​Spread across northernmost department of Guatemala are the artisans of the Spoon Makers of Peten.  These artisans live and work in remote communities. By day, they are trained health promoters, providing basic care in villages where the nearest clinic is hours away. By night, the artisans are spoon makers, carving unique wooden products by hand. The artisans volunteer as health promoters, and the spoons provide an income.  In addition to providing fair wages for the artisans, the group donates 25% of their sales back to their medical project to purchase medicine and supplies. 

​These unique products are made entirely by hand without the use of power tools. ​First, the artisan traces out the design on a piece of wood. The wood is purchased as cast-offs from local carpenters so that no trees are cut down. 

​After the outline is traced, the artisan scoops out the bowl before using a machete to get it down to the rough outline.

​Then, it gets carved by hand. The spoon is sanded three times with different grades of sandpaper. Finally, it receives a beeswax finish, making it food safe.  

These unique products can be purchased in our two brick and mortar retail locations, online and wholesale to other retailers. 
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Interested in learning more about wholesale pricing? Email us at director@sharingthedream.org

​Meet Antonio, our assistant tutor and administrative assistant. Antonio is an important member of our team in Guatemala.  He is always willing to jump into whatever is asked of him, and he finds joy in tutoring the scholarship students. Antonio is from the small community of Chacaya, just outside of Santiago Atitlan. Taking the place of his brother in our scholarship program, he studied hard for five years and graduated with a degree in accounting. He then began his role as tutor and administrative assistant at Sharing the Dream. As a tutor, he travels to meet with scholarship students in Santiago, Panajachel, and Chichicastenango, helping other children to receive the education he did when he was a student.
Antonio is passionate about learning and reading. He particularly enjoys the Reading Circle he runs with the scholarship students. With a smile, he talks about the program, “We created a reading group with the scholarship students. Once a week, the students come to the Tutoring Center to read together. I enjoy it because it is interesting: we need ideas and imagination to share together.” He hopes to continue studying English, to attend university, and to travel so that he can share his experiences and Guatemalan culture. Antonio wants to share the message that anything is possible. His diligent work ethic and kind spirit are among the many reasons we are happy to work with Antonio.