During her time in Guatemala, President & CEO Tracie Cordeiro and her team have led Friendship Bridge through a period of tremendous growth and innovation, generating positive impacts for our clients, their families, and their communities. The months transitioning from 2024 to 2025 were no exception! Just before the holiday season, Tracie and key staff members hosted a Board of Directors retreat in Guatemala. Then shortly after, she and her executive team unveiled the newly expanded Universidad Amistad (Friendship University) during Convivió, a festive all-staff celebration in Puerto San Jose complete with interactive games, good food and “Hawaiian-themed” dress and decor. Read on to hear more about our 2024 accomplishments and exciting New Year developments at Friendship Bridge!

What were your end-of-year highlights as you wrapped up 2024 in Guatemala?

In 2024, we served over 36,000 indigenous women. This number reflects not just the growth of our organization, but also transformation and hope for thousands of families uplifted by the programs we offer. Moreover, our services help to further knowledge and economic development for entire communities. Since living in Guatemala, I have had the privilege of meeting many of these women in person and hearing inspiring stories about the businesses they started, what they have learned, and their dreams for the future.

I hope you get a chance to read more about Friendship Bridge’s 2024 Achievements Report, including additional client success stories, information about our staff support programs, and many other initiatives. Remember, our success is your success. We could not have accomplished what we have without the unwavering dedication of our entire community. Together, we have expanded opportunities for women, contributed to local economic development, and strengthened our organization’s foundation to ensure lasting, generational change.

One client’s story left a profound impact on me during our Client Advisory Committee session at the Board Retreat in November. At first, the conversation felt scripted—our Board members asked questions, and clients responded with careful, measured answers. But as the CAC members grew more comfortable speaking in front of our diverse Board and staff, their stories became more raw and powerful. They shared how Friendship Bridge’s programs provided them with financial independence and the confidence to break free from controlling relationships. One client’s journey, in particular, was so moving that it sparked a standing ovation—a testament to her perseverance, strength, and the true impact of empowerment. Watch this video to learn more about this powerful group of clients who represent the 36,000+ women we serve, Moving Mountains Together: Inside the Client Advisory Committee.

Have you had a chance to share these accomplishments with your Board of Directors? 

Friendship Bridge’s Board of Directors meet with staff during their retreat in Guatemala.

Speaking of 2024 highlights, in November, our entire Board of Directors visited Guatemala for our annual retreat. Each year, I really look forward to this event, and I have a very capable team here to pull it off! I am incredibly honored to work with such an experienced and talented group of people, who are willing to roll up their sleeves and play an active role in leading our organization. They continually help us strategize, fundraise, advocate, and spread the word about Friendship Bridge and its mission.

During this year’s visit, our board had the opportunity to meet with several clients representing a variety of different industries and participate in a natural dye workshop with one of our Handmade by Friendship Bridge® artisans. They also met with many Friendship Bridge employees at our Guatemalan offices and heard from our Client Advisory Committee—a trip highlight for many of our Board members, who understand that at the end of the day, our clients are the reason we are here.

We are a connected organization, and we all value opportunities to get to know each other, share time together, and understand each others’ goals. By visiting our operations in-country, our board members are able to see the fruits of their labor in a very personal and rewarding way, the way I have over the past several months.

Can you tell us more about Friendship Bridge’s Client Advisory Committee?

Community-led decision making is a core value at Friendship Bridge. So every year, during the Board’s visit to Guatemala, we have the opportunity to hear from a group of our clients representing different areas of the country where we offer services, including our 13 branch offices. These women leaders are elected by their peers and truly embody what Friendship Bridge stands for. 

During the presentation, the committee members told us about their experiences of being held back or held down by others and how Friendship Bridge has taught them to speak up and take action in a way that has brought them financial and personal success. They also talked about what motivates them to stay with Friendship Bridge, emphasizing how much they value our Microcredit Plus program for example, and that these additional support services—including healthcare, education and training—have been key in helping them reach their goals.

All that being said, I think our Board Chair, Susie Miller, said it best: “This opportunity, when we can all meet in person and get direct feedback, is priceless! We were all so impressed by the willingness of the women on the committee to speak so openly with us. We were also able to share with them that conversations like these help direct the focus of our work, especially as we head into our next Strategic Plan.”

TOP LEFT: An agriculture client speaks during a presentation. • BOTTOM LEFT: Friendship Bridge staff with the Client Advisory Committee. • RIGHT: Board Chair Susie Miller with client Elena, who held the natural dyes workshop.

What have you been up to in the New Year? 

We jumped into the New Year with both feet! In January, my executive team and I gathered with nearly 300 of our colleagues—including staff based throughout Guatemala—for Convivió, a traditional celebration in Guatemala. We held the two-day event in Puerto San Jose and had access to the beach and beautiful ocean views. We had so much fun dressing in “Hawaiian-themed” attire. All in all, it was a festive way to spend time together, commemorate Friendship Bridge’s 26-year anniversary, and think about what we want to accomplish going forward, both individually and as a team.

The event was also a perfect time to launch our newly expanded Universidad Amistad (Friendship University). Training and continuous learning is intrinsically embedded in our work culture, and this initiative will help us further develop professional growth opportunities for all our staff, as well as potential new employees.

In true Friendship Bridge style, we unveiled the expansion with fun, interactive games that promoted team building, which represented the five pillars of Friendship University. Each pillar offers a different learning module for both internal and external audiences, including prospective and current employees. (Learn more about the five pillars of Friendship University below ») During the event, we split up into teams—each assigned a different color. The teams all worked together within their groups to see which one could pass buckets of water the fastest, cross the finish line first while hopping on one foot, and keep balls balanced in the air all without using their hands.

Everyone was excited to learn about all the programs and the company-wide implementation for education and training. One of our Board members actually came up with the idea for an organization-wide learning tool a few years ago, and now we all get to see Friendship University become a reality. 

We know that two long-time supporters of Friendship Bridge recently visited Guatemala. Can you tell me more about their visit?

Later in the month, I had a chance to visit with Florence Walraven and Dick Schirmer, two of our beloved long-term supporters who help make our work possible. During their visit to Guatemala, we also met up with a group of artisans and staff from Handmade by Friendship Bridge®, who facilitated a language lesson in Kaqchikel, one of over 20 indigenous Mayan languages spoken in Guatemala. I learned how to say Nu kikot, which translates to “I’m feeling happy.” 

It was a fun afternoon and also a great way to showcase the importance of our Microcredit Plus programs, which support our artist clients with additional training to grow their business and become ready to export their products. This business stream also helps preserve an important part of Guatemalan cultural heritage. 

Is there anything more you would like to share?

Lots… I also joined our human resources team in Antigua for a planning session laying the groundwork for the next Strategic Plan of our organization—stay tuned for more updates. Then I made some additional field visits, stopping in at the Totonicapan satellite office, where I visited a Trust Bank group in Xelexjuj and met up with a few staff members who run our Bridge to Success program. 

Wrapping up on a sweet note, just before Valentine’s Day, my staff and I attended an advanced training session where 28 clients learned how to make traditional Guatemalan desserts! It was a yummy experience. Speaking of yummy, I visited our headquarters in Guatemala City and the team surprised me with a birthday cake!