Dear Creamos community,
On July 23rd, Guatemala celebrated National Psychologist’s Day. To honor this day, we asked our Director of Emotional Support, Melissa Payés, to share a reflection on her experience as a psychologist at Creamos. |
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"When I started as a psychologist at Creamos and first met the women we work with, I quickly came to understand the vulnerabilities they carry. I felt a deep commitment to bringing the highest quality mental health services to people who have experienced violence, trauma, and a loss of hope in the possibility of change.
In many ways, society and the system have failed them: failed to guarantee their right to health, to education, to dignified work, and for some, even the right to have a name by which to be legally recognized.
In our Emotional Support Program, participants find for the very first time a safe space to share what they have been carrying in silence for years. They find a place to get to know themselves more deeply, to reinvent themselves, to set boundaries in harmful relationships, to reclaim goals long forgotten, and sometimes, to set entirely new ones.
As psychologists, we accompany people through some of the heaviest moments of their lives. We help them carry their pain, but we also get to share in the joys. We are often the first to hear the news of a pregnancy, a graduation, a new job, a long-awaited scholarship, a separation that brings relief, or victory in a legal case. We are witnesses to participants' growth.
It is a privilege to witness participants embrace a new version of themselves: more autonomous, more whole." |
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| As we celebrate psychologists and mental health care in Guatemala, we are reminded that this work takes time, and changes are often subtle, but it is immensely important. Thank you to all of you who support us from near and far, recognizing the importance of this work. |
With gratitude, The Creamos team |
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Please join us for a mindful moment |
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Think of someone in your life who has been a witness to your growth — a person who saw you before you could fully see yourself. Take a breath in, with gratitude for the people who have held space for you. Breathe out with a hope that everyone who needs a safe space to heal, to grow, and to be fully seen can find one. |
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Communal Spaces for Healing and Growth |
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Parenting School for Mothers reached 100% of its enrollment capacity this month — a testament to the demand for community-based support for mothers in the neighborhoods Creamos serves. We also launched a new art therapy group for adolescents, creating an expressive space for young people to process their experiences and build emotional tools. |
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On the Path Toward Formal Employment |
This month, 28 participants successfully graduated from the Employability Certification Program implemented by Creamos’s Education and Workforce Development programs in partnership with Programa Valentina . Through cross-program collaborations like this, Creamos is strengthening its program integration, creating a simpler and more unified experience for participants. |
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The Workforce Development team also closed two barista cohorts this month, graduating 12 participants! They currently have four active cohorts running simultaneously: Alfadigital, Customer Service, Barista, and Gastronomy.
In the first half of the year alone, the team has supported 14 participants in securing their first job in the formal labor sector — a meaningful milestone for each of them. The team continues to walk alongside many graduates as they navigate their job search. |
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The Education team brought a group of students to Guatemala’s 23rd International Book Fair, where they got to meet authors and participate in reading and writing workshops. |
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Welcome, From the Very First Step |
At Creamos, our culture of care begins the moment someone walks through the door. We're excited to share that our reception area is now complete! This space gives participants a warm, dignified space to arrive, settle in, and wait for their programs or appointments. Because every person who enters Creamos deserves to feel welcomed from the very first step. |
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Creamos is deeply grateful to announce our renewed partnership with the Mortenson Family Foundation, whose gift to Creamos began in 2025 and has been renewed for 2026. Thank you to the Foundation for your trust in our team and our work! |
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We're excited to welcome two new faces to Creamos this month.
Emely, a former mi eelo participant, is now the first smiling face participants see when they walk through our doors, joining us as Administrative & Operations Support. Sharon joins us as our new Operations and Maintenance Coordinator, keeping everything running behind the scenes. Welcome to you both! |
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