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Vision Team with Common Hope
In March 2011, the University of Minnesota Parent Program teamed up with Common Hope to offer the first annual service learning trip to Guatemala for students and their parents. With a vision of improving the lives of Guatemalan families through education, health care, and housing, Common Hope provides the opportunity for teams to travel to Guatemala and work towards this mission.
Common Hope
Mission
Common Hope promotes hope and opportunity in Guatemala, partnering with children, families, and communities who want to participate in a process of development to improve their lives through education, health care, and housing.
Learn more about Common Hope >
The Vision Team Experience
During the week in Guatemala, Vision Teams participate in a variety of activities based on the interests and skills of the team members, as well as the needs of the communities. Opportunities include building a house for a family, working in medical clinics or the pharmacy, leading activities in the schools, library, and daycare, and visiting families in their homes with a social worker. Vision Teams not only help families in need, but also experience many aspects of Guatemalan culture hidden to tourists.
In Their Words
Here’s what one 2012 Vision Team member said about her experience.
Here’s what the 2011 Vision Team members said about the experience.
Join the 2013 Vision Team
Be part of the Vision Team and experience the people, culture, and beauty of Guatemala as you work with Common Hope’s staff in Antigua, Guatemala over spring break 2013.
Facts about Guatemala:
Education
- Families often must choose one child to attend school
- Less than three-fourths of the population is literate
- Only 58% of the population graduate from primary school; 25% graduate from high school
Housing
- Homes with cornstalk walls and dirt floors are common
- Half of the population do not have utilities in their homes
Health Care
- There are only nine doctors for every 10,000 people
- The infant mortality rate is among the highest in Central America
Family Development
- More than one-third of people live on less than $2 a day
- More than half of the population live below the poverty line