Santiago Elder Center
Our elder center provides elders with a sense of community and a place to smile and be happy in themselves
The Elder Center in Santiago Atitlán supports more than 60 indigenous Mayan elders. The majority of the elders have been widowed or lost other close family to war, natural disaster, or sickness. Their remaining family often cannot bear the financial burden of support, or worse still, actively shun and abuse the elders.
Along with social alienation, the elders don’t have access to material necessities, as elderly welfare programs don’t exist in Guatemala. They’re forced to beg for food, or work for just a couple of dollars a day, leaving them weak and malnourished.
Three times a week elders from Santiago and surrounding communities come to the center to receive a nutritious meal and loving care that lasts them the whole week.
Along with social alienation, the elders don’t have access to material necessities, as elderly welfare programs don’t exist in Guatemala. They’re forced to beg for food, or work for just a couple of dollars a day, leaving them weak and malnourished.
Three times a week elders from Santiago and surrounding communities come to the center to receive a nutritious meal and loving care that lasts them the whole week.
Elders receiving a tortilla ration
These two principal human rights of social belonging and nutrition should be extended to every citizen. Three times a week, Sharing the Dream opens their doors to elders from Santiago and surrounding communities, offering a nutritious meal and loving care. These simple, inexpensive mornings provide our elders with a sense of community, belonging, and lift their spirits for the whole week.
The services we provide are as follows:
The services we provide are as follows:
- Meals consisting of meat, healthy soup, tortillas and coffee offered every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- “Meals on Sandals”, an initiative that brings food to those who are unable to come to our center due to sickness or infirmity
- Healthcare provided through an agreement with the local hospital
- Holiday celebrations hosted with our scholarship students.
- A place of companionship and solace that some have never truly experienced
Elders enjoy a day out for Mother's Day
The Elder Program was created with sustainability in mind. In order to achieve this, Sharing the Dream runs a beading group that produces beautiful handcrafted jewelry. The profits from this cover overheads and the running costs of the center, ensuring that 100% of your donation can go directly towards the nourishment and healthcare of an elder.
We are all working together to make a difference in Guatemala. Thank you so much for being a thread in the tapestry.
We are all working together to make a difference in Guatemala. Thank you so much for being a thread in the tapestry.
Elder Center Bead Group
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At Friends of Sharing the Dream in Guatemala, our jewelry is designed by local artisans who are given opportunities to work in a stable, educational, and enriching environment. Our goal is sustainability. Primarily, our proceeds go directly toward running our Elder Center in Santiago. Furthermore, supporting our store helps to give young Guatemalan workers access to new skills, opportunities for work, and the ability to refine their creativity. With prices fair, but low, Sharing the Dream is a cost-effective way to bring a better future to Guatemala.
Want to know a little more about our bead artisans? Meet them below.
Want to know a little more about our bead artisans? Meet them below.
