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Message fhcanada.org 1Exciting change is taking root in Guatemala thanks to your generous support! To get even more students into classrooms, FH Guatemala used radio broadcast to spread messages about children’s right to education.In homes and communities, volunteer mothers and local leaders are stepping up to promote cleaner, healthier living. They learned practical ways to keep homes healthy and formed a committee to promote better hygiene and sanitation.Out in the elds, farmers are getting serious about their crops! Local farmers improved their harvests with hands-on training, natural fertilizers, and new crop techniques—opening the door to sell harvests in bigger markets. Coee growers are also preparing for better business, receiving expert guidance and testing their beans to meet premium quality standards.Meanwhile, 372 women in savings groups are learning to manage money, access small loans, and grow their income. Through hard work and commitment to learning, Guatemalan families are already reaping hope!POPULATION19,553HOUSEHOLDS3,862PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS5,173Written by Pedro Raymundo, FH Guatemala Translated by Claudia Alejandra Hurtarte Prepared by FH Canada12 COMMUNITIESI have learned many things with FH. They gave us a few seeds and taught us how to transform what we harvested into food for our children. Now things have changed, and I never imagined I would learn about managing high-value crops like tomatoes and bell peppers. I also learned about irrigation systems, something I knew nothing about before. Now I can grow and manage my crops more technically and apply better agronomic practices.— Ana, mother and farmer, AculWalking with Ixil communities:San Juan Cotzal (Tixelap, Ojo de Agua,San Felipe Chenla, Vichibala, Chichel,Santa Avelina, Chisis, Quisis)20292019Walking with Ixil communities:Nebaj (Rio Azul, Xonca, Villa Hortensia II)20262009Walking with Ixil community:Acul20262016G uatemalaIXIL Mid-Year Community Update 2025
fhcanada.org 2A Future Not Set In StoneStory and photographs collected by Daniel Darwin Pedro GómezTeresa and her family were passionate about growing coee. They worked hard to grow their crops, but for years, the harvests barely covered their basic needs. With rising costs for fertilizer and little knowledge of crop care, they felt stuck.Her husband, Juan, planted corn and beans to help ll the gap, while Teresa wove traditional huipils—indigenous Guatemalan fabrics—to support their family. But it still wasn’t enough and two of their sons had to move to Guatemala city, hoping to earn money for school fees.“I felt sad to see that my husband was worried about this situation because our coee harvest… was not enough,” Teresa remembers.Growing a Better LifeTheir harvests began to change when Teresa and Juan joined the Better Coee Better Lives project in 2021. Through hands-on training and encouragement, they learned to care for their crops, raise chickens, and grow vegetables, which helped earn extra money to cover their household needs.Slowly, Teresa’s condence—and their coee crops—began to grow. “I have never missed an FH training, so that I, together with my family, can improve our coee cultivation.” And her commitment is paying o! Her coee crops are harvesting more than ever before and she spends less at the market thanks to her home garden.“Before, we didn’t receive any training on coee cultivation. We had to rely on what we learned from our parents. Coee farmers in the community no longer wanted to grow coee because of the impact of climate change, leaf rust, and lack of technical knowledge—all of which aected our production.”“But thanks to FH Guatemala and the training sessions, we now know how to properly manage our coee farms. All of us participating in the project are motivated to keep growing coee!”Even more than practical skills, the project gave her self-worth and condence. “Even though I don’t have an education, participating in training is like studying for me, and that makes me happy,” Teresa smiles.From the CommunityEven though I don’t have an education, participating in training is like studying for me, and that makes me happy.— Teresa
fhcanada.org 3Spreading Messages for TransformationWhen FH Guatemala wanted to reach more families about the importance of education, they came up with a creative solution—radio broadcasting! Through radio broadcasts across 12 communities, families learned about children’s right to education. The messages enforced how education can shape children’s development and their futures.At the same time, volunteer mothers completed the “Healthy Home Environment” certication where they learned better household health practices, such as hygiene and disease prevention. These lessons equipped them to create home environments where their children can thrive. Another 15 leaders were trained on sanitation and hygiene, and successfully formed a community sanitation and hygiene committee which will take ownership of their communities’ health!Planting Progress, Reaping ResultsThis year, local farmers learned new ways to grow and sell their crops through hands-on training through two training farms, boosting their readiness for larger markets. They received tools like natural fertilizer and vegetable seeds to help improve their harvests. With expert support, they planted six types of high-value vegetables and developed plans to grow and sell more in the future. Meanwhile, 372 women across 36 savings groups strengthened their nancial and money management skills. Together, they’ve saved over $69,000 USD. These eorts are empowering families, improving food security, and creating new economic opportunities in rural communities!volunteer mothers certied in healthy home environment practices22messages broadcast on local radio stations about the importance of education16A volunteer mother leads a hygiene lesson in Guatemala—sharing simple, life-changing habits that help families stay healthy at home!Health, Education, & LivelihoodsIn my personal life, I am in the process of continuing to learn and improve through the completion of the nancial books we keep in the savings group. I also want to grow my business to generate a better income and be able to contribute more to supporting my family.— Magdalena, savings group member, AculBuilding Opportunities with Expand Hope Students in Tixelap will be enjoying bright new classrooms by July! This is one of four schools receiving new infrastructure this year thanks to funding from Expand Hope. By the end of 2025, students will have benetted from 70 new classrooms across 18 schools through the partnership—improving quality education for Guatemalan children.
4Brewing for Premium MarketsThe Better Coee Better Lives project has entered its second phase—a three-year plan to strengthen partnerships and engage enthusiastic coee farmers. With an updated framework and budget for the next phase, this project is well under way. FH sta followed-up with farming plots to ensure farmers were correctly implementing the agricultural lessons learned. They also monitored plant health, looking out for pests, disease, or nutrient issues. They also tracked the quality of the coee, evaluating ripeness, color, and size for bean quality.50 coee producers were selected for specialized quality evaluation, where bean samples were sent to a lab. The assessment evaluated the coee bean’s cup prole—such as the avour, aroma, and quality of the coee the beans produce. This helps farmers improve coee quality to access premium markets, as better cup proles yield higher prices. By supporting farmers in high-quality coee production, FH partner communities can boost prots and stay competitive.Thank You! Thank you for standing with families in Guatemala. Your support has had tremendous impact, helping children gain access to education, farmers grow stronger crops, and women build brighter futures through savings groups. Your partnership is helping communities thrive—planting seeds of hope that will grow for generations to come.local farmers trained on better farming and selling practices3savings groups with 372 women received training on nancial management36coee farmers impacted by Better Coee Better Lives100participants received seedlings and organic fertilizer, to enhance crops30Mothers and their children stand proudly among the coee plots they help tend—growing strong roots for better coee and brighter futures!Better Coffee Better Lives Project@fhcanada @foodforthehungrycanada @fh-canadafhcanada.org/storiesFollow your impact all year long.What is a “Cup Prole”? In coee production, “cup prole” is the sensory characteristics and quality of brewed coee. It’s evaluated by professional tasting, called “cupping,” and assesses the coee’s dening avour, aroma, and overall quality.Update