Building Self Reliance, Together
At Local Hope, Guatemala’s “Xela AID Partnerships for Self-Reliance,” our dream from the very beginning was simple, and bold: to work ourselves out of a job. That is, to empower local people to lead, sustain, and grow the programs sorely needed by the communities we serve.
In 2019, we realized that dream. Our Xela AID campus in San Martín Chiquito, Guatemala, is now run entirely by local leaders — talented youth who grew up in our programs. Today, they lead operations, serve as educators, manage our health, economic development and social service programs, and train the next generation. They are living proof of our core belief: with the right tools and opportunities, people can transform their own lives and communities.
Based on the well-studied exceptional return on investment, our focus is empowering women and girls who represent 70% of our program beneficiaries.
Our Approach to Self-Reliance
Our model is built on partnership, not charity. We don’t give handouts. Instead, we work alongside children, families, and community leaders to identify needs and co-create solutions that are sustainable, practical, and rooted in local wisdom.
We define self-reliance as the ability of a community to sustain its own progress — educationally, economically, and socially — with input and coaching as needed, and without external mandates. As such, we focus on building local capacity.
How We Build Self-Reliance
Our three core focuses support one another:
Education, including Leadership Development
We provide quality preschool education and study center coaching, and help youth access education through university graduation. We offer adult literacy, tutoring, and digital learning. Knowledge is the first step toward independence. As the capstone to our Education programs, we invest in local Leadership Development — mentoring youth, training community organizers, and preparing the next generation to manage and grow community programs.
Health and Wellbeing, including Clean Water
Access to healthcare — including general medicine, mental health services, and specialty care — ensures that families are healthy and able to pursue opportunity. This includes a food supplement and security program, and efforts to promote healthy, sustainable living conditions (clean water being central).
Economic Development: Jobs and Entrepreneurship
Through job preparedness training, small business development and micro-loans, and in conjunction with our Leadership Training program, we prepare youth for gainful employment and to become entrepreneurs, helping families generate income and achieve economic independence. We are proud to employ more than 30 youth and adults who hail from our region.
At every step, we embed sustainability into what we do. From our “pay-it-forward” LEAP Scholarship program to our Eco Guest House which employs local youth and returns 100% of proceeds to our programs, our work multiplies over time.
The Power of Local Leadership
The success metric we most value isn’t a new building or program — it’s local ownership. When youth who once received support now run clinics, lead classrooms, or launch businesses that support their families and neighbors, that is the success story.
Self-reliance isn’t just our mission — it’s our legacy. And thanks to your partnership, it’s becoming a reality, one leader, one family, and one community at a time.
Volunteer for What Matters Most
As volunteers, we have the power to transform lives and shape a brighter future. Change begins when we come together with compassion and purpose, working hand in hand to build strong communities.