Growing up in the district of Rondocan, Peru, Grimaldina witnessed first-hand what food insecurity can do to families and children. When she had her son, she determined to make a difference, for her child and her community’s sake. Grimaldina may only have a sixth-grade education, but your support has helped […]
From Mozambique: HIV, Healing and Hope
HIV testing and treatment is still met with hesitation and distrust in Mozambique, home to an estimated 2 million HIV-positive residents. Here, the disease is often not fully understood by community members and a positive diagnosis will more than likely result in a shunning from your family. Rutey is a […]
Give Back to Others This Holiday Season at Esperanca’s Q’eros Craft Store
With the holidays around the corner, you’re probably feeling that particular joy that only comes around this time of the year. You might also be feeling overwhelmed. The holidays this year are unlike any other and although it may be festivities for some, there is a lot of added burden for […]
Preventing Developmental Disabilities in Bolivia
Luz Paola Solano is a stay-at-home mom dedicated to raising her three children and taking care of the housework, though her home looks a little different than what most of us would picture…The Solano family lives in the Japón neighborhood, a well-known slum in Bolivia. A new settlement, the residents […]
Together We Can… Through Volunteering
Submitted by: Tiffany Luu, Development ManagerDecember 5th marks International Volunteer Day, an observance by the United Nations since 1985. This year’s theme is Together We Can Through Volunteering and boy, has that been true for 2020!The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a curve ball in our lives, impacting how we volunteer. […]
Diabetes: Conozca su Riesgo
Por Alexia Vega, Educadora de salud comunitariaSegún el Centro para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC), 1 de cada 10 personas tiene diabetes, esto representa alrededor de 30.3 millones de personas y 1 de cada 3 tiene prediabetes. La diabetes es una enfermedad en la que los niveles […]
Leonel’s Battle with Chronic Malnutrition
According to UNICEF numbers from 2019, nearly half of all deaths in children under 5 are attributable to undernutrition; undernutrition puts children at greater risk of dying from common infections, increases the frequency and severity of such infections, and delays recovery.Leonel was almost a part of this statistic.Six months ago, […]
Having a Happy (and Healthy) Thanksgiving
Submitted by: Elizabeth Hammet, Esperança Intern Loved ones gathered around the table laughing, eating, and enjoying each other’s company…. this what comes to mind when I think of Thanksgiving. Sometimes the holidays are the only time we are able to be in the presence of all of our loved ones […]
Hope on Four Wheels
Through Esperança’s virtual health education classes, our educators were introduced to Gabriela.On normal days, Gabriela was a steadfast single mother of three. She works hard cleaning houses seven days a week so that her children can afford a better life.The day we met Gabriela was not a normal day.Her 10-year-old […]
World Toilet Day – Making a Movement for Sanitation
Submitted by Anna Ortiz, International Program Director You will never appreciate your toilet as much as when you are nowhere near one. Or the ones nearby are not as sanitary as what you are used to. The reality is toilets and sanitation often fly under the radar, but when a […]