Annual Report 2023

Dear Friends,

You might or might not be surprised to know that 54% of the population in Guatemala lives in poverty (less than $2.15 a day).

I live in Guatemala—which has been amazing and beautiful in so many ways—but I feel the weight of the need here. I feel it with the families we work with, and I feel it when I walk outside my front door. It can be overwhelming at times, and it can seem like our vision as an organization of breaking the cycle of generational poverty, is far-fetched. But then I go a little further outside my front door.

I walk into a coffee shop and see the familiar face of Mabelyn, a graduate of Escuela Integrada, who works behind the coffee bar. Then, I pass Gabriela, another graduate, on the cobblestone streets of Antigua, and she tells me about her job in corporate sales for a prominent resort company. Next, I am eating at a restaurant with my friend and, to my surprise, I see Jonathan, another graduate, who takes my order. Walking home, I catch a glimpse of a graduate through an office window; Alex stands at an architect's desk, drawing up blueprints.

The numbers in our annual report represent the collaborative effort it takes to combat poverty. From those who work closely with the students each day, to those of you who send financial support, we all work together, and God makes the work grow.

When Mabelyn, Gabriela, Jonathan and Alex were students, I felt the weight of their need. Their families were struggling to provide food and shelter for them. Ten years later, I am able to see that the vision of GRACES has become a reality in their lives. They are breaking the cycle of poverty one step at a time.

Thank you for being a part of this vision. May God bless you abundantly for your generosity.

Sincerely,

Hannah Nadeau Girón
Executive Director of GRACES