%20(2).png)
Our Mission
Guatemala Hope is a charity that supports the well-being of families with limited resources in El Triunfo, Santa Domingo, and Suchitepequez, Guatemala.
Our Roots
Guatemala Hope originated in Woodslee, Ontario. Political refugees from El Triunfo, Guatemala inspired the creation of our organization. Volunteers first went to their village of origin to provide critically needed supplies.
Our vision quickly expanded to support their goal of becoming self-sufficient. The organization is managed and operated by an elected board of volunteers. Guatemala Hope coordinates annual trips to monitor ongoing programs and implement new projects as needed.
How We Operate:
The charity is managed by an elected board responsible for overall planning, fundraising, and the approval and evaluation of projects, and meeting all requirements of the laws that govern Canadian charities.​
Annually, needs are identified and prioritized in collaboration with the village leaders. Teams of expert professionals and support team volunteers travel to the village regularly, strengthen relationships, and work on projects that improve the quality of life. A trip coordinator plans the trips to the village and coordinates the activities of the visiting volunteers.
Many other volunteers in Canada contribute their time and energy to pack supplies, support fundraising, communications, and perform administrative tasks.
​
​​
​
​​​​​​​​
Our Impact:
Guatemala Hope is 25 years old. A new strategic plan was completed in June 2025. The plan was translated into Spanish, and village leaders were asked to give input on setting goals and choosing priorities for the next 5 years. The letter that follows best describes the impact of Guatemala Hope's efforts over a quarter of a century.
Looking Ahead: 2025 to 2030
Our Vision
Over the next five years, our efforts will become more focused and impact-driven. To guide this work, we have established three dedicated teams, each focused on a key area of our mission:​
​
Improve Access to Clean Water
-
Performing annual maintenance on 55 water filters in El Tigre.
-
Expanding the waterline system in El Triunfo, including 1,600 meters of piping, valves, and hydrants.​​​
Improve Access to Education
-
Supporting students, schools, and teachers
-
Identifying and mentoring women leaders in partner villages
-
Developing and distributing culturally appropriate educational materials on:
-
Women’s health
-
Child nutrition during the first two years of life
-
Sanitation and hygiene
-
-
Facilitating group education sessions and community feedback gatherings.​
Improve Access to Education
-
Delivering medical and dental care with the help of trained professionals.
-
Creating diabetes prevention and management resources to address the 10% prevalence rate in rural areas.
-
Collaborating with other visiting mission groups to share resources and expand access to basic healthcare year-round.
Our Approach
The diagram illustrates how our three core goals work together to improve the quality of life in the villages we serve. To ensure the long-term sustainability of Guatemala Hope as an organization, we are guided by the following principles:​
Faith
We are people of faith who work together, sharing values that align closely with the communities we serve.
Good Governance
We uphold strong governance by following all regulations and laws for registered charities in Ontario, and by recruiting and training board members with the skills, integrity, and commitment required to lead effectively.
Love
Love is at the heart of everything we do. We serve with compassion, humility, integrity, and justice—core Christian values that guide our actions and relationships.
Community Leadership & Collaboration
Local leadership plays a vital role in shaping our work. The COCODE and a local Auxiliary group together form the leadership teams in El Triunfo (population ~1,200), Tigre (population ~250), and Puntarenas (a smaller village nearby). These community leaders provided direct input into our five-year strategic plan, ensuring our priorities reflect the real needs of the people we serve.
​
Through this collaborative planning process, the completion of the water distribution system in El Triunfo was identified as the top priority. Village leaders also emphasized the importance of continuing support for health and education initiatives, which remain central to our mission.
​​​
Members of the COCODE and Auxiliary:
Luis Quinones, Lorenzo Garcia, Jose Herrera, Shini de la Cruz, Sergio Monterro, Fredy Gomez, Jose Luna, Henry Salazar, Marlon Martinez, David Garcia, Ruben Gomez (President of Cocode), Ismael Hernandez, Natanael Herrera, Sandy Garcia, Walter Macajola, Alberto Calderon, Elias Herrera
​
This is the local leadership team we communicate with year-round to plan and evaluate our projects.
