Common Hope News

Greetings! 

Our earlier version of this email was missing a link to our new sponsorship campaign. We wanted to make sure you could get to the webpage and help sponsor a dream!

We need your help! We have 20 children who dream of 20 different careers, and they need to be paired with a sponsor who can help make their dreams come true. Do you know of anyone, perhaps someone in the same field, who would be willing to step up and help them get there? Scroll down for more info, or click here. And please spread the word!

Thanks for all you do.

Para leer en espa�ol, haga click aqui.

News from Guatemala
An activity at San Rafael's vacation school.
Health leaders gather for a small group discussion at the summit, organized by former Common Hope volunteer Sarah Schwaller.
Volunteer organizes health summit 
A former long-term volunteer for Common Hope recently returned to Guatemala with new skills and resources to offer the country---a great example of how a legacy of volunteering can continue throughout one's career. Nearly finished with her Master's in Public Health from the University of Texas, Sarah Schwaller made the trip to organize a cervical cancer summit for Antigua-area health providers.

Sarah got the idea of bringing groups together after attending a similar summit in Texas. The Guatemala event, which took place this June, focused especially on women at high risk for cervical cancer, those who have never been screened for the disease. It was attended by more than 100 people, including staff from various NGOs and the Ministry of Health as well as local community leaders.

High rates in Guatemala
Cervical cancer is the most common cancer for women in Guatemala, and hundreds of women die of it each year in the country---yet it is highly treatable when caught early. "It is possible to make this disease a non-issue in Guatemala," says Sarah, "but this will be impossible without everyone taking an active role in prevention and treatment efforts."

A number of NGOs, including Common Hope, are providing important services in screenings and treatment, but many women still don't know about the services available and their importance. Sarah says the conference was a great avenue for encouraging conversations among community leaders on addressing these challenges---how they can all work together to raise awareness and reduce cancer rates.

Many local leaders share knowledge
Presentation topics ranged from the symptoms of cervical cancer to its prevalence in Guatemala to prevention of the disease. Presenters included the director of the local Institute of Oncology (INCAN), the regional coordinator of the Guatemala Ministry of Health, and a panel of NGOs that work on cervical cancer prevention. Attendees also broke into small groups to talk about challenges and priorities in prevention of the disease.

A number of Common Hope staff participated, including Dr. Walter Estrada, Antigua Clinic Director, Dr. Paula Figueroa, and Tamalyn Gutierrez, Country Director. Dr. Estrada said he appreciated the idea sharing very much and said he came away with a different method for cervical cancer screening that allows for same-day screening and treatment.

Supporters in action
Brad Screening Patient
Dr. Brad Jacoby screens a young patient with help from daughter Glenn.
Jacoby family finds many ways to give

When asked about their 12 sponsorships and long history of volunteering, Brad and Anne Jacoby are very humble. Brad was hesitant to share their story here, but he was willing to do so if it would inspire others to sponsor.


Brad and Anne run a busy ophthalmology clinic in Covington, Georgia. They also run a busy household of five children, including three children adopted from Guatemala. And, their family sponsors 12 students with Common Hope. Somehow, they also find the time and energy to travel to Guatemala to screen and treat eye patients in San Rafael.  


The group had a very full schedule of patients on their recent trip. Their first day they saw 38 patients for surgical consults and referrals, eye glasses, and eye irritation. The next day, they focused on the smallest children at the San Rafael school. They brought reading glasses down to be fitted---though for specialized glasses, Brad goes the extra mile of bringing the prescriptions back to the States to make the glasses and then sends them back down to be distributed to patients.  
  

 

The Jacobys learned about Common Hope through our partner, Hands of Hope clinic in San Rafael. The family started volunteering with the clinic when they traveled to Guatemala for their first adoption, and they have continued ever since.  

 

After learning about Common Hope, they have become enthusiastic supporters, introducing friends and family members to the sponsorship program. Says Anne, "I think a lot of people would like to sponsor but don't know where to begin or where to get involved. Sometimes people don't know how to discern an organization that will be efficient with their funds, but I know Common Hope will be."

 

We are very grateful for the generous hearts of the Jacoby family and their friends. Thank you for all you do!

 

More info and photos on our blog...  

New Playground in Use
The new playground is already getting a lot of use.
New playground at Antigua site
Kids waited anxiously behind yellow tape as Common Hope renovated the playground at the Family Development Center with new equipment, thanks to donations from La Semana Camp and JUMBO Playground Equipment. Finally, after two days of painting and equipment installation, kids scrambled to try out the new slide, teeter-totter, jungle gym, sandbox, and swings as their mothers watched them from the benches and picnic table.

Ever since its inauguration in late June, the playground has been alive with laughter and screams from happy kids. From the moment our staff arrives to work in the morning until late afternoon when they leave, the entrance is busy with children running, swinging, sliding, climbing, teetering, and tottering.

Thank you La Semana Camp and JUMBO for your support! The kids at the Family Development Center are grateful to finally have a safe and fun place to play.


For more info and photos of the playground, visit our blog

Professions

What did you want to be? 

Think back to when you were a kid. What did you want to be when you grew up? We have 20 children with great dreams, and we're trying to find sponsors for them all before Labor Day. Future chefs, bankers, dancers, pilots---they have so much to offer Guatemala, if they can only have the chance. Meet these 20 children now and help find their sponsors!

If you can sponsor a child a
nd help them reach their goal, please contact Jessie Szopinski via email, call (651) 917-0917, or sponsor him or her online

QUICK LINKS

To follow along during your week:

 

Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Visit our blog View our videos on YouTube
Join our mailing list
Contact Us
Genesis Learns to Walk

Notes from the Field 

Want to have a closer look at what's happening in Guatemala? Check out our blog, Notes from the Field, where recent stories include Genesis learning to walk with help from the clinic, a talent show at the Antigua preschool, and St. Paul staff member Jessie Szopinski's top 10 list from her six months in Guatemala. 
VT June 2012

Openings for Vision Teams 

Interested in planning a vacation with a vision? In 2012, we have the following openings:     
  • Aug 18-25
  • Sep 1-8
  • Oct 20-27
  • Dec 1-8 
You can check out the trip calendar on our website. Talk to your friends, family, and co-workers, and start planning your trip of a lifetime.
Guatemala Flag Face Paint

Celebrate Guatemala Independence Day with Common Hope on Sep. 15 

We hope you enjoyed your Fourth of July celebrations with family and friends. Did you know that September 15th is Guatemalan Independence Day? Since it falls on a Saturday this year, we think it is a perfect day to celebrate Guatemalan culture and combine it with a celebration of the work of Common Hope. We're asking families, schools and groups of supporters to organize events all over the United States.

Join a free webinar (by computer or phone) on August 15 at 5 p.m. to learn more and see if you too can get involved.
Please contact Mary Horan via email to learn more.