This is one of the homes that we visited this week in Cerro de Oro. This woman is the mother in law and abuela (grandmother) of the Sicay Choy family that we built a house for recently. She lives in a very difficult situation. The smoke is overwhelming from the fire. The mother in law weaves to make a living. They have no drainage and it makes it very difficult when her pila is overflowing and when it rains. You can see the beds that they sleep on. They are home made, do not have mattresses and do not have enough blankets.

These two beautiful girls from Panabaj were dressed in second hand western clothing. Their sponsor purchased them traditional clothing this week and they were so thrilled! They are sponsored students Griselda 586 and Vilma 587.

Sponsored student Rosa Angelica 648 was thrilled to receive a new traditional skirt ( corte ).
Gracias!

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When I first met sponsored students Ana Isabel 611 and Vilma 612 they were both wearing a hotch pot of traditional clothing, very old , worn cortes ( skirts ) and over sized t.shirts. They really did not look good. We had a second hand corte and guipils ( blouses) that we had and we gave it to the girls. They were so happy.

Now – thanks to their sponsors- they have received beautiful brand new traditional clothing that fits them perfectly and they are so proud of themselves.

Thank you for giving this gift of clothing to them – this not only
keeps the culture alive in Guatemala but it provides works for the
cottage industries that make the woven cortes( skirts) and the people
who embroider the guipils ( blouses).

This mother received new traditional clothing and she and her three daughters also received new cardigans from their sponsors.

Sponsored Glendy 547 was thrilled to receive a new traditional outfit from her sponsor.
Thank you!

New furniture was received by sponsored students Francisco 485, Romeo 486, and Candelaria 487. This family was so happy to receive a table and chairs from their sponsors so that now the family can sit together to eat meals. Before this they were sitting on cement blocks.
Thank you!

Lorena 737 and her family were so happy to receive this double bed. This is a very poor family that lives in a house with a dirt floor. The beds that they had were home made out of wooden planks. This is the
first real bed that they have ever owned.

The whole family was very happy to receive the gift of a bed from
Susana’s sponsor. Their are five people in the family and they had
only two small single beds to sleep in. Having a big double bed will
make life a lot more comfortable!

The four young orphans who recently lost their mother. They were so happy to receive new traditional clothing!

Tomas and Elsa were so happy to receive a bed from their sponsor!
Many thanks!

#229 Lidia and her family received a bed this week from their sponsor!

Reina, America, Erick, Diana and their grandmother, Vicente were so thrilled to receive this bed. Vicente kissed everyone several times and thanked us profusely for this bed. It will make a their home life a lot happier having a bed for all of them.
Thank you!

Ana and Vilma were so happy to receive a bed this week from their sponsor!
Thank you!

These students # 535 Rebecca, #536 Cecilia and #539 Petronila were thrilled to receive new traditional clothes.

This is the first time in their lives that they have ever had brand new clothes. They have always had second hand clothes before. The clothes that they are wearing in the before photo was traditional clothing that Mayan Families had given them because their clothes were really in tatters.

Thank you so much to their kind benefactor for giving them this wonderful gift. As you can see the smiles say it all. They look really beautiful!

Hilda and her family receive a bed this week!

Sara is the single mother of a physically and mentally disabled adult daughter.

She was just so happy to receive this gift of bed pads for her daughter.

Sara is a devoted mother and takes wonderful care of her daughter but they do not have any help and are in desperate need. They are now living in a house that Mayan Families has arranged for them but we need help to cover their rent and to help them with food.

Sara was one of the recipients of food this week. It is impossible for Sara to work and leave her daughter home alone. Sara is a devoted mother and takes great care of her daughter. She never has enough to eat and was completely out of food when we gave her this gift of food. It should be enough for at least two weeks for Sara and her daughter. Sara was just thrilled.

Thank you to everyone who contributes to the Food and Milk Program and makes these gifts of food possible.

If you would like to help , please make a contribution to either the Family Aid or the Food and Milk Programs.

By selecting this link you will be able to make a contribution to the Family Aid Program to help with expenses such as the rent for Sara and her daughter.

Or by selecting this link you will be able to make a contribution to the Food and Milk Program to help feed Sara and her daughter.

They will very much appreciate any help.

Carlos #687 and Sandra #688 were so happy to receive a bed from their sponsor!
Thank you.

This story is related to a Medical Program News story about Marlon from the Patzun area.

This is Marlon’s house. We delivered the wheelchair to Marlon after his brother came seeking help for him. The local school teacher referred the family to us. As you can see from these photos Marlon’s family does not have much and they certainly cannot afford the medical treatment for Marlon.

If you would like to help Marlon’s family and others like them, then please select the FAMILY AID CONTRIBUTIONS link in the right hand column of this news story.

Family Aid Program

The Sahon de Leon family live in Panajachel. The father, Julio 46yrs old and the mother, Julia 45yrs old. They have 8 children but 3 are adults and are now married. They have five living at home.

They are :
Marcos Daniel is 16yrs old. He could not go to school this year
because they could not afford to send him. He finished in 9th grade.
He works helping his father taking sand out of the river. He wants to
continue studying but they just do not have the money to be able to do this.

Alma is 14yrs old. She is in 8th grade.
Julio is 11yrs old. He is in 5th grade.
Esdra is 6yrs old. He is not in school because the family cannot afford it.

The father,Julio works taking sand out of the river =this is then sold for construction. This is very hard, low paying work . He earns $34 US per week.

They own their home. It is one room made of mud brick with a tin roof.
It has a dirt floor.
They have an outside kitchen made of tin sheets.
They have a wood burning stove.
They do not have an onil stove.
They do not have a water filter.
They have a pila.
They have water connected.
They have electricity connected.
They do not have a t.v., they do not have a refrigerator, they have
one small radio.
They have three beds for all of them.
Their new born infant requires formula.

If you would like to help this family and others like them, then please select the FAMILY AID CONTRIBUTIONS link in the right hand column of this news story.

Family Aid Program

Ernesto and his family will now have light in their new home! The electrical equipment was purchased and the work is being done. Food was also delivered to Ernesto and his family. Ernesto was very ill
two weeks ago, he had pnuemonia, we sent him for medical care and the Doctor told us that if he arrived 24 hours later that it may have been too late for him. His health is fragile but he is in much better
condition since he has been receiving regular gifts of food from the family sponsor.

Family Aid Program

This is all that remains of their home. It is just a cement slab. There was no one home at the time of the fire so nothing was able to be saved. Dona Juana , the mother of the family, was on the street selling “atol” from a cart. She does this every night. Atol is a traditional non alcholic drink made of corn.

They have now moved to a rented room and are trying to rebuild their lives.

The family receiving donations at Mayan Families.

This is the youngest family member. He lost all his school supplies and his backpack. We were able to give him a backpack and school supplies.

Family Aid

Young Marta and her family who live in Panajachel were thrilled to receive a gift of a much needed pila for their home. A pila is a two sided cement sink that is a very useful and necessary part of a Guatemalan home.

The sink is used for washing dishes, washing clothes and washing people!

Family Aid Program

These young children have suffered a devastating blow. Their mother passed away last week suddenly from a heart attack. She was 47yrs old and the sole support for her 16yr old daughter, 14yr old daughter, 10yr old son and 8yr old daughter, plus her 75yr old mother. They live in a rented room. They did not have the money to bury their mother, Mayan Families paid for the coffin and we are trying to assist this family as best we can.

If you would like to help Mayan Families be able to support unexpected family tragedies such as these, then please select the Contribute Button on either the Family Aid Program page or the Operations Program page.

PANAJACHEL–Three sisters came to Mayan Families Headquarters to receive gifts of traditional clothing.

Sisters Gricelda Noemi and Evangelina are both in school and sponsored through the Student Sponsorship Program. Their younger sister Paola was also blessed with a generous gift of new clothing.

Click Here to Learn More About This Family

Click Here to go to the Family Aid Page

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PANAJACHEL–Sponsored student Reina #371 and her mother recently received the gift of a bed and mattress. This gift was made possible through a contribution made by Shirley J.

Very often, it is necessary for families to pick up their gifts at Mayan Families Headquarters after we purchase them. This can avoid family jealousies. Gifts like beds are then later installed by Mayan Families staff workers after the gift has made it home.

The bed going home via Tuk Tuk taxi

Reina and her mother trying out their new sleeping spot.

Click here to learn more about Reina and her family

Click here to return to the Family Aid Program web page

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TIERRA LINDA–Chabeli is a wonderful single parent who has a history of always using her resources wisely and giving something back. She recently came to MF Headquarters to show off one of her recent accomplishments. Sharon reported “Chabeli was so happy to show me the new traditional outfit that she had bought her daughter. She said that her daughter, almost three had been asking for a new Corte and Guipil – one that was especially from her village. Chabeli said that she would cry because she wanted one so badly. Chabeli is a single mother and cannot afford these kind of luxuries.”

Chabeli was able to do this through support she has received through the Chickens Program. Some time ago she had received 10 baby chicks. Chabeli raised the chicks until they were more marketable sizes and then took them to market and sold them. Through the proceeds from her sale she was able to purchase the clothing for her daughter so that she can continue with traditional indigenous customs.

Chabeli is one of the many success story accomplishments realized through the generosity of the Family Aid Program and the Chickens Program.

Click Here To Family Aid Page

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