AMOR Villages is a holistic, sustainable approach to development that succeeds by forming collaborative partnerships with individuals and indigenous communities in Central America and worldwide, providing transformative education and empowerment initiatives delivered in Education Centres which also serve as Community Transformation Hubs. Each of our four pillars - Education, Health, Human Rights and International Collaboration - enhances the others, ensuring greater impact and achieving long-term sustainability for all community members.
Our Progress
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Success Stories
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More Impact
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AMOR works with the most vulnerable, and none are more vulnerable than disabled children who do not get the dignity and treatment they need and deserve. Meet Maria Luisa, a young K'iche Mayan girl and spina bifida sufferer who has made a huge impact on our work and lives.
We first met Maria Luisa when she was 11. She was dragging her poor limp body across the dusty ground and burst into tears as she reached us. She was in a wretched state: paralysed, dirty, twisted feet, huge spinal tumour that meant she couldn't lay on her back. We promised her we would help her, and thank to friends of AMOR she soon had a brand new child-size wheelchair. When we took her to the doctors, he informed us that she had spina bifida, probably due to her mother's lack of folic acid at birth. He warned that if the cyst on her spine wasn't removed she could die. We set about getting her hospital treatment at the fantastic San Juan de Dios hospital. We funded her grandfather to accompany her, paying him so that the family would not suffer from loss of income. We spent much time at the hospital and liaised with the doctors on every aspect of her treatment. After three months, she was released to a great village welcome and thanksgiving. Although her dream to finally walk unaided may never be fully realised due to the extent of paralysis caused by the cyst, physiotherapy meant that she was given the best chance possible. AMOR has provided treatments for around 3,900 sick and malnourished children and their mothers in Guatemala. |
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Education is at the heart of what AMOR does. From building and remodelling schools to improving access roads and supporting education for girls, orphans and other vulnerable children, we strive to ensure that every child has access to a high quality education that allows them to realise their full potential.
In 2008, Nueva Esperanza (New Hope) Primary School in Sololá, Guatemala had a great problem: the 156 steps that led up to the school and neighbouring village were virtually destroyed. During the rainy season it became a mudslide, leading to many children, teachers and villagers to have accidents. AMOR mobilised parents and school staff to come together to rebuild the path, providing the materials. To date, AMOR has, in partnership with communities, built or remodelled over 14 schools, repaired many more access routes including roads, bridges and steps neglected by local authorities, and provided education to more than 4,200 students in the most marginalised areas of Guatemala. |