Vision Team Program gets a refresh !



Common Hope's Vision Team program gets a refresh! The new and improved Vision Team Experience Guide is now available for download on our website! The guide contains a wealth of information about new Vision Team trip options, pricing, and activities. 

If you haven't been to Guatemala, this guide will make you want to go and if you have been, it'll make you plan a return trip! 

2017 Spring Vision Team dates totally sold out! Email kallies@us.commonhope.org to learn more and reserve your VT Experience today!




SUPPORTERS  
IN ACTION
 
Texas Teen Leads Statewide CH School Supply Drive
 


"In my school specifically, you find pencils on the ground everywhere so it's hard to think that other kids around the world only have one pencil a year."

A natural leader, Pratiksha Tonpe is a State Director for the National Society of High School Scholars.

Alongside her co-state directors, Pratiksha created a very impactful initiative that focuses on collecting school supplies for Guatemalan students. Her goal is to engage all 208 Texas state ambassadors in the project and collect a total of 5,000 supplies!  

Read more about Pratiksha's exciting initiative and the compelling reason she decided to collect supplies for Guatemalan students. 

READ MORE »




YOU  CAN
CHANGE A LIFE 
 
SPONSORPALOOZA comes your way September 15


SPONSORPALOOZA is your chance to tell the world about Common Hope! Running from September 15 - November 17, 2016, SPONSORPALOOZA is a nationwide opportunity to celebrate partnership and introduce sponsorship to friends and family.

Common Hope has 8 weeks of exciting stories, activities, events and contests planned to celebrate the role you play in the life of a child in Guatemala. We've done all of the work for you so that you can tell the world about your sponsorship experience and encourage others to do the same - from our HOPE IN THE HOME PARTY BOX to SOCCERlooZAWEEK to 'Sponsorpalooza-On-the-Move Coffee Tour'- there is a way for you to engage!

Each year, more than 600 Common Hope students go without a sponsor.  We know that students with sponsors are more likely to celebrate their high school graduation. Help us welcome 120 new sponsors to Common Hope during Sponsorpalooza!

Interested in hosting a HOPE IN THE HOME PARTY? Email us!





NEWS FROM  
GUATEMALA
 
New Country Director sees the power of Common Hope
 


Greetings Common Hope friends!

It is with great pleasure that I can say that I am officially part of the Common Hope/ Familias de Esperanza team. I kicked off my days with orientation and training, as well as embarking on planning for 2017. It has been incredible to be exposed to the work of my colleagues here in Guatemala.

In the library, I was able to see the supportive healthy space that is created for kids ages 2-18 and their families. In a Nurturing Parenting session, I heard parents talk about their most memorable meal from childhood and reflect on how important it is to make meal time a time when families come together.

During my visit with the Sponsorship team I saw how carefully and patiently they receive applications from hopeful families who would like to become part of Familias de Esperanza. 

I greeted a Vision Team with my hospitality colleagues and said then goodbye to them alongside small children from the Antigua Day Care Center. 
 
I learned more about the new communities where we work; specifically the challenges that small farmers' families face in trying to create a more dignified life.
 
I was able to attend the 10 year anniversary of our school building at New Hope, as well as, witness the graduation of three schools from Phase 1 of our Partnership School Program.
 
I witnessed the amazing experience of coming on a Vision Team and the wonderful collaboration between our visitors, families and staff.
 
Every place I went I learned from my new colleagues just how caring they are and how important it is to them to ensure that students dream and families are united. Since my arrival at Common Hope/Familias de Esperanza I have been shown an unconditional hope for the future and a fundamental commitment to caring and giving.  
 
In the coming weeks we will be preparing to receive a volunteer dental team, a visit from the Board of Directors, continue planning for 2017, and finalizing the 2017-2020 Strategic Plan.
 
We are getting ready to kick off Sponsorpalooza next month, getting ready to receive the shipping container filled with school supplies and, most importantly, we will be preparing to celebrate the graduation of 168 students in November. This is the most exciting time of year for all of us to watch students reach this milestone and we can recognize all of our collective hard work!
 
I am looking forward to working with this team toward 30 more years! And to watching the acceptance, patience and support that make up this Common Hope/Familias de Esperanza community!

 

THE 2016  SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE  IS HERE!
 
 
Give the gift of education! Each year, Common Hope provides the necessary school supplies for more than 3,400 students-paying for books, supplies, and tuition. We rely on the generosity of our donors to make this happen! There are many ways you can help. 
 
Last year we sent 10 pallets, a 20 foot container to Guatemala and raised over $30,000. We are hoping to do even more this year. If you would like to donate we need over 16,000 notebooks, 40,000 pencils and 500 calculators just to name a few.





THANK YOU  TO OUR GOLF CLASSIC SPONSORS!
 
 
On August 1 we celebrated our 7th Annual Common Hope Golf Classic. More than $95,000 was raised for the children and families we serve in Guatemala!

Once again we would like to thank AbeTech, our incredibly generous Presenting Sponsor, along with all of the sponsors for making this the best tournament yet!

Presenting Sponsor
AbeTech
 
Executive Sponsors
All Over Media
Strom Engineering Corporation
 
Birdie Sponsors
B&D Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning
Honeywell
 
Hole Sponsors
AmeriPride
Audiology Concepts
Blue Star
JLL
SOTI
TRIA Orthopedic Center 
UBS
Zebra




GOLFERS RAISE $10,000 FOR HEALTH CARE PROGRAM
 
 
At this year's Golf Classic, the funding focus was on raising $10,000 for our Health Care Program, which would then be matched dollar for dollar. 

THE $10,000 GOAL WAS REACHED thanks to our incredibly generous golfers. The money raised will help stock the pharmacy, provide important health consultations, and give thousands of people access to quality health care, a luxury for impoverished families in Guatemala. 

THANK YOU GOLFERS for making this possible and thank you to Rich Gannon and Bob and Mary Fafinski for speaking on behalf Common Hope's critical Health Care Program!



EXPERIENCE GUATEMALA
ORGANIZE A VISION TEAM
 

It's MORE THAN a volunteer abroad trip. It's a life-changing experience. Do you want to make a real difference in someone's life? Start here!  

2017 DISCOUNT TRIP DATES!
 
May 14-21, 2017
May 21-28, 2017 
September 3-10, 2017
September 17-24, 2017


 
MORE INFO  »
 




MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR 
UPCOMING EVENTS
 

Be sure to visit our online events calendar to stay up-to-date on all of the events throughout the year!

September 15, 2016 : SPONSORPALOOZA and Guatemalan Independence Day

November 1, 2016 : Sponsorship Moment of Solidarity 

November 2-6, 2016 : Graduation Trip to Guatemala

November 5, 2016 : Common Hope Graduation in Antigua

December 1, 2016 : 30 Years of Holiday Cheers Holiday Open House
 




NOTES FROM
THE FIELD
 

Visit or subscribe to our blog for more in-depth stories about programs, supporters, and activities in Guatemala. 

This month we are featuring the photo gallery from the 7th Annual Common Hope Golf Classic.
 
 




PHRASE OF THE MONTH  EN ESPAÑOL
 
"De vuelta a la escuela
(de-vwel-ta-ah-la-es-squay-la)
Back to school


"LIKE" US ON 
FACEBOOK!
 

 
A lot is happening weekly on our Facebook page! Keep up current news, stories, and photos from Guatemala - plus be first to know about upcoming events!





GET INVOLVED »

Make a difference today

SIGN UP »

Join our mailing list


DONATE NOW 
»

Make a gift today