Support Santa María de Jesús After Quake

Everything Got Destroyed – Deadly Earthquake Hits Guatemala

My name is Misla Barco , and I’m the Global Ambassador and a proud member of the Board of Directors for El Patojismo in Guatemala.

El Patojismo is a transformative education center that serves more than 400 students in Jocotenango, Sacatepéquez. I’m actively involved in fundraising, visiting the school, supporting our dedicated educators, and helping with both classroom activities and meal preparation.

Today, I’m reaching out because our neighboring village, Santa María de Jesús, was severely affected by the July 7 earthquake. Many families lost their homes and are now facing urgent food insecurity.

With these funds, we are providing relief to the Santa María de Jesús community.

Thank you for believing in El Patojismo and giving hope to the survivors.

If you have any questions or want to get involved further, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

Every donation—large or small—makes a real difference. Thank you for helping us provide comfort, nourishment, and hope to families in crisis.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, July 8, 2025, a powerful 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Guatemala, severely affecting the regions of Sacatepéquez, Escuintla, and Amatitlán. The quake caused widespread destruction in the central and southern parts of the country, including the capital, Guatemala City. Fatalities have been reported. Buildings have collapsed, roads are blocked, and a state of emergency has been declared. Aftershocks continue to shake the region.

One of the hardest-hit communities is Santa María de Jesús, a town of more than 21,000 residents nestled on the slopes of Volcán de Agua, just 10 kilometers from Antigua Guatemala. The devastation is immense—homes are gone, roads are impassable, and families, including seniors and children, are sleeping on the streets. There is no electricity, no clean water, and no access to food or medical supplies. With the roads blocked, people are walking for miles through debris and fallen trees to reach nearby towns for basic necessities.

As a survivor of the 1976 Guatemala earthquake, I know firsthand the fear, confusion, hunger, thirst, and helplessness people feel in moments like this. It’s a nightmare they are living through right now.

Please, I’m asking for your compassion and support. I’m raising $5,000 to deliver meals and water to the survivors in Santa María de Jesús.

Your donation—no matter the amount—can make a real difference. Every dollar counts.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Hoy por ti, mañana por mí.

All photos courtesy of Nelo Mijangos, used with permission.

Cualquier donación, por pequeña que sea, puede marcar una gran diferencia.

Cada dólar cuenta.

De todo corazón, gracias por tu apoyo.

Hoy por ti, mañana por mí.

Créditos fotográficos:

Todas las fotos fueron tomadas por Nelo Mijangos, usadas con permiso.