By Audrey Anderson
Hometown Weekly Reporter
On September 27, the Epiphany Parish of Walpole welcomed Carolyn Daly, Executive Director of Mil Milagros, who shared information about her organization's work in Guatemala. Mil Milagros (A Thousand Miracles in English) works to lift up indigenous women, thereby lifting up whole communities in impoverished areas of the country.
Mil Milagros was founded by Margaret Blood in 2007 to provide food at school for indigenous Guatemalan children. Daly became Executive Director in 2019. The organization serves 730,000 people in 30 communities with programs in early childhood development, health, and education. The program also provides such necessary items as clean water, toilet paper, and hygiene supplies. Women in the communities attend Mil Milagros' Leadership Academy, thereby learning to work in the programs as teachers, community coordinators, and program leaders.
The organization's work has resulted in healthier children staying in school longer. Their mothers lead programs to better their communities and sell crafted items to help with their families' household budgets. Their fathers have become more involved in supporting their wives’ work, in parenting their children, and in serving on school hygiene boards.
The Rector of the Epiphany Parish of Walpole, Rev. Christen Mills, explained that a group from the Epiphany Parish of Walpole traveled to Guatemala several years ago, and the parish continues work in support of the country today. The parish held a handicraft sale of items made by Guatemalan artisans and has raised funds for Mil Milagros over the years. Rev. Mills and other people attending the presentation wore jewelry from the sale that was beautifully made.
Learn how Mil Milagros respectfully helps the women and children of the country to help themselves and to raise the living standards for their communities. For more information about the important work Mil Milagros does in Guatemala or to find out how you can help, see https://www.milmilagros.org/.
