ÂŽ
2018 Annual Report Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, C.A.
Development with Dignity
Mission We are a privately-owned voluntary foundation seeking to promote the development of low-income areas in the Republic of Guatemala, especially for those people who live in the rural areas of the highlands, by innovative projects avoiding patriarchy to guarantee a better living standard. All of this under a sustainable development framework with absolute respect for human dignity, culture and traditions.
Vision Eradicating Guatemala’s poverty through strategies based on equality, honesty, freedom, excellence, respect for dignity and democracy.
The Foundation in 2018 2
Working Region
4
Organizational Structure
5
Institutional Challenges
6
Letter from the President
8
Letter from the Executive Director
10
Our beneficiaries
12
Crowdfunding campaign Meet Arlet
40
Life story Achieving a vital dream
42
Life story A challenging road to success
44
Cooperating partners
The results of our programs 14
Education Program
18
Healthcare Program
22
Microcredit Program
26
Handicraft Program
30
Agricultural Program
34
Environmental Program
38
Transversal action Opportunities for all
39
Transversal action Hope Project
ÂŽ
Aid e d B e n e f ic ia ri es
172,883
133,809
39,074
Wo rk Re g ion s
1. Huehuetenango
7. Chimaltenango
10,799
5,551
2. Quiché
8. Retalhuleu
3,039
12,523
3. San Marcos
9. Suchitepéquez
41,599
30,692
4. Totonicapán
10. Sacatepéquez
15,166
29
5. Quetzaltenango
11. Escuintla
50,713
1,039
6. Sololá 1,733
12. Petén
16. El Progreso
20. Chiquimula
13. Alta Verapaz
17. Zacapa
21. Santa Rosa
14. Izabal
18. Guatemala
22. Jutiapa
15. Baja Verapaz
19. Jalapa 2
Guatemala Geographical coverage of FUNDAP The rest of Guatemala
12
Belize
Mexico
13
1
14
2 3
15
4 5 8
6
7
9 11
10
18
17
16 19
21
Honduras
20
22 El Salvador
Central America
3
ASSEMBLY OF DIRECTORS
EXTERNAL AUDIT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
INTERNAL AUDIT
GENERAL COMPTROLLER COORDINATION AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
EDUCATION
HEALTHCARE
MICROCREDIT
HANDICRAFT
AGRICULTURAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
Scholarships for Girls
Auxiliary Nursing School
Microenterprise Loans
Entrepreneurial & Human Training
Training & Qualification
Forestry Management
Educational Quality
Medical Clinics
Agricultural Loans
Social Organization
Social Organization
Social Organization
ICEFAT
Training for Health Promoters
Infrastructure Loans
Business Management
Agricultural Production
Environmental Education
CIEM
Nutritional Recovery
Village Banking
Leadership Training Certification
Transfer of Technology
Environmental Infrastructure
Connections
Connections
Business School Technical Training
Solidarity & Support
Food Security
Support Services Unit
Support Services Unit
Financial Management
General Secretariat
Financial Management
Institutional File
Treasury
Design & Communication
Risk Prevention
Talent Management
Special Credit Portfolio
Recruitment, Selection & Induction
QA & IT Politics
Human Resource File
Verification & Analysis
Institutional Culture & Training
Information Register Accounting Data acquisition & Processing Information Technology Technological Infrastructure Systems Development Maintenance & Support Database Management
4
T h e ch al l e nge s of o u r i nst it ut i o n
Habit Formation Savings, hygiene, nutrition, reading and studying
Work with Woman Children’s education, autonomy, potential, development and self-esteem
Installed Capacity Qualified staff, local organizations and installed capability
CH ANG E S
Job Generation
Abilities & Skills
Environmental Sustainability
Social Capital
Social Organization
PRO G RAMS Education
Healthcare
Solidarity & Support Handicraft
Agricultural
Microcredit Food Security Environmental
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
L e t t e r f ro m th e P res i d ent
ROBERTO GUTIÉRREZ President of FUNDAP
Emigration is not an option Nearly two million Guatemalans have chosen emigration as a way to procure a better income, they do not, however, find a better quality of life. This is because emigrating means sacrificing the central aspects of life such as living together as a family, living in one’s own culture, leaving behind friendships, and sacrificing the environment that one is accustomed to. It is therefore indeed a sacrifice, because the life they lead in the diaspora is full of discomforts: living -generally- crammed in dangerous slums, with the risk of being caught by immigration police and expelled from their “host” country. This is significant human suffering that does not represent a better standard of living, neither for the emigrants, nor for those who receive those funds, as further explained below.
It is usually argued that the contribution that remittances make to the national economy is fundamental; and it is true, since the almost eleven billion dollars that are sent annually are equivalent to all Guatemalan exports. With these remittances the balance of payments of the State has been balanced, since imports represent twenty-two billion dollars, so that this amount is equal to the sum of exports and remittances (eleven million each, as stated before). The reality of the resources that enter by way of remittances is that they are spent, in more than half, on telephones and trinkets, a good part on construction (poorly designed homes), another part on healthcare, and very little on education 6
and productive activities, which are, by the way, areas that would provide a real improvement in the economic future of the recipients’ families. The few, poorly designed, and badly executed efforts made to date to achieve a better investment of remittances have not been fruitful. In short, for decades, the country has depended on remittances for its macroeconomic stability, but that dependence is very precarious, since emigrants can be expelled due to political changes, in this case the United States of America. In addition, it can also be harmful to families on account of the absence of father figures in many of the households. Faced with the human tragedy of emigration, the Foundation for the Integral Development of SocioEconomic Programs, FUNDAP, prepares young people in technical fields and strategies for job placement or selfemployment, by supporting the creation of sustainable enterprises. This is done in our four technical centers located in Quetzaltenango, San Marcos, Suchitepéquez, and Quiché and in fourteen mobile centers. In these technical centers, training is provided in the
Francisco Roberto Gutiérrez Martínez
Service Area (mechanics, electricity, hairdressing, and other professions), Food Service or Textiles (embroidery, cutting and tailoring, haute couture). Training is also offered for Nursing Aids through the Health Program. In addition to this, Handicraft and Agricultural programs have been added. The remarkable thing about FUNDAP’s initiatives is that the young people who participate in the training, also receive comprehensive training. As a result, the job placement of the graduates of FUNDAP’s technical centers is very high, both in existing and new companies that they organize themselves, for which they receive the support of the entity that provides them with support for their organization, ranging from equipment lending to legal and formal advice. In the following pages you will find the results of our work, which will allow you to get an idea of how these initiatives have a positive effect in mitigating the migration of our Guatemalan citizens, who only need “opportunities.”
L e t t e r f ro m th e E xecutive Di re ct o r
JORGE GÁNDARA Executive Director of FUNDAP
This year’s 2018 report allows us to see the results of the Foundation’s management through our different Programs and Projects, which have been made possible thanks to the delivery and personal commitment of its almost 800 collaborators, the support of our donors who believe in us, and above all the receptivity of our beneficiaries.
make in society? This is asked because of the risk that our efforts are only translated into goal fulfillment and project activities and that we do not see past that. Since reflecting is the synthesis of our actions, we must not lose sight of the journey we are on and what we do in its entirety. During the closure of a Home Electricity course, I asked the students what the most important thing that they learned was, and one of them said, “respect”, the respect with which he was treated and the respect that was required among one another. Recently, in a visit with a girl who is a scholarship recipient for the Scholarship for Girls project, she made the following observation: “The scholarship is very good, but with FUNDAP the most important thing is that I feel sure that there is someone who is continuously watching over me making sure that I am okay, I feel protected.”
A tree that has no roots or is in poor condition falls, so is the Foundation with respect to its Identity, its nature. If we do not take care of our essence, that is, for what and for whom we are working, the Foundation forgets its very purpose and everything becomes corrupted, either in the short or long term, thus losing the professionalism of a job well done. The question that our collaborators always ask us in the results and impact of our work assessment is: What changes do we want to 8
Both examples show us the real identity of the Foundation, what we do for others, and mainly, how we do it. If our initiatives are based on human dignity, in the great value we all have, it is there we will find the strength to continue working towards our hopes and aspirations. I think that, for those of us who are involved in FUNDAP, we should always keep the following in mind, and that in one way or another, that this be embodied in our ideology: • Strengthening of Society. • Be generators of opportunities for the underprivileged. • Strengthening and developing constructive habits in our beneficiaries. • Recognition of women’s work, their role in the family, and in society. • Absolute respect for other people’s way of thinking. • Our priority is the protection of children and young people and the search for opportunities for them.
• Our actions must be aimed at strengthening and generating employment. • Leave communities with production potential so that they are the protagonists of their own development and do not depend on subsidies or misogynistic models. • Clear and transparent accountability for our donor friends, which includes what they expect from us, in terms of sustainability and the long term scope of the initiatives that we start.
All of the above, in addition to always presenting ourselves with our hearts in hand to “see” the needs of others and act accordingly, should prevail throughout all the years that God gives us, in order to continue working on behalf of those less fortunate. That is why, without sparing any effort, performing professional work and providing quality service with a human touch, we will be able to honor the more than 35 years of the Foundation’s work. Thus we will approach those who need us the most, fulfilling in this way the dreams and aspirations of all those who are convinced that, step by step, we can build a more just world and have a solid institution with deep, strong roots.
Jorge Arturo Gándara Gaborit
More information at bit.ly/FUNDAP2018
EDUCATION NATIONWIDE DATA
Education. Primary School. 5% of children between the ages of 7 and 12 drop out of school. Middle School. Only 25% of young people between the ages of 13 and 15 have access to the basic cycle of secondary education. In addition, 7% of students drop out of school. High School. Only 17% of young people between the ages of 16 and 18 have access to the diversified cycle of secondary education, which allows them to go to a university, which is the only path that provides specific training to enter the labor market. FUNDAP INITIATIVES
822 men
3,568 women
are educated in Educational Centers (CIEM), Scholarships for Girls and Cooperative Institutes (ICEFAT’s).
99% of girls assisted
by the Scholarships for Girls program do not drop out. FORESTS FUNDAP INITIATIVES
71.19 hectares reforested. 10
HEALTHCARE NATIONWIDE DATA
Chronic malnutrition. 47% of children under 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition. FUNDAP INITIATIVES
982
669
pregnant women
boys
683 girls
are aided and supported in Nutritional Recovery.
32,045 people are served in FUNDAP’s Medical Clinics.
EMPLOYMENT FUNDAP INITIATIVES
5,097
people specialized in a trade
71
hearing impaired
50,712 jobs created. Jobs generated by beneficiaries 7,613 Dependent jobs 88 Fortified self-employment 42,119 Temporary jobs 799 Contract jobs with benefits 93
MEET ARTLET
Arlet wants to achieve her goals: “graduate, look for work and help mom.”
12
Thanks to your financial help, this young woman got a scholarship to continue studying, covering the necessary expenses, and became a role model for many girls. Arlet will fight for a better future, but she also wants other Guatemalan students to continue their education and not drop out. FUNDAP thanks you for the support received and we hope your donation to the crowdfunding of ‘Scholarships for Girls’ that we have in progress. Remember, this project changes lives.
Collaborate in
bit.ly/DonarFUNDAP
Educat io n P ro g ram
P romote s a ccess, q uali t y, and eq ui t y of for mal and non-formal educatio n, e sp ec i ally for vulnerab le children, young p eop le , and wo men. Develo pmental p ote nti a l and perso nal growth.
14
Program initiatives
Beneficiaries
42,863
26,522 Scholarships for Girls
Cooperative Institutes
Educational Centers
3,007
27
145
150
39
282
95%
2,042
33%
Educational Quality
Business School
Technical Training
772
896
2,030
33
1,325
31%
1,600
girls and young women assisted
integraly supported institutes
parents received training of parents cooperated in order to help the education of the girls.
teachers trained in Pedagogy and educational management
5,200
parents received awareness training
71
schools improved their infrastructure
Departments
16,341
improvement projects implemented students assisted in middle school and high school
small business owners served through IMPULSA and MBA jobs created by assisted companies average increase in sales of assisted companies
young people and adults finished high school people developed technical skills generated income in their entrepreneurial projects
people completed basic and advanced courses people finished their basic training (CEDES) young people trained in ‘Successful entrepreneurship’
Quiché
449
Chimaltenango
202
Sacatepéquez Escuintla
29 109
Totonicapán
7,055
Huehuetenango
1,265
Quetzaltenango
13,537
San Marcos
13,411
Sololá
474
Retalhuleu
1,835
Suchitepéquez
4,497
16
TESTIMONY
A Unique Team Teachers Lissa de León, Lesbi Vicente, Anali Castillo, Lendra Aguilar, Esly Rodas, and Federico Rucún, who work at the ‘Escuela Oficial Rural Mixta’ of the San José Las Delicias community, have assumed the role of ‘Trainer of Trainers’ in their region. The commitment, creativity, and delivery shown characterizes them as a unique team. After the first phase of training provided by FUNDAP from 2016-2017, the second part of the research came last year, sharing FUNDAP’s good practices with teachers from other districts, fulfilling their role as multipliers in teaching and Pedagogical practices. Among them, Lesbi Vicente won the distinguished teacher award at the departmental level. FUNDAP’s commitment to getting things right and finding a genuine interest in learning with each child and group makes this team of teachers a developmental tool in the region.
EDUCATION PROGRAM
Healt h care P ro g ram
P romotes the health of the u n d e rp rivileged, reducing the cau se s of mo rb idi t y and mor tali t y. Always focused o n preventio n and th e qu ali f icatio n of health agents.
18
Program initiatives
Beneficiaries
35,664
27,062
Auxiliary Nursing School
Medical Clinics
77
92%
40
1,053
50%
32,045
Training for Health Promoters
Nutritional Recovery
70,000
1,352
737
60%
291
982
young people accredited alumni received new training to grow in their profession successfully joined the workforce
activities carried out by the volunteers in the different formative tasks new promoters trained to provide primary care volunteers qualified in their second formative year
Departments
8,602
Quiché
of those served were women and children tests conducted for cervical cancer prevention medical consultations provided in 10 clinics, 18% rural
children aged 6 months to 5 years received nutritional supplements and follow up of children improved their nutritional condition of pregnant women improved their eating habits
5
Totonicapán
2,119
Huehuetenango
2,614
Quetzaltenango
15,005
San Marcos Sololá
4,578 65
Retalhuleu
3,292
Suchitepéquez
7,986
20
TESTIMONY
Lesbia Lesbia Argueta is a healthcare volunteer with a very clear work approach, the prevention of cervical cancer in women, whose mortality rate is located in Guatemala as follows: out of every 1,500 cases detected, 700 women die each year. After receiving training in 2016, she became involved in training, counseling, and health promotion in her community. Because of this, Doña Lesbia implements different strategies, such as the development of medical and diagnostic days for gynecological problems, something that in many communities remains a taboo topic. Even though her struggle is never ending and in 2018 two serious cases were identified, the greatest satisfaction for her is that women are receiving the right treatment. Her motto is clear: “a timely diagnosis saves women.”
HEALTHCARE PROGRAM
Micro cre d it P ro g ram
P romote s th e eco nomic develo pment of th e u r ban an d rural areas of s o uthwes tern Gu ate mala, throug h ini tiatives such as g ranti n g c redi ts, training, and co ns ulting e ntre p re n e u rs and small b us iness owners .
22
Program initiatives
Beneficiaries
77,284
69,501
Microenterprise Loans
Infraestructure Loans
1,912
1,840
Agricultural Loans
Village Banking
1,045
127
small business owners received credit to increase their working capital
people received field training
33
trainings for agricultural management
870
in-field technical assistance provided
Departments
7,783
Quiché Chimaltenango Escuintla Totonicapán Huehuetenango Quetzaltenango San Marcos Sololá Retalhuleu Suchitepéquez
women accessed financing for housing construction and / or the purchase of a piece of land
new groups of women supported with microcredits
1,840
current community banks and assets
308
beneficiaries from different departments trained in 6 technical training seminars
1,163 5,324 930 4,745 5,187 16,508 17,240 711 7,343 18,133
24
TESTIMONY
Virginia Virginia Magdalena had skills for embroidering “güipiles” and aprons, and so she started her own business using a FUNDAP credit. The 24-yearold has already been supported by a Communal Bank, supported by her mother who encouraged her to do training as well. Through this united journey, she appreciates the support of the Foundation through different services, such as the advice she received about business issues and technical seminars given in the Technical Center and the ‘Impulsa’ Project, in addition to the free medical consultation services. For Virginia Magdalena, her acceptance into this FUNDAP program was found to be very beneficial in the form of work and personnel, because she also began to build relationships, and this companionship resulted in an increase in the number of clients and increased income. The teamwork developed through her training led to an upward evolution.
MICROCREDIT PROGRAM
Han d icraf t P ro g ram
Su p p or ts organizatio ns in pro mo ting c raf tsman ship, as well as the economic an d soc i al development of ar tisans. Th is p rog ram aims to preser ve the Gu ate m alan cultural identi t y.
26
Beneficiaries Program initiatives
1,297
1,869
Personal and Business Training
Technical, Productive and Business Assistance
326
493
105
5
15
5
Social Organization
Commercial Strengthening
140
578
84
32,446
women received business management training men received business management training organizations progressed in their development improving products and services
women strengthened their organizations through trainings men strengthened their organizations through trainings
15
strong organizations supported promoted local development
Departments
572
QuichĂŠ Chimaltenango TotonicapĂĄn Huehuetenango Quetzaltenango San Marcos SololĂĄ
artisans improved their skills and productive abilities new techniques implemented in craft production improvement instruments implemented
beneficiaries supported in marketing their products work wages generated
19
organizations and producers supported economically thanks to annual sales
228 25 182 18 802 312 302
28
TESTIMONY
Berta Berta Elisa Hernández Batz is 40 years old, a mother of three children, and resides in los Pocitos Village, Sibilia (Quetzaltenango). This community belongs to the ATEDI Association and is dedicated to pedal woven fabric, so in 2018 and thanks to the support of FUNDAP, they were able to strengthen the knowledge and skills in the production of Cobán, a very thin and light fabric. Although she already worked with this material, she needed to improve her skills in the process of thread intone, warping, figure weaving, and squeaking. Her story is that of a woman willing to keep learning in order to improve her work, earn more income, and meet the demand required by the current market. In addition, Berta Elisa is very happy contributing to the better education of her children: “I thank FUNDAP for supporting the Association and those of us who are engaged in weaving.”
HANDICRAFT PROGRAM
Agricu lt u ral P ro g ram
Always re sp ecting the environment, this p rog ram su p p or ts small organized pro ducers , w i th train i n g , technical assistance, so cial org an i zati on, commercialization, and tran sfe r of appro priate techno log ies .
30
Beneficiaries Program initiatives
8,003
11,429
Agricultural Production
Technical Assistance
Social Organization
3,663
311
389
16
2,212
18
729
1,290
1
Technology Transfer
Commercial Strengthening
746
16
1,841
157
34
90
people received technical support in their production families producing coffee became organic export certified beneficiaries established a family garden
people trained in the management of agricultural infrastructure farmers implemented agricultural technology potato farmers were benefited
Departments
3,426
QuichĂŠ TotonicapĂĄn Huehuetenango Quetzaltenango San Marcos
women and young people participated in educational tours members of organizations trained in Open Schools volunteers completed their training
members of organizations were assisted women received productive technical support cooperative was constituted and legalized
potato farmers commercialized 2 profitable crops farmers started growing export products women and young people started livestock businesses
1,194 999 1,660 4,022 3,554
32
TESTIMONY
Odilia Doña Odilia is 28 years old, married, has three children, and lives in the village of Chacaj, Nentón (Huehuetenango). During 2018 she participated in the training course for ‘Voluntary Agricultural Promoters,’ in her own village. There she learned how to make Bokashi, an organic fertilizer for use in growing vegetables and especially corn. Despite the drought suffered in July and August last year, knowing these techniques helped her recover depleted soils and maintain the moisture needed for her crops. As it should be, Ms. Odilia shared her experience with her neighbors in her village through agricultural training activities.
AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM
Environ me nt al P ro g ram
P rovi d e s ser vices for the sus tainab le man age me nt of renewab le natural reso urces, th rou g h man agement and refores tatio n, b as ic e nvi ron me ntal sani tation, s o cial organization, train i n g an d environmental awareness.
34
Beneficiaries Program initiatives
1,433
3,774
2,341
Environmental Education
Social Organization
573
16
13
1
86
19
people trained through 192 technical workshops training events on governance and forest protection forest promoters, agroforestry, and environmental in training
organizations work on the forest and environmental problems organization participates in 7 national networks on renewable resources technical workshops for multi-level entities
Forestry Management
2,034
beneficiaries with management plans on 53.03 hectares
116
work plans in follow-up for 736 people
181
Departments
technical workshops benefiting 204 people
TotonicapĂĄn Huehuetenango Quetzaltenango San Marcos SololĂĄ Retalhuleu SuchitepĂŠquez
128 217 535 2,530 226 53 85
36
TESTIMONY
Darío Darío’s case is that of environmental teaching that is passed on to the next generations. This organic coffee producer at the Magnolia Miramar Community Estate, Colomba (Quetzaltenango), is the father of five young boys. All of whom he has taught to protect nature so that they can live in a healthy environment. This is all thanks to the knowledge that he acquired after carrying out the course of ‘Forest, Agroforestry, and Environmental Promoters’ in his community through FUNDAP. In addition, he was subsequently elected president of the Environmental Committee in his community, where he provided environmental talks, led solid waste management with the school, and the institute of basic education. Students now know how to separate inorganic and organic waste, which is used to produce fertilizer.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM
TRANSVERSAL ACTION
Opportunities for all
For ten years, FUNDAP established educational inclusion as the transversal axis of training. This strategy aims to reduce exclusion, mainly of young people and vulnerable women, in order to identify and meet their diverse needs of learning and follow up.
people pursuing these objectives, carrying the following main actions: (1) awarenesstraining for families or institutions that support People with Down syndrome and the hearing impaired; (2) awareness and vocational guidance for young people and women with different abilities to choose courses according to their interests, this is done in addition to their inclusion in occupational training courses and labor; (3) accompaniment of young people after completing their training to guarantee the use of their occupational skills for their wellbeing.
This work of educational inclusion aims to respond to the state of socioeconomic and labor marginalization that some vulnerable groups suffer in this country, so these actions enhance local development processes, improving their training options and job placement opportunities.
Thanks to all this work, in 2018, 71 hearing impaired young people were assisted as well as 2 with Down syndrome, especially in the Bakery course. In addition to that, 8 young people with hearing impairment started generating income from their educational skills and another group started a microbarber shop.
The true essence of this project, for which the Foundation works, is in the holistic approach that is born from the knowledge of the needs of those served, also from personalized accompaniment and progressive empowerment; an opportunity for all. As of 2018, the four Centers of Technical Business Training of FUNDAP serve young 38
TRANSVERSAL ACTION
Hope project
To meet the basic needs presented by the families in the South West of Guatemala, the Hope Project seeks to reduce risks through immediate attention and timely reference. In these regions many families live in conditions of extreme vulnerability, with food insecurity or life hazards and whom need direct support. In the fight against these problems, the Hope Project has some basic components carried out within its limitations:
Components of Hope Project Emergency care in high risk situations Food provision and nutritional training Improvement in housing conditions The intervention of children so that they continue studying Timely references to access productive projects Sensitization and discovery of productive potential in families Basic health (guarantees the consumption of treated water and basic medicine)
Therefore, and in compliance with these commitments, in 2018 the project reached 35 families made up of 130 people through the Hope Project. Beyond the action itself, this is an effective social service opportunity that is achieved thanks to the collaborators of FUNDAP, who are involved in the identification, design, and holistic support of each case detected. With this combined effort, the Foundation’s teams and families are moving in the same direction to restore the trust of these vulnerable people, improving the path to sustainable development.
Achieving a vital dream
40
BEVERLY BRISEYDA MONTEROS SOLIS
A whole life growing alongside FUNDAP The story of Beverly Monteros was always linked to FUNDAP. Originally from Villa Flores Village, Tejutla municipality, this young woman pushed forward with great effort. At age 19, she is currently studying ‘Fashion design’, but previously culminated courses in ‘tailoring’ and ‘bespoke design’, all were done in the Technical Center of the Foundation.
Beverly says “As a child I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher to teach and train people from my community.” However, her growth took her on different paths. When she was 8 years old and in the third grade, she entered the Project ‘Scholarships for the Girl’, receiving the necessary school help to continue studying and continue being linked to FUNDAP until the 7th grade in a place called ICEFAT, where she received a scholarship again. Family problems made these scholarships key for Beverly. All of this happened before starting with the courses of the Technical Center of San Marcos in order to help economically in her home. The support and protection of her brother, who was waiting for her at the bus stop every night when she was returning from her training, so that she didn’t feel afraid, added to the support from her mother, who had a sewing machine; helped Beverly found her new calling. She started with a ‘Dress making’’ course, where she was benefited with 50% of the costs, she soon invested her profits and bought another
sewing machine that was more modern. She also used the newly acquired knowledge in the ICEFAT to make money with crops and with pig breeding, in addition to performing work such as making shirts, uniforms or blouses, and doing embroidery. The purpose of all this was to actively contribute to her family’s economy. In this process, Beverly discovered her vocation and that’s why she, along with her brother Adoni, started her own workshop fashion design called “La Villa”. This is what she currently does for a living, although in the future she would like to be a dressmaker instructor and help others. She received, from FUNDAP, tools to fight for her goals and now she makes dresses, like the one in the photograph, which was selected for the candidate of the ICEFAT in a beauty pageant contest. Beverly is very grateful for all that this vital growth since childhood with the Foundation has meant, and, as she indicated, “Truly, there are not enough words to express my gratitude for the opportunity that was given to me, now I have a dream to fulfill.”
A challeng ing road to success
42
JUANITA FLORIDALMA SANTOS COTOM
Service and neighborly love, keys to improvement The crossing of the desert of Juanita Floridalma was literal, a trip for thousands of kilometers in order to change her life to settle as a nurse in the prestigious hospital center ‘La Paz’ of Quetzaltenango. At age 35, she is a happy worker in the Guatemalan health sector in a center where she has been for 5 years, but before she had to fight against the macho customs of her youth.
Juanita obtained a scholarship to study until the 9th grade in the convent of nuns ‘Villa de los Niños, Hermana de María’ in Guatemala, and then returned to Quetzaltenango. With the support of her siblings, she wanted to get into the medical field, a dream that she had, but after high school, she had to move to the United States to take care of her three nieces, since one of her sisters who had emigrated died. The road was very hard, long, and difficult, crossing a desert that she almost did not overcome because of dehydration and disorientation. Despite this, Juanita managed get to her destination and take care of her nieces. She started a new life in the United States, although without speaking the language, she had to work cleaning homes and put her dream of working in medicine on hold. There she met her husband and had a daughter, although the pretty love story suffered several setbacks. First, a deportation to Guatemala and subsequently their separation, too many marital problems and a horrible history of personal abuse. Juanita puts it like this, “I had gone through too many difficult circumstances in my life and had the right to be happy, with my daughter and my family.”
So, in this sad and depressing stage, it was her mother who motivated her to resume her studies and, also thanks to a partner, she entered the ‘School of Nursing Aides ‘ with FUNDAP. Here, she discovered one of her passions, to help people, and take care of them. This is, after all, what she had always done, but this time it would be without other problems and focused on her future, focused on growing. Once she finished her studies and graduated as a Nursing Assistant, Juanita was completing an internship at the health post in San Mateo. There she learned with real cases and was growing as a health professional, treating people as they deserve and being a great professional. It’s all a matter of hard work, she said. Juanita believes “in putting forth effort because it leads to achieving goals despite difficulties.” Her five years working in this prestigious medical center only indicates one thing, that there is no desert that cannot be crossed nor personal struggle that cannot be overcome.
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Private
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Audited by:
External auditors Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler, S.A.
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María Tortosa and Adrián Valiente Calmo Agency (Valencia, Spain)
Texts
Jorge Luna Pardo Redactor (Valencia, Spain)
Photography FUNDAP
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