May 2026 — Building Futures Through Homes, Health & Education
Building Futures Through Homes, Health & Education
Dear IEP Friend,
May brought milestones worth celebrating. Students earned diplomas they worked hard for. Midwives strengthened skills that protect mothers and newborns. We sat with families in their homes and listened before anything else. And volunteers reflected on the kind of love that crosses every border.
This is what strengthening communities from the inside out looks like in practice — practical, relational, and built to last. Thank you for making all of it possible.
With gratitude,
The IEP Team
Celebrating New Beginnings at the Esperanza Center
A couple of weeks ago, we had the privilege of celebrating an important milestone at the Esperanza Center as new students successfully completed their first training module. This achievement represents far more than the completion of a course. It reflects commitment, resilience, and a shared belief in the power of education to create new opportunities.
We are incredibly proud of each student who took this step forward in their personal and professional development. Their dedication is a reminder of why investing in vocational training matters.
“Quality education and vocational training open practical paths to growth, for children and adults alike.”
Strengthening Care From Within
Thanks to the support and sponsorship of Sanford Health for Team Thankful, local midwives in both Retalhuleu and Tecpán, Guatemala, were able to participate in specialized trainings led by medical professionals from their team. These women play a vital role in the health of mothers and newborns in their communities, and this time together created an opportunity to both learn and reinforce essential skills.
The trainings covered recognizing and responding to excessive bleeding, massage techniques to help manage postpartum complications, and the critical signs that indicate when a patient must be referred to a hospital. They also reviewed fundamental newborn care practices to help ensure babies receive the safest possible start to life.
- Recognizing and responding to excessive postpartum bleeding
- Massage techniques for managing postpartum complications
- Identifying emergency signs requiring hospital referral
- Fundamental newborn care and early life support
We are deeply grateful to Sanford Health not only for sponsoring Team Thankful, but for investing in opportunities like these that strengthen healthcare knowledge within the communities we serve — impact that continues long after the team has returned home.
A Mother’s Love, Across Every Border
This Mother’s Day, we reflected on the women who shape families, communities, and futures with quiet strength and unwavering love. Through the lens of a mother, experiences in Guatemala often become something our volunteers carry long after they return home.
“My time in Guatemala is something I keep coming back to. I met women who, despite having so little, carried an unwavering faith and a depth of love that defines motherhood. One promised to pray for me for the rest of her life, another poured blessings over my life — moments that stayed with me deeply.
Connecting with these families reminded me that motherhood transcends circumstance. Even in hardship, I witnessed joy, resilience, and an unshakable instinct to give, protect, and hope. It left me with a simple but powerful reminder: a mother’s greatest gift isn’t found in what she has, but in the strength, gratitude, and belief she pours into others — no matter the circumstance.”
— Kalie, IEP Volunteer
“As a mother, I couldn’t help but think of my three fluent Spanish-speaking daughters throughout my mission trip with IEP. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride — not only in setting a meaningful example for my children, but also in knowing how proud they were of me for serving and volunteering in this way.
This beautiful country left a lasting impact on my heart, and I already look forward to bringing my girls back one day so they can connect and serve the people of Guatemala alongside their mom.”
— Karla Statema, IEP Volunteer
We celebrated not only the mothers we met, but also the ones who shaped the hearts that came to serve — every mother in our communities, every volunteer who served far from home, and every woman whose love continues to shape future generations.
An Evening in Paris
Join us for an unforgettable evening in support of International Esperanza Project — a celebration of community, impact, and the work you make possible, inspired by the elegance and charm of Paris. One of our most important fundraising evenings of the year.
Learn moreThe work doesn’t stop between trips
We have several upcoming volunteer teams with spots available. Each trip is a chance to install smoke-free stoves, deliver clean water, support medical care, and come home genuinely changed. No experience required — only a willing heart.
View teams & sign upYour gift creates practical, lasting change
Through partnership with local communities, IEP improves homes, expands access to healthcare, and strengthens education — giving families the foundation they need to grow, dream bigger, and shape their own futures.
Give now