We all know that access to a good education is critical to succeed in life. It can make all the difference. But what if you didn’t have access to a quality education, and as a result never even learned to read?
Martha de Chanchavac Perez of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, wanted to work hard and help support her family, but she never learned to read or write. Despite her best efforts, Martha’s small clothing business was struggling because, as a result of her lack of education, she couldn’t keep good records and get organized.
You might say the family of eight, who live in a rural area on the border between Guatemala and Mexico, were unable to cross an invisible barrier to success. Without basic literacy skills and the opportunity to get an education, Martha struggled to become self-reliant. That’s when the staff at Cause for Hope got involved. We’re proud to be able to offer support for intelligent, hardworking people like Martha living in areas where they might not otherwise have educational opportunities.
Martha knew she needed to make a change to improve the family’s quality of life. She began attending a literacy program in the community and practiced her new skills with her six children. She also began training in the Cause for Hope Self-Employment Workshop, the Five Steps to Success, and Business Improvement courses.
Martha and her family received the educational opportunities they needed through our work, which we know gives people the tools they need to make positive, long-lasting changes in their lives. “I am so grateful to the Cause for Hope Foundation for all their support, especially in this distant area,” Martha said.
Since participating in the educational opportunities made available by Cause for Hope, the family’s efforts have paid off – they’ve increased their monthly income by $373 each month! Perhaps even more importantly, education has become a family value. The children are learning to help keep the business records, a skill that will be useful to them later in life.
We’re proud to support the success of intelligent, hardworking families! We invite you to learn more about the Cause for Hope mission and how you can help us create lasting change.