Honor the past. Invest in the future. Make your gift today!

Honor the past. Invest in the future.

As we launch our 2025 Summer Appeal, we’re celebrating the powerful, lasting change we’ve created together in the Mayan Highlands of Guatemala.

In just the last decade, we’ve served over 50,000 patients, educated more than 300 students, and partnered with hundreds of passionate volunteers and staff to bring health, healing, and education to some of Guatemala’s most underserved communities.

Now, we’re inviting you to celebrate with us.

Join us for our annual Fun Run on June 20th—a joyful gathering of our local Camanchaj community who believe, like you do, in the transformative power of health and education. In the lead-up to the event, we’ll be sharing real stories of long-term impact—proof that your support truly changes lives.

But this work isn’t finished. And we can’t do it without you.

Our goal for this summer’s appeal is $50,000, and your gift will ensure we can continue to expand access to essential services and life-changing opportunities for those who need them most.

Honor the past. Invest in the future. Make your gift today.

Nutrition and Hygiene at the Heart of Our Work

At Salud y Paz, our Nutrition and Hygiene Program is a cornerstone of our holistic approach to early childhood development. By focusing on the whole child, we address the urgent needs of vulnerable children—ensuring they receive the essential nutrition and healthcare required during these critical years of growth.

Since reopening our school post-pandemic, we have closely monitored the nutritional and dental health of our students. We’re excited to share encouraging progress:

• Fewer cavities and more healthy teeth — we’ve seen a decline in the number of teeth needing fillings and a rise in teeth that qualify for preventive treatments like sealants.

• Improved nutritional health — there’s been a noticeable reduction in the number of children with nutritional deficiencies.

Strengthening family engagement around nutrition has been a key priority as we welcomed students back to the classrooms post-pandemic. In addition to providing daily nutritious meals at school, this year we’re taking another meaningful step: families of students identified with nutritional challenges will also receive regular grocery bags filled with healthy staples.

Our families are being supported holistically. Each student has been evaluated by a local nutritionist and will benefit from ongoing education and follow-up from our dedicated health promoter, Ofelia.

We are deeply grateful to our sponsorship community for making this work possible. Because of your partnership, we’re able to support children not just in the classroom, but in every aspect of their development—through language and education, nutrition and hygiene, and medical and dental care.

An Encounter with Gratitude

Our Board of Directors for Salud y Paz meets in person twice a year. Each year one of those meetings occurs in Guatemala so that we can spend time with staff, students at the school and lay eyes on the overall organization.

Last week our board was in country and for me, this was perhaps the 25th time that I was in Guatemala between participating on service teams or my time on the board.

During my trips, I’ve witnessed many stories of how Salud y Paz has changed the lives of the Mayan people that we serve and this trip was no different. Our board was greeted upon arrival at the clinic by a woman that we had not seen before. During our meeting with staff, she shared an emotional story of how Salud y Paz had saved her life. The medical staff along with a member of a medical team quickly diagnosed a serious condition and provided treatment. As a result, she is healthy now and very grateful for the treatment that she received from Salud y Paz. That day she prepared a lunch for the staff to express her heartfelt thanks.

Salud y Paz is making a real difference in the health and education of Mayans. I am proud of our organization and the impact we have. Thank you for supporting the mission with your gifts and service teams!

~Guy Griswold, Board Chair

Learning and Growing with the Support They Need

At Colegio Susanna Wesley, we understand that children learn best when their emotional and academic needs are supported together. In 2025, we continue to deepen our commitment to the whole child by strengthening two programs that help students overcome challenges in and out of the classroom.

Through our child psychology program, students who show signs of emotional or behavioral difficulties receive careful observation and individualized support. Many of these challenges are rooted in complex realities such as poverty, domestic instability, or limited access to early education. With guidance for teachers and families, and therapy for selected students, the program is already bringing about encouraging advancements in classroom behavior and emotional well-being. It is one of the only services of its kind in the region, and both teachers and parents have expressed their gratitude for the positive changes they see in their children.

Emotional wellness and academic performance often go hand in hand. That’s why we have also implemented a tutoring program that supports students who are struggling to meet their learning goals. Whether due to learning differences or gaps in understanding, not every child progresses at the same pace. This year, sixteen students will participate in small group tutoring sessions designed to help them grow in confidence and achieve their academic goals. These sessions take place during extended school hours and have proven highly effective in helping students meet their academic milestones.

Thanks to your support, these programs offer our students a space to feel seen, supported and empowered. Together, we are not only teaching children—we are transforming lives.