Our work in Guatemala
Hope for a Family program impacts lives in Guatemala
The most extensive outreach of any CFCA Hope for a Family program is in Guatemala through two projects, Hermano Pedro and Atitlan, based in San Lucas Toliman. San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala, is home to CFCA's co-founder and president, Bob Hentzen, and his wife, Cristina.
The Hermano Pedro project, CFCA's largest, serves sponsored members in eight geographic regions of the country. The Atitlan project serves members primarily in and around Lake Atitlan.
Hermano Pedro's coordinating office also serves as a retreat and resource center for families in the sponsorship program as well as sponsors and other visitors.
Among other things, sponsorship provides access to education, health care, housing supplies and improved nutrition.
Hope to isolated communities
CFCA sponsorship has helped the community of Colmenas in
Guatemala recover from extreme poverty, drought and civil war.
Click the photo to watch a video of CFCA's work in Colmenas.
When CFCA staff members first visited the Colmenas community in Guatemala, they discovered extreme poverty and malnourishment. The residents had suffered from Guatemala's long civil war, drought and a lack of employment.
Settled by the Chorti, one of the indigenous Maya peoples, Colmenas had received no outside help because its terrain and location across a river make it difficult to access.
In 2004, the local CFCA staff introduced the sponsorship program to Colmenas and set in motion a series of positive changes. Today, 40 families participate in CFCA’s Hope for a Family sponsorship program.
Residents started a bakery, a dressmaking center and a fish farm. Farmers have access to credit to grow crops through organic farming techniques and other livelihood skills.
The people of Colmenas have embraced the vision and values of CFCA and have a high level of participation in the program. Their hard work and cooperation have enabled them to manage their own development.
Encouragement toward self-sufficiency
Parents of sponsored children can choose to save part of their sponsorship benefits for three months to purchase income-generating items such as livestock for their family or more costly items, such as a bed or dresser.
This helps them shift toward saving for benefits that increase in value or generate additional income. About a third of sponsored friends and their families are saving for these types of benefits at least once a year.
Through this program, families become self-sustaining as they build a path out of poverty.
Opening doors to secondary education
Children in Guatemala tend to have one of the lowest education levels in Latin America. Unfortunately, lack of education only continues the cycle of poverty.
The Guatemala projects are working hard to encourage students to stay in school and are celebrating their accomplishments.
Maria Cristina was born in an urban area of Guatemala City, Guatemala. She and her four brothers and sisters grew up in poverty.
In 2010, Maria Cristina graduated as a doctor and surgeon after being sponsored through CFCA. She now provides medical treatment at a home for children and adults.
She has remained involved with CFCA and serves as an inspiration for sponsored children in the Hope for a Family program.
