General

What is Common Hope?

Common Hope is a 501(c)(3) organization committed to education and human development for children and families in Guatemala.

What is Common Hope’s mission?

Common Hope is dedicated to promoting hope and opportunity in Guatemala, partnering with children, families, and communities who want to participate in a process of development to improve their lives through education, health care, and housing.

What are Common Hope's basic areas of work?

Our work is concentrated in four basic areas: education, health care, housing, and community and family development. In education, we help both children and adults go to school. In health care, we help people receive basic and emergency health care. In housing, families can earn new homes, stoves, and other building supplies. In community and family development, we help people receive counseling, develop leadership skills, and find better employment.

How does Common Hope work?

Once a family forms a partnership with us, we require them to participate in their own development process—beginning with their child staying in school. We believe that their participation in the process preserves dignity and builds ownership.

With help from Common Hope’s social workers, the family identifies their challenges and sets goals for themselves. The goals might include building a new house, taking a literacy class, getting their family dental check-ups, and many more possibilities. The social worker then helps the individual family members connect with the right program or activity so that they can begin achieving those goals and improving their lives.

Where does Common Hope work?

Common Hope works in a variety of places throughout Guatemala. In Antigua, our Family Development Center serves over 8,000 people. Near Guatemala City, we are building New Hope Village and a new primary school that will educate up to 600 students. In the Ixcàn jungle, we help to run a school, and we are providing scholarship to students from other regions of Guatemala, as well as training teachers around the country.

What makes Common Hope unique?

Five things make Common Hope unique: personal, regular contact with the families we serve; comprehensive and integrated programs; required participation from those we serve; responsible use of funds; and being an island of stability for people who live in a chaotic world.

Why does Common Hope focus on the whole family?

A child’s health and ability to succeed depends on the health and success of the family, so we work with the entire family.

Can I volunteer?

Common Hope welcomes volunteers at both our U.S. Office in St. Paul, MN and in Guatemala. In St. Paul, volunteers help with a variety of things, from assisting in the warehouse to translating letters and preparing mailings. In Guatemala, we offer long-term and short-term volunteering opportunities in a variety of areas.

Does Common Hope have a religious affiliation?

Common Hope welcomes anyone willing to serve the poor, and we serve those living in poverty without regard to religion. Although Common Hope was founded on Christian ideals, we are not affiliated with any particular religion, and we do not proselytize.

Is Common Hope politically involved?

To ensure the safety of its staff and the families served by Common Hope, we are not politically active in the United States or Guatemala.

Does Common Hope accept material donations?

Yes, we are happy to accept items that are needed in Guatemala. Please see our Needs Lists for specific items that can be donated.

Sponsorship

How much does it cost to sponsor a child?

Common Hope offers two sponsorship options that you may want to consider. You can become a Lead Sponsor by making a monthly donation of $60 or more and be the only sponsor for a child or student. Or you can become a Guiding Sponsor by making a monthly donation of $30 or more and share the sponsorship of a child or student.

What specific benefits does my sponsored child receive?

Each family has unique needs, so benefits can vary depending on each family’s specific needs. Basic benefits include the opportunity for sponsored children to go to school and have access to health care. Families of sponsored children also benefit from Common Hope's programs. They might receive medical care, vocational training, or even a new home. Social workers know the families personally and help them to achieve stability and self-sufficiency.

Young adults are also sponsored as students, so that they can continue their education and qualify for better jobs.

How long is a child sponsored?

Sponsorship continues as long as a student stays in school or until the family becomes economically independent. Common Hope is happy to discontinue a sponsorship for this reason, because it means we have successfully met our goal. Other circumstances that require a sponsorship to be discontinued are if a family moves out of our service area, or if a child, student or family refuses to participate in their own development process. Sponsors are always notified of these changes. Whatever the reason for disaffiliation, we are hopeful that sponsors will choose to sponsor a new student or child.

If for any reason you cannot continue your sponsorship, you may discontinue it by notifying our U.S. Office. We will find another sponsor as soon as possible, and the student's education and assistance to the family will not be suspended during this process.

Can I correspond with my sponsored child?

Absolutely! Communication and emotional support are important to the development of a child or student. For this reason, we encourage the exchange of cards, brief letters, and photos. Letters must be sent through our U.S. Office, where they are translated before being sent to the sponsored child.

Can I send gifts to my sponsored student?

All sponsored children and students automatically receive a birthday and Christmas gift each year. This assures that all children and students receive appropriate gifts. These gifts are given on behalf of the sponsor.

We encourage sponsors to help cover the cost of these personal gifts to the children and students by donating an additional $60 or more per year to the Gift Fund, which is also used for larger gifts such as tables, chairs, beds, stoves, wardrobes, water systems, electrification, and sewage systems.

Please do not send physical gifts to your sponsored child. It is both expensive and time consuming, and can be culturally inappropriate. But we do welcome small items that can fit into a flat envelope, like stickers, bookmarks, photos, and other small gifts.

Financials

How much of my sponsorship dollar goes to help my sponsored student?

Based on a 5-year average, 83.9% of funds go directly to programs and people. Click here for more financial information.

What is the best way to give?

We are so grateful for any type of dontation, but our favorite gifts are monthly unrestricted gifts.  They help us plan well and use the funds where they are most needed. Two options for this type of giving are Sponsorship and Common Hope partnerships.

Visiting Guatemala

Can I visit Guatemala?

Common Hope welcomes and encourages people to visit us in Guatemala. If you are a sponsor and wish to visit your sponsored child, visits must be arranged through the Sponsorship Manager at Common Hope's U.S. Office.  Please arrange your visit two to four weeks in advance to insure it goes smoothly. Simply click here to learn more.

Is Guatemala safe?

Guatemala is a wonderful place to visit, but not all areas are recommended for tourists. As in any country, crime does exist in Guatemala. Common Hope's staff stays well informed about safety issues and sets appropriate safety guidelines as the situation warrants. Please visit our travel resources page or contact our U.S. Office.

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