CFCA stories

CFCA helps ease single mothers' burdens

May 19, 2010

Sulvi's regular visits with single mothers like Doña Jesus help
them cope with issues of self-esteem, poverty and raising
children alone.

Sulvi Perez understands the struggles of single mothers. As the coordinator for the San Pedro Ayampuc CFCA community in Guatemala, she visits with them regularly.

“Through my visits, I can know my people, and they can know me,” Sulvi said.

A large number of families in Guatemala are headed by single mothers. Perez sees the demands on single mothers to fulfill the role of both father and mother, to be provider and nurturer for their children.

Through CFCA’s Hope for a Family sponsorship program, Sulvi helps women cope with these demands. She provides lectures and workshops on self-esteem, resolving family conflicts, hygiene, women’s rights and how to feed their families healthy food.

“In this way, the mothers can move ahead and be an example for their children,” Sulvi said.

The Hope for a Family program also encourages families to become self-sufficient, whether they are headed by one or both parents.

“CFCA gives the opportunity for families to initiate small sustainable livelihood projects,” Sulvi said. “Many people have taken advantage of these and they have hope for what they are achieving.”

Sulvi also helps single mothers by facilitating small mothers groups. The mothers come together to share their stories and support each other. She works with one mothers group that specializes in tailoring. The group hopes to start a small factory to make clothing.

“The center of the family is the mother, and CFCA listens to them and gives them advice to be strong,” she said.