Stories

When Deborah was just 12 years old, she was kidnapped and held captive with a group of young girls for two months. By the time she escaped and returned home, the damage was done. Her harrowing ordeal haunted her into her teens and adulthood. Fearing social stigma, she told no one the truth about what had happened, except for her mother and sister. She had been a victim of human trafficking, but she didn’t feel like a survivor. She felt restless, fearful, and depressed. She isolated herself from friends and community. She couldn’t work—she could barely brush her own hair.

Juana will never forget the little water bottle that she carried to school every day. Water access close to home (or in your house!) is critical to development. Girls in Guatemala need access to water to help them stay in school.

When a woman is equipped with skills, encouraged by her community, and empowered with confidence, she is capable of making lasting change.

Maria was empowered to start her own business, and now she is helping women like her embrace equity.

When you brew your morning coffee is there a face, a person, a family that comes to mind? There is a good chance that the beans you used were grown on a small farm tended by a family that has cultivated coffee for a few generations. There’s also a good chance that the family experiences the daily struggles of poverty.

Two years ago, Maria’s husband Antonio went blind. It was an unexpected blow to the family. Suddenly, Maria found herself solely responsible for their five children, the youngest of whom was just a newborn. In her small, rural community of Vichibala, Guatemala, there aren’t many job opportunities. And even if there were, Maria had no one to provide childcare.

This Earth Day, I've been thinking a lot about Guatemala's Indigenous women and girls– not only about the adverse effect climate change has on their lives, but also the potential they have to transform their communities to be resilient to those effects.

One... two… three… Rosa softly counts out her Guatemalan quetzales, her earnings for the day. Her small vegetable stand in the Rio Azul community is one of a kind. Instead of looking to make a fortune, Rosa is selling fresh, high quality cabbage, chard, and cauliflower at a reasonable price for Rio Azul community members to take home and feed their families. Around the community, she’s known for her delicious and yet inexpensive vegetables. And one thing is for certain–she’s not cutting back her prices out of naivety. It is a purposeful decision grounded in her care for the community and reflective of her trusting relationship with God.

In North America, the phrase ‘business woman’ might trigger the image of power suits, striking presentations, and hurried cups of coffee while taking yet another conference call. But one group of women in Guatemala is proving to be so much more.

“I thank FH for supporting my community, for the ideas they have shared with mothers, families, children, and young students and for the training developed with the leaders. They have been a great blessing for [the families] now they are putting into practice what they have learned.” — José

I feel it is necessary to contribute for the development of my community. In the past there was no opportunity [for women] to participate in leadership due to cultural issues, but thanks to FH training there has been a great change in the community and in the integration of leadership.

Someone’s been paying attention in class! Seven-year-old Phither has been attending FH’s High-5 program aimed at filling the lives of children with blessings, fun activities, shared Bible stories, and memorizing Bible verses

Isabela Alonzo is a 25-year-old mother of three living in Santa Avelina, Cotzal. Her youngest child was born with a disability. For this single income family living in a one-room house and working hard to make ends meet, raising a child with a disability is a huge challenge.

Partner communities in Guatemala continue to battle the chaos following two consecutive hurricanes, Eta and Iota. After weeks of destructive wind, rain, and floods, the communities in Cotzal and the community of Villa Hortensia II are only just starting to plan to return to rebuild. The partner communities of Acul, Rio Azul, and Xonca, on the other hand, have only seen minor damages; many families were on alert at the outset of Iota, and took precautions or relocated.

Child sponsorship comes full circle in this mother's amazing testimony.

Whip up some of the tastiest drinks from around the world! Across partner communities, coffees, teas, and fruit drinks are part of gatherings, traditions, and relaxation. From hot, rich, and creamy flavours to cold, fruity and tangy, you’re covered here. You’ll find something that hits the spot as spring turns to summer!

Before partnering with FH, many communities farmed and gardened in ways they had done for centuries. While traditional farming methods are important, it’s also necessary to incorporate simple new agricultural techniques that keep soil healthy and diversify crops. As FH partners with communities, many are looking for better agricultural success. Implementing these new practices are the first place to start.

It’s not exactly “business as usual” for a handful of companies in British Columbia. While the bulk of companies prioritize the bottom line—balancing the numbers and cutting costs to make as much money as possible—Alderidge Construction, Stattonrock Design & Build, Balzer’s Brushing, and Ferguson Moving & Storage have gone to great lengths to inject meaning into their work.