woman holding her child

Juana’s Reason to Fight

August Impact Story

woman holding her child

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It is a gray afternoon in this hilltop village, but Juana Maria Chavez radiates a warmth that feels as bright as the sun. Effusive, quick to smile and laugh, and dressed in a colorful embroidered blouse traditional for women in Guatemala, Juana (38) is obviously the anchor for her family: her husband Carlos and their children Juan Carlos (7), Fatima Lucia (6) and Samara Concepcion (2). “I enjoy everything I do,” Juana said merrily. “When it rains, I go out and play in the mud. I enjoy life.”

There are signs that life is not always easy — their house is sparsely furnished, tucked on a steep hillside at the end of a dirt road, on a very small piece of property.

 

(Left) (left to right) Fatima Lucia, Juana Maria, Carlos Estuardo, and Juan Carlos. (Top right) Juan Carlos and his sister Fatima Lucia, hold chicken eggs. (Bottom right) The landscape around the home of Juana Maria Chavez in the Paraje Xepec village, Guatemala.
(Left) (left to right) Fatima , Juana, Carlos , and Juan. (Top right) Juan and his sister Fatima, hold chicken eggs. (Bottom right) The landscape around the home of Juana in the Paraje Xepec village, Guatemala.

 

“We collected 61 eggs today!” she exclaims. Heifer helped her establish an egg production business just 4 months ago. “We are very happy,” she says, of the progress they have made. At first, she says, “people would place orders, and I didn’t have enough. Now I sell out every day.” For Juana, whose life has been shaped by the struggles she has overcome, selling 61 eggs in a day is a victory, proof that once again, she has found a way forward.

(Top Left) Juana Maria, sells chicken eggs (Bottom Left) Egg laying chickens belonging to Juana Maria and her husband Carlos (Right) Juana Maria holds a chicken and egg
(Top left) Juana sells chicken eggs. (Bottom left) Egg-laying chickens belonging to Juana and her husband Carlos. (Right) Juana holds a chicken and egg.

 

Juana holds her daughter Samara.
Juana holds her daughter Samara.

Juana and Carlos’ third child, Samara, was born with cerebral palsy. Money was already tight for the family, but the costs of Samara’s treatments as well as the cost of school for the older children and other expenses meant the family’s debts were steadily increasing.

Juana had attended a Heifer meeting for a women’s self-saving group the year before, of which her sister was a member. She met several of Heifer’s country staff for Guatemala, and Heifer’s vice president of the Americas, Oscar Castañeda. She stayed in touch with Oscar, and it was their continued communication that led to Juana being connected with Aurora Morales, a Heifer entrepreneurial technician, who helped provide training and helped them set up their business with 65 chickens. Heifer's program was the solution that Juana had been searching for. “I have always wanted to do something,” she says. “I wanted to get a job, but I couldn’t because I needed to take care of the baby.”

 

Juana Maria looks through forms and explains her business.
Juana looks through forms and explains her business.

 

Aurora, the Heifer technician, says that the project is designed to train participants first in best practices for farming and business, and then make the project profitable. “This project is a wonderful thing,” says Juana. “I feel blessed. For one thing, we have eggs for our own consumption. Above all I think about my children, because I can afford school supplies and keep up with the payments for school so that my children don’t have to be embarrassed. That feels very good.” Juana and her husband hope to be able to buy a car when their profits increase. “We need one now,” says Juana, “because of Samara, to be able to take her to the doctor.”

 

(Left) Juana Maria holds a chicken while her daughter Fatima Lucia holds some eggs. (Right) Juan Carlos holds one of his family's chickens.
(Left) Juana holds a chicken while her daughter Fatima holds some eggs. (Right) Juan holds one of his family's chickens.

  

Juana poses with her daughter, Samara, who has cerebral palsy.
Juana poses with her daughter, Samara, who has cerebral palsy.

Juana says the benefits are not just economic. “My self-worth has increased,” she says. “I think my husband appreciates that. When I like something I become passionate about it, and this project has given me a lot of satisfaction.” 

“[Samara] is the main purpose in our life now,” says Juana. “She is our reason to fight.” Juana has the great gift of seeing potential where other people see problems, and this has steadied her course through an often turbulent life. This new chapter with Heifer feels promising, as once again she has turned a situation to her advantage. She rocks her daughter on her lap, and a smile spreads on Samara’s little face as she listens to her mother’s voice. “I don’t see my daughter as a problem,” Juana says. “For us, she is a blessing. It is because of her that our family has grown stronger. We have grown closer to God.” 

 

Thank you

This is the kind of difference you make possible, every month, though your Friends of Heifer® support. I am so grateful for this opportunity to tell you how much you mean to our work and the families and communities we are able to serve. You — and your gifts — work wonders.

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