Join friends in Chicago, Madison, London striving for a Common Hope

At our U.S. offices, we are enjoying the sunshine of the first days of spring. In Guatemala, the rainy season is fast approaching. Students and staff are in the thick of the 2010 school year, working hard to make educational success a reality.

Please read on to learn more about how your dollars are making a difference -- and how people like you around the globe are making more change possible every day.

Para leer las noticias en español, haga click aqui.

News from Guatemala

Meet María del Carmen, beneficiary of the PODER employment program
María del Carmen, whose family has been affiliated with Common Hope for more than ten years, graduated from high school in 2006 with a degree in accounting. After graduation she was determined to get a job to support her family, but her degree could only take her so far in her search. María knew she would need to be proactive, but as she puts it, "some of us are very shy about those types of things."

Learning the Skill of Job Seeking
Shortly after graduation, María attended a workshop put on by Margarita Díaz, coordinator of Common Hope's employment program, PODER (Programa para oportunidades de empleo y realización). "They taught us how to look for jobs and we did [practice] interviews," she says. "They told us where we made mistakes and how to improve." With her new skills and a recommendation from Margarita, María was able to get a job at a bank in Antigua, where she has been working for the past two years. "It's so nice to see her working in the bank," says Magarita. "It's great to see these young [graduates] working in positions in the Antigua community."

Long-term Impact
PODER was founded in 2001 by Common Hope staff person Cesar Valleand long-term volunteer Ron Macklin. Since its inception, 387 affiliated family members have found jobs through the program. "Each person has a success story to share about how their day-to-day living has improved economically," says co-founder Ron Macklin.

New reader needs a Sponsor

Javier, age 8, is a first grader at the public elementary school in San Miguel Escobar. He lives in a concrete block home with his parents and four siblings. Javier struggled to learn to read last year and is repeating first grade in 2010. He is receiving more intensive support this year because of Common Hope's school partner initiative. Read more about Javier's story on our blog.

If you can contribute $1 or $2 per day to see Javier through school, please contact Jessie at (651) 917-1045 or jessies@us.commonhope.org.

Photo: Eight-year-old Javier practices reading with his mother.

Supporters in Action

Global Giving UK Project Challenge

During the month of April, Common Hope is making special efforts to spread the word about Common Hope through a prominent nonprofit website in the UK. Selected to participate in the Global Giving UK Project Challenge, we have the task of raising £1000 from 50 UK donors by April 30 to earn a permanent spot on the website.

Several supporters from the UK are helping achieve this goal. Mathematician and author Marcus du Sautoy is raising funds for the challenge through his Naming Symmetries for Charity project. Shani du Sautoy is getting her Guatemala adoptive family network involved. Several other supporters are spreading the word with family and friends. Many thanks to the Crown and Punch Bowl restaurant in Cambridge, Essex which is displaying information throughout the restaurant and facilitating donations to the cause during the month of April.

For their efforts, nearly £700 from 23 donors has been raised to date for Common Hope! If you have friends or family in the UK, please share our Global Giving UK project challenge page, Education for Impoverished Guatemalan Youth, and ask them for their support. Only £300 and 27 donors to go by April 30!

Photo Caption: Shirley's story is featured on Common Hope's Global Giving UK Project Challenge page.

Celebrating Esvin's Graduation

Long-time Sponsor Mary Thompson and friend Sarah Zimmerman (l to r) traveled to Guatemala last November for her sponsored student's graduation. Mary, from Kennett Square, PA, shared the following reflection about her experience:

Sarah and I were like two kids off on a new adventure as we were driven to Esvin's home. Esvin had clearly matured and become more self-confident since I saw him two years ago. The whole family made us feel so welcome and at home. Gifts were given, and while I had agonized over what would be most appropriate, it was the Phillies baseball cap which Sarah gave Esvin that won the prize!

Esvin said he was looking forward to finding a job so he could help the family. He hopes to continue school on weekends. How does a young man like Esvin find his first job? He certainly doesn't look in the classified section of the local paper, nor does he have a network of friends or relatives to help out. [Read more...]

What are your memories from a visit with your sponsored student? Send Kate Lucas an email if you would like to share your story in our eNews or on our blog.

Photo Caption: Mary Thompson (left) and her friend Sarah Zimmerman visited New Hope on their trip to Guatemala last November.

Global Activism Expo in Chicago

On April 17, Common Hope will participate in the Global Activism Expo put on by Chicago Public Radio's Worldview. Shari Blindt, Common Hope's executive director, and honorary board members Mary Pasquinelli and Joe and Leslie Shank will be hosting Common Hope's booth.

Doors open at the UIC Form at 12 p.m. and stay open until 6 p.m. on April 17. The FREE event will have food, music and over 100 Global Activists, all featured guests of Worldview's Global Activism Series.

Check out Common Hope's interview on Chicago Public Radio's Worldview here.

Photo exhibit at Froth House in Madison, WI

Common Hope supporters Mariah Quinn, Sean Duffy and Jen Valtierra have organized a photo exhibit and reception during the month of April at The Froth House coffee shop in Madison, WI.

The photos will be displayed throughout the month of April. A reception will be held on Thursday, April 29th from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Froth House, located at 11 N. Allen St., Madison, WI.

You Can Help

Blankets needed

Our April need of the month is blankets. It can get very cold in the highlands of Guatemala -- particularly during the rainy season, which is fast approaching, in homes with little insulation and no heat. A big thank you to all who have already dropped off blankets and other supplies!

Your supply collections help Common Hope to provide opportunities for students and families in Guatemala while saving thousands of dollars that can be directed toward other pressing program needs.

Please help us reach our goal.

Long-term volunteers needed
Common Hope is currently seeking four full-time, long-term volunteers to support our programs in Guatemala. The following positions are yearlong commitments:

Vision Team Coordinator (2 positions, start date ASAP)
Housing Volunteer (start date ASAP)
Volunteer Physician (June start date)

For more information or to apply, visit our website.

Bilingual teachers needed
Pre-school and primary school teachers, bilingual or with intermediate Spanish skills, are needed this summer to work with our partner organization, Let's Be Ready, featured in our last eNews and on our blog. The organization works to prepare impoverished Guatemalan children for first grade.

The time commitment is at least three weeks. If interested, contact Fred Zambroski via email.