Sharing the Dream supports programming around Guatemala. Read more about our programs below.
Artisan Development Program
Sharing the Dream supports artisan groups from around Guatemala through education and financial assistance. Sharing the Dream provides workshops to our partner artisan groups to help them to improve their products and find new markets. Workshops focus on new designs, best business practices, and other skills necessary for the artisans to find new clients. Sharing the Dream also provide financial assistance to the artisans through the purchase of their products. Read more about our Artisan Development Program here, and see the beautiful products made by our partners artisan groups in our online store.
Elder Center
Sharing the Dream runs an Elder Center in Santiago Atitlan and helps to support more than 60 indigenous Mayan elders. Three times a week, Sharing the Dream provides a hot, nutritious meal for the elders and loving care that lasts them all week. The elders have access to health care free of cost to them through a partnership that Sharing the Dream maintains with the Hospitalito Atitlan. Read more about the Elder Center.
Elder Center Bead Group
The Elder Center Bead Group is a group of young women artisans from Santiago who design the jewelry that you see on our online store. The artisans have stable work where they earn a fair wage, and they have access to new skills and opportunities to refine their creative abilities. The profits from the jewelry sales go primarily to support the Elder Center. Read more about the Elder Center Bead Group and see their beautiful work in our online store.
Scholarships
Sharing the Dream provides scholarships to promising students from the rural communities of Santiago Atitlan, Chichicastenango, and our partner artisan groups. Scholarships are provided for primary school and high school. Students must maintain an 80% grade point average, attend weekly tutoring sessions, complete volunteer hours, and participate in student workshops. Read more about our scholarship program here.
Health Promoter
Sharing the Dream helps to support a health promoter in Rio Dulce through Casa Guatemala. The health promoter provides medical care to the students at Casa Guatemala and the surrounding villages. The health promoter also provides health related workshops to the children at Casa Guatemala and families in the surrounding villages. Read more about Casa Guatemala and the health promoter here.
Schools
Due to scarce assistance and resources provided to rural schools from the Guatemalan government, many schools don't have the basic tools that they need to operate. Sharing the Dream supports two schools outside of Santiago Atitlan, Tzanchaj and Chacaya. Sharing the Dream helped purchase land for both of these rural schools. Sharing the Dream continues to support Chacaya with school supplies and other projects as necessary. Read more about the Schools Program here.
Casa de Sueños Inn
Located in the heart of Santiago Atitlan, Sharing the Dream runs a small inn for volunteers, visitors, tour groups, and locals. All profits from the inn help to support our Scholarship Program. To learn more about the inn or make a reservation, visit our Lodging in Guatemala page.