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THEM STORY
In the outskirts of Antigua, Guatemala, young girls and women in Suchitepéquez fight against poverty and limited opportunities, supported by THEMSTORY’s efforts to provide education, clean water, and hope for a better future. This is a call to action to empower their resilience and help break the cycle of hardship.
In November 2024, I went to the outskirts of Antigua, Guatemala, in a village called Suchitepéquez. I’ll never forget the moment we arrived. Before I could even get out of the car, the girls ran straight into my arms, laughing, smiling, and so full of life. They didn’t know me, but their excitement was overwhelming, like they had been waiting for someone - anyone - to see them. It was humbling and beautiful, and before I knew it, tears welled up in my eyes.
That day changed me. These girls, just 8 years old, wake up at 3am every single day to make tortillas for their families. While most children in the world are just rolling out of bed to get ready for school, these girls are already working. Without the organization, THEMSTORY, created by my dear friend Michelle, their next step in life would likely be working on coffee or macadamia farms, just like their parents. The abuse, the poverty, the lack of choices - it’s all too real.
But this organization has created a school. A space where these girls and their mothers can learn basic skills, where they can start to imagine a different life. For the first time, they can dream of being a teacher or something else entirely.Aanything other than a young 15 year old mother, locked in the same cycle of poverty they were born into.
We’re doing everything we can to help. From providing water filters to clean the contaminated rivers to improving nutrition, the goal is simple: give them a chance. A real chance. It’s not just about education, although that’s critical, it’s about showing them that there’s a world beyond what they’ve always known.
The girls and women here fight every single day to make things better. Their resilience is incredible, but they can’t do it alone. They need support. They need us. I cried the drive back from Suchitepequez. It was a lot to take in. The poverty, the joy, the strength... it made me realize how much work there is to do and how much of a difference even small actions can make.
This is real. These are real people, real girls waking up at 3 a.m., real families stuck in cycles they desperately want to break. Together, we can help. Let’s give them the tools they need to create a better life for themselves. It’s not charity; it’s a hand up, not a handout.
Let’s make a change. Together.
