the kids in the afterschool program in the way that I did, and now I am going to be really sad to leave. And I love the fact that I am able to form relationships with the people I work with.” Over the last 10 years, Common Hope has hosted 20 Notre Dame students, providing them with opportunities to work in public schools, construction, pharmacy, dentistry, and after-school programs. In return, students carry forward a deeper understanding of the complex causes of poverty and their responsibility in our global community. This exchange fulfills the educational needs of students, creates global connections, and meets the needs of local communities – making ISSLP one of the most successful and sought-after internships. Common Hope would like to thank Notre Dame and the Center For Social Concerns for their continued partnership. And a big GRACIAS to Sonia and Joe, and all of the former Notre Dame ISSLP students. Your eagerness to learn and willingness to be of service are greatly valued! 2017: Sonia Gonzalez and Joe Weiler 2016: Brooke Gensler and Leigh Anne Tang 2015: Elizabeth Hillman and Robert Myak 2014: Kathleen Shaughnessy and Andrew Cardoza 2013: Jason Hoard and Lucy Smith 2012: Elizabeth Doan and Mariana Prado Anaya 2011: Daniel Nelson 2010: Laura Larkin and Lexie Perreras 2009: Lamarr Holland and Brianna Muller 2008: Merissa Yellman and Conrad Vinalon 2007: Sean Duffy 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