My Nonprofit Reviews

I have been volunteering with Xela Aid as a Spanish-English tutor with one of their employees in Guatemala and it has been a wonderful exchange and experience. Xela Aid's commitment to the San Martin Chiquita community and the collaboration between the Guatemalan and American teams makes it a truly special organization. I have been impressed with the way that they have pivoted their programming during the pandemic and continued a focus on empowerment and self reliance with the communities and individuals that they work with. I am honored to be a part of this organization and encourage anyone who can to volunteer and donate to support their work!!

I recently came back from a trip from Guatemala with XELA Aid. From the moment that we were greeted into the San Martin community, it became clear that this organization has become family and a consistent source of empowerment, aid, and joy for many of the people there. Headed by smart, hard-working people both in Guatemala and the U.S., the leaders are constantly working to improve and stretch dollars to help people help themselves. Especially exciting programs that I saw were the youth leadership group (empowering youth to be community leaders and raise money through micro-loan businesses); a restructuring of the clinic with an energized, committed, and accomplished new doctor; a literacy group of women who are learning to speak Spanish for the first time; sponsored students who are going further in school than they ever would have imagined; construction of new homes and schools to make survival and education possible; and a continuation of a woman's weaver's co-op that generates income and preserves an important artistic tradition. These are just a few of the MANY ways that XELA Aid affects the community. Beyond these initiatives, XELA Aid trips and events with the community are filled with love and cross-cultural communication and respect. I have amazing new friends on both side of the border. I am proud to now be a small part of this organization and am excited to see what wonderful work they will continue to do.

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