Lorenzo (left) and his family. Courtesy/Cindy Lawton
Lorenzo’s home. Courtesy/Cindy Lawton
By CINDY LAWTON
Los Alamos
Twelve-year-old Lorenzo stood quietly, eyes downcast, as we visited his family’s small home in rural Guatemala. When he finally spoke about his dream to continue school beyond sixth grade, his voice trembled. Then, tears came. His father had died earlier this year, and the cost of education—between $1,000 and $1,500 annually (after 6th grade) —was far beyond what his family could afford on their modest monthly income of $150 to $400.
Like many children in rural Guatemala, Lorenzo’s future seemed to be slipping away. But this moment also revealed why we were there. I had traveled with Jim Hille of Santa Fe, Board Member of Causa Maya, a non-profit dedicated to empowering families living in acute poverty in rural Guatemala through homes, education, and social services. The organization works to address the root causes of migration, helping families build stable lives where they are, rather than being forced to leave everything behind.
Causa Maya grew out of Jim’s years of volunteer work as well as living in Guatemala. My involvement began last year when I helped fundraise for the construction of a new home for a family I’d selected from a list of profiles. This trip was my chance to see firsthand how this non- profit is organized, to visit the family and home my friends and I funded, to see how lives are being transformed—and to meet families like Lorenzo’s which was on our list to visit and whom Causa Maya will now be working to provide both a home and a scholarship to keep his education going.
Another deeply moving visit was with Isabel and Sara, a couple raising four children. Isabel contracted polio at age one, but through determination and resilience, he built a life, married Sara, and is supporting his family. One of their children is a star student on a Causa Maya scholarship. We joined their family in celebrating the completion of their new home decorated for us with balloons—a moment filled with laughter, pride, and the sense of security that comes with a stable roof overhead.
I learned that Jim is very involved in the selection process of families and has strict criteria for families in need of a home and education. One of the children must be interested in school. We even looked at the report cards of the potential students. A family member must have an income source from employment. Each house is assessed for their needs—usually sanitation rooms, toilet and shower, separated sleeping areas, water, kitchen where the smoke is dispersed outside, and a structure to keep the rain out. Each home after construction is visited as well to make sure what was built was the intended outcome. This was a very lengthy process, but I found it to be an excellent one. The cost to build a home ranges from $5000–$10,0000. Jim tries to raise funds for approximately 5 homes per year and the education for the children through high school.
We also joined in the community’s Children’s Day celebration in Xetzitzi, playing soccer and taking a few playful swings at a piñata. The joy and generosity we encountered stood in sharp contrast to the severe poverty many families face daily. In Guatemala, the largest source of monetary inflow isn’t coffee or textiles—it’s remittances sent from relatives living in the United States. But most Guatemalans don’t want to leave their homes or communities; they simply lack the means to build a sustainable future where they are.
Causa Maya’s work aims to change that, one family at a time. For me, this journey opened a new window. Experiencing the beauty, resilience, and warmth of people living in such challenging circumstances made the work personal. It hasn’t diminished my commitment to needs here at home, but it has deepened my understanding of poverty as a global citizen. Jim often quotes Abraham Heschel: “The degree to which one is sensitive to other people’s suffering, to other men’s humanity, is the index of one’s own humanity.”
I returned home inspired—and changed.
Jim Hille with family. Courtesy/Cindy Lawton
Jim Hille with bag made by family (above) as a ‘thank you’ gift. Courtesy/Cindy Lawton