Sponsorship Programs

Family Sponsorship

The staff explores the family’s interest and commitment to improving their lives by participating in a multi-year training program to help them develop a skill (e.g., weaving, carpentry, raising animals or crops, etc.) to support themselves.  Recipients must then demonstrate progress in the planned training and development of self-supportive skills to remain in the program.

A U.S. sponsor assists each specific family at $40/month for up to four years. Sponsors receive a photo and family history, and (later) a report on the progress of their family.  Approximately 1000 Guatemalan families have completed the 3-yr training programs during the past 30 + years.  In view of the one-on-one nature of the program, the number of U.S. sponsors accepted into the program at any one time is limited.  

Sponsored families typically use about half of their monthly support for skills training expenses and supplies.  Some of it may be used for educational expenses for their children. A portion of their support is saved for them until they are ready for a major purchase (e.g., sewing machine, farm animal, house building materials, etc.)  Many of the families use their savings to pay for construction materials for a new house, latrine, or stove. 

Family Assistance

Under the Family Assistance Program, individuals in urgent need of nutritional food, emergency medical care, clothing, or housing are given assistance to sustain themselves. These are frequently elderly or abandoned individuals who have no means of obtaining help from a community.

Individuals accepted into the Family Assistance program are not expected to participate in training programs, although many become more involved in community activities. Sponsors commit to monthly contributions that range from $20 to $40 and receive a photo and history of the individual they are helping.