Santiago Elder Center
Our elder center provides elders with a sense of community and a place to smile and be happy in themselves
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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. The 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 mornings provide our elders with a sense of community, belonging, and lift their spirits for the whole week. |
Elders receiving a tortilla ration
Sponsor an elder
You can sponsor an elder for just $30/ month or $360/ year. The sponsorship provides the elder with access to the following services:
You can also make an impact on elders in Guatemala by making a donation to our General Elder Fund to help with some of the extra costs of running the Elder Center. Here are some ways that you can help:
$100 provides a meal for all 60 elders.
$50 provides a week of transportation for the elders to come to the Center.
$10 provides a clinic visit for a sick elder.
$5 provides a home visit to a lonely elder.
You can sponsor an elder for just $30/ month or $360/ year. The sponsorship provides the elder with access to the following services:
- 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
You can also make an impact on elders in Guatemala by making a donation to our General Elder Fund to help with some of the extra costs of running the Elder Center. Here are some ways that you can help:
$100 provides a meal for all 60 elders.
$50 provides a week of transportation for the elders to come to the Center.
$10 provides a clinic visit for a sick elder.
$5 provides a home visit to a lonely elder.
Elder Center Bead Group
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.
Artisans in the Elder Center Bead Group making beautiful beaded products
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An artisan makes a beaded product
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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.
See the artisans at work in this short video.
See the artisans at work in this short video.
