  
Programs
The work of Common Hope is based on personal relationships with people. We work with sponsored children, their families, and the communities in which they live. We believe it is especially important to work with the entire family, because a child cannot be healthy unless his or her family is healthy.
Our work is comprehensive and holistic. In everything we do, we strive to support families in their struggle for independence and dignity.
Our programs are carefully and thoughtfully developed in response to the expressed needs of the financially poor. We try to do only that which people cannot do for themselves.
Each program falls under one of these four areas: Education, Family Development, Health Care, or Housing.
  
Education
Education is the key to helping people rise to new potentials and improve their lives.
In Guatemala, almost 25 percent of the population cannot read, and the average adult attends school for only 4.8 years. Public school is not free. Families must pay registration fees and purchase uniforms, books, and supplies. As a result, many parents simply cannot afford to send their children to school. The cycle of poverty is continued.
Education in Guatemala is a fundamental component of reducing poverty and inequality, so we concentrate our education efforts on the following areas:
School |
We help children attend school by paying for tuition and costs like books, supplies, and uniforms |
Tutoring |
We help students succeed in school by giving them the extra help that they often cannot get at home |
Special Education |
We provide children with specialized needs classes designed specifically for them |
Youth Groups |
We promote self-esteem, leadership, citizenship, and other interests that the students have |
Summer School |
We provide extra tutoring during school breaks |
Library |
We provide a place where parents and children can read together, play learning games, or do research – opportunities they do not have in their homes |
Sources such as the World Bank say a high school diploma can as much as double one’s earning potential in a developing country, yet in Guatemala many children do not have this opportunity.
We provide the resources necessary for over 2,600 children to attend school. In addition, in 2005 we completed New Hope School, a brand new primary school that provides education to over 250 primary and early childhood students.
Health Care
Health care is the
most urgent need of the poor. Without it, survival is questionable
and achieving goals through education impossible.
 Living in sub-standard conditions results in
increased sickness and injury. Many Guatemalans die of preventable
diseases and illnesses. It is common for people to live
years with problems like dental pain or a hernia - conditions
that can be easily treated.
The principle cause
of infant mortality in Guatemala is diarrhea, and 18% of
children suffer from malnutrition. Infant mortality, at 33 deaths for every 1,000 births, is among the highest in Central America.
To combat this, Common Hope provides health care in the
following areas:
Preventive Care |
We provide basic medical care like well-baby check-ups, exams, and education that can help prevent illness |
Dental Care |
We provide basic dental care and education on proper hygiene for children and their families |
Treating Illnesses |
We ensure that people receive treatment for illnesses before they become life-threatening |
Laboratory/X-Rays |
We provide on-site testing for over 40 common illnesses and full x-ray services |
Pre-/Post-Natal Care and Education |
We ensure
that women receive the proper medical care and education
during pregnancy, labor, and delivery |
Nutrition |
We track
children's growth, providing milk, and teaching proper
food preparation in order to prevent malnutrition and
illness |
|
We teach
children basic hygiene, proper nutrition, and positive
self-esteem |
|
We help
people receive emergency treatments and surgeries when
necessary |
  
Housing
The families Common Hope serves often live in inadequate and unsafe conditions. Living in such unsanitary conditions leads to parasitic food contamination, life threatening diseases, and additional family strain.
Many families
in Guatemala live in small, dirt floor shacks made of cornstalks
or materials scavenged. The majority
of these dwellings do not have potable water or sanitation
systems. Because people often burn open wood fires in their
homes for cooking, respiratory illnesses are a leading
cause of death in Guatemala.
Common Hope helps families overcome
these problems in the following ways:
Housing |
We help families build a small modular
home that is clean, dry, and safe. They earn the home
by working sweat equity hours, and we help them build
it |
Utilities |
We connect families with important services like sewer, water, latrines, and electricity |
Stoves |
We help to prevent respiratory disease by helping families earn a stove that uses less wood and allows them to vent harmful smoke outside
|
Family Development
 In order to make a permanent difference in people’s lives, we need to reach beyond the sponsored child to families and communities. Healthy individuals are the building blocks for strong families, which, in turn, make up supportive communities.
In Guatemala, almost 25% of adults are unable to read. For women, the percentage
is even higher. Other
problems like abuse, alcoholism, and poor self-esteem prevent
families from overcoming poverty and improving their lives.
In addition, the civil war that lasted 36 years has had
lasting effects on the people and communities.
Common Hope works to overcome these challenges by:
Goal Setting |
Social workers help families
identify their obstacles and goals and create a plan
specifically tailored to their needs and hopes |
Counseling |
Social workers visit families on a regular basis to listen to them, advise them, and offer support |
Support Groups |
Our psychology staff provides support among peers through groups for
parenting, Al-Anon, and more. |
Primary Sources: Population Reference Bureau, UNESCO, World Bank
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