Causes: Human Services

Mission: We empower families and communities to be healthy, educated and self-reliant.

Results: A sampling. Since its inception in 1992, our Work-Study Program has:> Increased the number of years the average child is in school from just 3 years to 11> Increased the percentage of girls in the program from just 2% to 53%> Vastly outperformed the norm for children without assistance: 90% of our sponsored students stay in school through age 16 vs. just 3.3% without assistance, and 100% leave our program literate vs. 40%* in the general populace (*WHO 2013 report). > Produced San Martín Chiquito's FIRST college graduates (3), and we've only just begun: There are more than EIGHTY children now sponsored and in school, following in the footsteps of these determined children!Additionally:> Our health programs serve more than 10,000 people each year> Our preschool educates and feeds approximately 35 children five days a week> Our Tesoros del Corazón Fair Trade Weaving Cooperative is preserving the ancient tradition of backstrap weaving while helping to feed and cloth a dozen families> Our Leaders in Action training program is preparing 20 youth each year to take leadership roles in their communities, and the world> Our Karen Edwards Women's Empowerment Project has made it possible for several dozen women to become literate, and continues to work to free women from the chains of illiteracy> Our Micro-loan program has already funded the start-up of three successful small businesses!> Our Dignified Housing Program has made it possible to families to recover their health, and their hope> Our Volunteer Program has made it possible for more than 1,200 people to experience the joy of service to others. . . For more information, visit us at http://www. localhope. org

Target demographics: impoverished children and families who seek to become highly productive and self sufficient

Direct beneficiaries per year: More than 5000 children and their family members, providing access to education, health care, leadership training and much more! Emergency food provided during the pandemic: food for a month for more than 20,000 people in 50 villages

Geographic areas served: Current: Guatemalan Highlands

Programs: health care, preschool, work-study scholarships k-college, adult literacy, study center/tutoring, leadership training, micro-loans, support to a fair-trade weaving cooperative and more!