Our goal is to raise $30,000 by midnight on Nov. 30 for Giving Tuesday. All gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar (up to $30,000) by a generous group of donors.
Giving Tuesday. It started in 2012 as a simple idea to encourage people to do good and has since evolved into a global movement inspiring hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
It’s a movement that harnesses the power of people and organizations alike to transform their communities, and, consequently, the world. A movement that encourages people to share their time, skills, voice, or money, not only on Giving Tuesday (the Tuesday following Thanksgiving each year), but every day. A movement that underscores the aphorism that no contribution is too small and that giving can take many different forms, including helping a neighbor, advocating for an issue, sharing a skill, or giving to an important cause.
As part of this year’s #GivingTuesday celebrations, Friendship Bridge has set an ambitious goal to raise $30,000 between Nov. 1-30. And thanks to our generous supporters, we are on our way to achieving this goal.
Giving Thanks on #GivingTuesday
Because #GivingTuesday is a day for celebrating generosity, Friendship Bridge is giving thanks to donors, partners, volunteers, our Board of Directors, staff, and clients. We reached out to many of these groups and asked why they support Friendship Bridge and what it means to them to be a part of Friendship Bridge.
Their responses moved us. Many communicated a sense of pride for being able to work for the empowerment of women who are facing challenging situations. Some stated having an appreciation for the conversations and personal connections with clients in their communities. Others cited satisfaction in witnessing empowered women transforming the lives of their whole family. And many shared their sense of deep gratitude for being able to create opportunities for these women to build a better life.
“They help us to see the world differently so we can improve ourselves and offer our children better opportunities.” – Fermina
We also spoke with clients and received their heartfelt testimonials. We heard from our client María, who, thanks to Friendship Bridge, has been able to buy compost, seeds, and fertilizers for the crops of her flower business and, as a result, support her family. We heard from our client Gloria, who is thankful for Friendship Bridge for trusting her and for providing loans with manageable interest rates. We heard from our client Angelina, who appreciates the trainings and medical check-ups she receives. We heard from our client Fermina, who values the expansion of her horizons and for the hand up as opposed to hand out.
“After a difficult time, I am now rebuilding my business. Thank you for the moral support through different trainings, and financial support through the loans.” – Lidia
Our client Juana is thankful for the easy access to the financing she needs as well as for the variety of educational topics she is exposed to. Our client Ruth talked about how the trainings have opened her mind and eyes to new things and how she shares what she learns with her family. Our client Lidia values her newfound resilience and confidence.
These and other messages remind us that we are making strides in our work to eliminate poverty in Guatemala by empowering women. They also remind us once more of how fortunate we are to have nearly 200 dedicated, compassionate, and committed employees who are united in our mission to create opportunities that empower these women to build a better life, and united in our vision of empowered women choosing their own path.
“Satisfaction is seeing the triumph of each woman.” – Otilia
A message from Otilia, who has been an Education and Credit Facilitator with Friendship Bridge for 12 years, embodies this mission-driven spirit and underscores one of the main recurring themes from the staff testimonials; namely, that it is an honor to be a part of this:
The women we serve live in rural areas of the country. Many of them faced difficulties and limited opportunities for development growing up, yet they have positive outlooks and feel fortunate for the skills acquired which empower them to build better futures.
We are constantly inspired by our clients’ motivation, entrepreneurial spirit, and resilience. They are finding their voice. They are experiencing not only business development, but personal development. We are constantly inspired by our staff’s innovation, passion, and commitment to learning, growing, and improving our programs.
And last, but certainly not least, we are constantly inspired by our supporters. Your generosity enables us to impact and empower 30,000 women in Guatemala. It enables us to innovate, implement and scale new programs and services, ensuring that we are serving the women we serve as best as we can.
So, on this global day of generosity, we want to reiterate that we could not do this without you, and we are endlessly grateful for your support. You can join us in our mission by making a donation today that will help us grow and improve women-led businesses, reducing household vulnerability and increasing resilience and empowerment for thousands of women in Guatemala, as well as their families.
