Chapter 2:

What are we doing?

“Our goal is to reach out and support women and children, helping them take meaningful steps toward independence and self-reliance. Because only when they are empowered can we build a society that is more inclusive, compassionate, and just for everyone.”

- Michelle, Founder

Our core areas

Women's empowerment

Through our work, we aim to achieve independence and equal opportunities for women in Guatemala. Women in Guatemala are the driving force of the family. By supporting them, we support an entire nation.
Education

Many children in Guatemala do not have access to education. Since education is the key to a better future, we are committed to ensuring that children in Guatemala receive the resources they need to complete a solid basic education.
Basic Needs

Every person has the right to clean drinking water, sufficient food, and medical care. Yet in Guatemala, many families lack these basic necessities. We support families in meeting their essential needs and building a better future.

Our Projects

Women’s empowerment

Together with Seeds for a Future, we have been training women to become self-sufficient since 2025. They grow a wide variety of vegetables and now also keep animals. This not only enables them to be self-sufficient, but also to earn their own money.
2025 the first women successfully completed a sewing training program at our vocational center. In our shop, you can find our beautiful products handcrafted by these women.
The upper floor of Maison Michelle is dedicated to development and empowerment programs. In the future, various evening courses on topics such as sustainability, recycling, and contraception will be offered.
2024 Hygiene and Menstruation Course
Through a comprehensive course program on menstrual hygiene, we have raised awareness about this often-taboo topic while also providing essential hygiene materials.
ALAS Courses on Contraception and Family Planning
Uncontrolled birth rates in Guatemala often lead to poverty and place a strain on both families and communities. Through our collaboration with ALAS, we aim to counter this trend with our courses and raise early awareness about these important issues.
2025 English Courses
To give women better opportunities in the future job market, we have introduced English courses on the upper floor of the daycare center. These courses now take place two to three times a week
2025 Group Trips for women by women
We have further expanded Explorengo and now offer solo and group trips for women. Participants can experience Guatemala firsthand in all its diversity while making a meaningful contribution to our social projects. For more information visit Explorengo.
2023 Volunteer Program
Together with Explorengo, we launched our first volunteer program. It allows volunteers from around the world to support our projects while gaining unique experiences and getting to know the culture, language, and people of Guatemala up close.
We support our women by giving them sewing jobs. This helps THEM become independent and learn to earn their own money. Handmade products such as bags, hair ties, and other textiles are produced and sold in our online shop.
Supporting our own employees is an integral part of all our support programs. Our project manager Elvia herself comes from a very poor background and in 2025 even managed to become a lawyer. Her knowledge not only benefits our NGO and all our women, but also shows that it is possible to escape poverty.

SCROLL DOWN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR OTHER PROJECTS

2023 Opening of the Children Daycare Center in Jocotenango
On November 1, 2023, we reached another major milestone with the opening of our daycare center, El Jardín de Michelle. Up to twenty children in Jocotenango are now cared for daily by our trained caregivers.
Women in Guatemala face significant disadvantages in the workforce, and 70% of mothers are single parents. With the opening of the first daycare center in Jocotenango, Guatemala, we aim to create a fairer and more inclusive society by enabling single mothers to participate in the labor market. At the same time, we provide a safe and nurturing environment for their children.
2026 110 children enrolled, release of our second and third schoolbook
2025 100 children enrolled, release of our own schoolbook
2024 88 children enrolled
2023 75 children enrolled
2022 50 children enrolled
2024 We were able to establish a tutoring center and common room next to the school in Suchitepéquez. This project has significantly improved the children’s academic performance, as they now have a quiet place to play and study after school.
2025 English has become an essential language in today’s job market. For this reason, our children receive English lessons at school, but also through volunteers at the tutoring center. This provides them with better opportunities for the future.
2023 Sponsorship With the Guardian Angel Program, you, as a sponsor, take on the role of the Quetzal, a Guatemalan bird and symbol for freedom, granting a child both freedom and access to education.
In order to provide comprehensive support, social aspects must be promoted in addition to basic care and access to education. That is why we have founded our own local soccer team. The aim is to motivate children, give them a healthy outlet, and prevent them from getting into trouble in their free time.

Education

2024 Construction of a kitchen with storage room
With the support of the community, we were able to build a kitchen with a storage room at the Basic School. This not only allows to prepare meal but also makes it much easier to store food and kitchen equipment. The goal is to ensure regular and balanced nutrition, thereby promoting both health and academic performance
2024 Installation of gas stoves and water filters
Many of the families we support have traditionally cooked over open fires. The smoke produced is extremely harmful for their health. Therefore, we began installing gas stoves. The new stoves are not only healthier for the families, but gas is also cheaper than wood in Guatemala. This allows us to provide families with a healthier and more sustainable way to produce their own food.
In addition, in collaboration with the NGO Seeds for Future, we were able to install water filters from Olafiltro so that families no longer have to travel long distances to access clean drinking water.
2025 Self-Sufficiency Program, Seeds for Future
In collaboration with Seeds for Future, we were able to enroll most of our families in a self-sufficiency program. Here, they learn how to grow their own food sustainably and affordably.