How Creamos is weaving a stronger web of support. |
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New skills, new stories, and a $10,000 Match! |
What does independence really mean? As a nation, Guatemala marked 205 years of independence this September 15th. But at Creamos, we are reminded every day that independence isn't just a date on a calendar. Independence is something many individuals we work with are still building for themselves, one decision at a time.
Independence looks different depending on where someone starts. For a woman who never had the chance to use a computer growing up, it can look like sitting down for the first time and learning, step by step, not to be afraid of it. For a man stepping into a culinary training that's long been considered "women's work," it can look like the freedom to choose a path without being boxed in by what he's "supposed" to do. For someone carrying something painful in silence, it can look like finally having the words, and a safe space, to talk about it. For a graduating student preparing for their first job interview, it can look like walking into a room with the tools and the confidence to advocate for themselves.
None of these moments happen on their own. They happen in community, because someone created the conditions that made them possible — a classroom, a support group, a training program, a listening ear.
As Guatemala celebrated its independence in September, we at Creamos were reminded of the importance of our work building the conditions that create a different, quieter kind of independence — the freedom to decide one's own future. Thanks, as always, to all of you — the community that helps us keep doing this work. The Creamos Team |
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Please join us for a mindful moment |
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Think of a moment in your own life when you did something that scared you — tried something new, spoke up for the first time, or asked for help. What made you brave enough to take that step?
Breathe in with gratitude for the courage it takes to grow, at any stage of life. Breathe out with a hope that everyone has the support they need to step into their own independence. |
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Our First Mixed-Gender Culinary Training
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For the past three years, our Workforce Development Program has offered vocational culinary training exclusively for women, as a way to create a safe space for women to learn and grow together. In September, in an effort to include men in the gender-transformative work that Creamos is advancing, we launched our first mixed-gender culinary cohort, welcoming 11 women and 4 men who demonstrated a commitment to gender-equity.
We’re excited to see how this mixed-gender training in a women-dominated field can help challenge stereotypes and push the boundaries of what spaces each gender is “allowed” to occupy. |
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Students Prepare for Graduation
and the Job Search
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As Guatemala’s academic year comes to a close in October, our final-year students are looking ahead to graduation and the credentials they’ll need to enter the formal labor market. To help them prepare, our Education and Workforce Development teams co-hosted a workforce orientation workshop, supporting students as they built resumes, set up profiles on job-seeker platforms, and practiced mock interviews. |
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Digital Literacy Graduation
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Last month, a cohort of 21 women and 3 men graduated from our three-month Digital Literacy course. Many of these participants didn’t grow up around technology, and for some, the initial idea of sitting down at a computer was genuinely frightening. We’re inspired by their commitment to learning and growth at every age, and proud to have walked alongside them as they built a new skill from scratch. |
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International Suicide Prevention Day
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A note before reading: this following text and video include discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation.
Over the past year, our Emotional Support Program has seen an increase in the number of individuals sharing experiences of suicidal ideation. While this does not necessarily mean suicidal ideation itself is increasing in the communities we serve, it may reflect growing awareness of our services and, importantly, a greater sense of safety in asking for support.
As the only free mental health clinic in the area, Creamos is committed to reducing stigma around mental health and creating space for conversations that can be difficult, but are necessary, including conversations about suicide. For International Suicide Prevention Day, we hosted activities to raise awareness and remind participants of their inherent worth, goodness, and potential, and that support is available within their community. |
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La Colectiva — Creamos' community of recurring donors — is a group of supporters who believe in participants' capacity for growth and change, and who trust that small gifts over time, joined with many others, can create something none of us could build alone. We invite you to join La Colectiva and make a monthly gift to Creamos.
Think of it like a monthly cup of coffee, or a streaming subscription — only, so much more impactful. |
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$10,000 Match for DAF Day!
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“What’s a DAF?” you might be wondering.
A DAF is a donor-advised fund. It works like a charitable giving account: you contribute funds, receive an immediate tax deduction, watch your funds grow, and recommend gifts to nonprofits like Creamos whenever you’re ready. DAFs are one of the most powerful, yet underutilized, giving tools available. From now until DAF Day, every gift made to Creamos through a DAF will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $10,000! If you have a DAF, or you’re DAF curious, consider looking into it and making a DAF gift to Creamos before October 8th! |
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