FRIENDS OF GUATEMALA

Francis, who grew up in San Juan Sacatepequez, received scholarships from FOG throughout his education. Since graduating from diversificado in 2017, he has been working in microfinance for Fundación Génesis Empresarial, an organization that provides loans and training for small businesses. As a credit promoter, he travels to many of the villages of San Juan to evaluate clients and businesses who may be eligible for the services of the agency. Without FOG, he does not believe he would’ve been able to complete his education. He continues to engage with the current students in San Juan receiving scholarships, setting the example of what is possible when a bright, motivated young person receives scholarship support and does the hard work to graduate from high school.

Carlos, a FOG scholarship recipient since 2013, graduated high school in 2019! Carlos told his sponsor, “I’m so grateful to everyone who has helped me. Without the support of so many people, I never could have graduated. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”

"My name is Beatriz and I live in a municipality where opportunities to study at the university level are very limited. FOG helped support my studies at the Western National School of Nursing from 2011 to 2013. In order to pursue a nursing career I had to overcome the challenges of being from a remote community with few resources, but thanks to FOG I was able to. My life has changed since graduating; I began working at World Vision Guatemala where I can help my family and my municipality. I can now support my family economically and improve their living conditions, and motivate my siblings to stay in school."

Cinthia has received support from FOG since 7th grade and recently graduated as a Bilingual Secretary. Thanks to additional support from her sponsors, she is now attending English classes in Guatemala City. In a note written in English to her sponsors, Cinthia said, “One of my great goals was my graduation. [I am] grateful to my parents, sponsors, and also to the Peace Corps for such great support they have given me throughout my academic study. Thanks to you my dream is possible.”

Madelin lives in Villa Canales near Guatemala City and earned her degree in accounting in 2022. Madelin is shown here in the center of the photo with her proud grandmother, Elvira, who despite having had polio as a child, managed to educate herself, raise three children and now has six granddaughters. Madelin’s mom (right) works in a factory and her father is no longer in the home.

In a letter to FOG just after her graduation she writes in part, “….I am honored to have been selected for a FOG scholarship…I received support for 5 years and want to express my profound gratitude for the help and the opportunities it has given me. Continuing my studies would have been very difficult given the economic situation of my family. The scholarship has opened many doors in my search to realize my dreams.”

Gloria lives in the village of Nuevo San Ildefonso, a small community of less than 20 houses.

Her family consists of her parents, a brother and six sisters. Their Mayan dialect is Mam. She’s the only one in her generation of the family who wants to study; and she feels especially lucky that her parents are even happier than she is that she wants to get a higher education. Gloria is in her third year of basico at the Maya Jaguar school in Barillas, Huehuetenango. Her goal is to become a doctor.

At 19 years of age, she looks forward to finishing her education at Maya Jaguar and then attending medical school. She’s still considering which institution she’ll attend.

Self reflection is an activity that Gloria takes seriously. At the end of the day, she thinks about what she learned and how she can use the day ’s experiences to improve herself.

Erica Andrea receives outstanding grades at the Centro Educativo Santo Domingo in Cahabon, Alta Verapaz. She is studying to be an elementary school teacher. She enjoys the camaraderie at the school as well as interacting with the nuns and professors and, of course, the fiestas celebrating saints days.

As in most of Guatemala the cost of basic necessities in her area has gone up. She is grateful for FOG’s help, as her parents could not cover the cost of continuing her schooling and she has no other sources of financial aid.

Marleny received support from FOG to complete her studies to become a high school teacher. She is currently working in commerce in a store in San Raymundo as she is taking an English course on weekends to expand her skills.

Throughout basicos and diversificado, Valery received FOG scholarships that helped pay for supplies and tuition at an Institute from which she graduated as a primary education teacher. She’s passed several English courses and is working as an administrative assistant while studying to become a clinical psychologist. Growing up in San Juan Sacatepequez, she has a desire to help the youth of her community to encourage and motivate them to contribute to a prosperous future in Guatemala.

Astrid has her own business, a tienda in her community, and graduating from diversificado as an accountant was a dream she never thought she’d achieve. She received scholarships from FOG to complete her education, and upon graduation she expressed how much it meant to her to be able to complete her studies to become a better businesswoman.

Growing up in San Juan, it was always Mindi’s dream to be able to help support her family, and after receiving support from FOG to complete diversificado, she is doing just that. Her degree in accounting gave her the skills needed to work in the store her father owns and runs, and now she contributes by managing the books. She is very grateful to FOG for the support she received to complete her dream of an education.