People for Guatemala, Inc.

Hi!  My name is Suzanne (Suzi for short).  I am a retired Canadian military officer, currently living in Pueblo, Colorado. I truly feel blessed for all that life has bought me:  a great career, good health and wonderful family and friends.  As Thanksgiving and the holiday season are approaching, I feel that it is about time I give back to the world.  To do so, I have decided to get out of my comfort level and join the ranks of this great non-profit organization called "People for Guatemala".

I am departing for Guatemala in early December to help improve the living condition of families living in rural villages by providing them something that we take for granted:  a healthy cooking stove and a concrete floor.  

Since these families live with income of less than $100/month, the cooking is done via open fire.  Women have to spend hours every day gathering wood.  The toxic fumes of the fire lead  to severe respiratory illness for women and younger children.  The Chapina stoves that will be installed in those homes, will not only reduce the probability of illness, but also reduce the need to gather firewood since they require only 1/3 of what an open fire uses. 

Replacing dirt floors with cement in the homes of those villagers, makes for a more comfortable living - but more importantly, it significantly improves children's health by interrupting the transmission of intestinal parasites and boosts youngsters' cognitive abilities.

The cost of both projects is $400/family.

I am financing 10 families and will be hands on working with the villagers to help themselves improving their situation. The pictures you see are the families I will be helping.  You will be able to follow my progress with my regular updates and pictures on this site and via Facebook.  Funds received through this fundraising platform will allow more families to receive the gift of better living conditions. I would also be happy to send you updates via email as well.


Please, help me in making a positive difference in this world by donating to such a worthy cause!

People for Guatemala provides other essential programs such as education and women's health.  Please visit their site to get more information and donate to the other programs should you prefer to do so.

www.peopleforguatemala.org


People for Guatemala 

EIN 27-2550148 Dedicated to helping people willing to help themselves through health and education initiatives in rural villages in San Martin, Jilotepeque Guatemala. We operate a medical clinic serving the health needs of over 500 people each month. With 10 years of experience working with indigenous peoples living in extreme poverty, we develop people's skills and educate them how to work together, prioritize needs, seek resources, and complete sustainable projects to benefit families and entire communities.

People for Guatemala, Inc., together with its in-country partner, Hombres y Mujeres en Acción, have worked in rural Guatemala, in San Martin Jilotepeque, since 2009, home to over 100,000 people, mostly indigenous. We primarily focus on improving health and education for people living in extreme poverty. Please check out our website for any further information: http://www.peopleforguatemala.org 

But since the COVID-19 crisis started we have not been able to open neither our health and dental clinic nor our learning center due to restrictions from the Guatemalan government in order to prevent the virus from spreading too fast all over the country.

In the Western World social distancing might be something doable for a short period of time, especially with government programs in place. But in Guatemala, as well as in many other poor countries, not being able to leave your house to go to work literally means no food on the table.

Guatemala already had the sixth highest malnutrition rate (47%) worldwide before the crisis started. Now, after several weeks of being stuck at home and no end to the travel ban in sight our biggest concern is to feed as many of our scholarship students` and patients’ families as possible until they are allowed to go out and find work again to provide for their families. The average family has 5 to 6 children and often times elderly people to take care of.

Due to the generous support of some individual donors we have already been able to supply food (rice, beans, pasta, oil, vitamins, etc.) for about a week to 57 of our scholarship students’ families and to 68 of our patients’ families. But there are many more on the waiting list that need to be fed in the upcoming weeks or months. Our committed staff makes sure to deliver the food packages to the doorstep of each family, taking all the necessary safety and health measurements for everyone involved.  

So, please consider donating to help our families. Every little bit counts! We really appreciate your time and commitment to help us provide food to the most vulnerable families!

Hi I am Donna, a retired Texas educator.  I recently returned from Guatemala where I visited several schools with dire needs.  All are remote, located far into the mountains and reachable only by 4-wheel drive.  Poverty pervades. The villagers live a spare, need-filled life.  However, they have learned the value of an education and encourage their children to learn.   The government builds the school building and then offers little to no support afterward. Roofs leak; outdoor toilets abound.   Yet students are expected to have computer skills when they enter high school and not one computer has been or will be provided. Without computer literacy, students will not be able to continue their education.

In the village of Chi Don Juan, San Martin, Jilotepequez, men of the village will help reclaim a room, actually an old bath room, to make a space for much needed equipment.  An elementary building and junior high are built side by side and so all could maximize the use of the “lab.” Can you help us by donating to buy computers for the school there? Our goal is to buy a minimum of 10 computers, hopefully 12. Please reach into your hearts and your pockets and donate to this worthy cause.

Hi, I'm , and I'm raising funds for People for Guatemala, Inc. This incredible organization is dedicated to promoting human advancement by engaging the poor living in rural Guatemala through health initiatives, education, and community development. Their work creates long-term change, transforming families and entire communities.

Your support helps People for Guatemala make a difference by contributing towards efforts like:

• Providing essential health services to underserved communities, ensuring access to basic care.
• Implementing educational programs that empower children and adults with the skills they need for a brighter future.
• Supporting community development projects that foster sustainable growth and improve living conditions.

Every contribution, no matter the size, helps sustain these essential programs and paves the way for a better life for those in need. Join us in making a lasting impact in Guatemala—donate today and be a part of this vital mission!