Loving Arms addresses the needs of the communities we serve through focused projects in key areas: Education, Community Development and Income-Generating Programs.

As a Canadian charity, Loving Arms is dedicated to transforming the lives of the people we serve in Guatemala.

Mission

Empower the Mayan people in the Chimaltenango area of Guatemala to provide for their families, by ensuring quality education, training and self-sustaining programs to build a bright future free from poverty. One child, one family, one village at a time.

Vision

Our vision is to improve the quality of the lives of many Mayan families in the Chimaltenango area of Guatemala. We do this by addressing their short-term needs and working towards long-term solutions aimed at making the communities self-reliant.

To realize our vision, we are guided by two key principles, which work in tandem:

  • Short-term, with programs that help families meet their daily needs and give them hope of a better future; and,
  • Long-term, with comprehensive programs aimed at making the communities self-sufficient and able to earn an income, which will help break the cycle of poverty.

What we do

Loving Arms provides services, resources, and education to in-need children, youth, and adults in communities in need in Guatemala.  We aim to improve the quality of life for the people we serve. We offer hope to families and an ability to enhance their lives.

We have our Guatemalan staff that run the programs, providing them with income for their families.

We also organize teams from all over Canada and the United States to volunteer their time with Loving Arms. These teams provide expertise in areas such as Health and Dental clinics, building homes for needy families, teaching women and children and providing workshops for the teachers at the School of Hope and many other activities.

Accomplishments

In 2016, the School of Hope was established, providing an exceptional education for children from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8, with expansion plans reaching Grade 9 in 2025.

Every month, healthy food is distributed to children and seniors to supplement their nutritional needs and combat malnutrition.

Loving Arms Co-operatives are designed to develop profitable business models with low operating costs, high-quality products, and positive outcomes for everyone involved. These cooperatives include:

  • Dairy Cooperative
  • Cheese Cooperative
  • Precious Products Cooperative
  • Chicken Cooperative

MEET OUR TEAM BEHIND
LOVING ARMS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Linda Coghlin

CEO AND FOUNDER

David Machry

CHAIRMAN

Jim Theaker

VICE-CHAIR

Shannon Mitchell

SECRETARY

Marylyn Hallgren

TREASURER

VOLUNTEERS / SUPPORT CANADA

Herb Goodhoft

ESL

Don Brown

GENERAL SUPPORT

Leny Ortuno

TRANSLATION

Helen Mailhot

PROCEDURE MANUALS AND GENERAL SUPPORT

Meghan Coghlin

MANAGERIAL SUPPORT AND SPONSORSHIP COORDINATOR

Betty Read

Volunteer

Julie Cordasco

Volunteer

Helen Mailhot

Volunteer

People who are part of Loving Arms programs

Monica Galindo

School of Hope Student

Carmen Sanjay

Mother of School Student

Roxana Oròn

Food Distribution beneficiary

LOVING ARMS GUATEMALA

Kenya Solis

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

SUPPORT

Jaime López

CO-OPERATIVES ASSISTANT

Estuardo Hernández

FARMER

Nery Alfaro

GUARD

SCHOOL OF HOPE

Jamin Puz

PRINCIPAL

Angelica Gómez

SECRETARY

SUPPORT

12 teachers at the School of Hope

Gerson Mendoza

BUS DRIVER

Johana Quisque

JANITOR