b'Job Training for the Poor in Guatemala MercadoGlobal(MG)issucceedinginitsmissionof helping people help themselves. It supplies education, market access, and the opportunity to escape a level of poverty that none of us can possibly imagine. MG epitomizes HOTs efforts to leverage its funds and teach people to help themselves. MG gives rural native women in Guatemala, a country whereof the indigenous population lives on under $2 a day and morethanliveonlessthan$1.25perday,thetoolsand skillstosupportthemselvesandtheirfamiliesbytraining them to be successful artisans and entrepreneurs. MG forms Artisan Co-ops and arranges sales to international companies such as J. Crew and Levi Strauss where the artisans receive theirpaybasedontheirindividualproduction.Theco-opsprofitsfromsalesand contributionstoMGareusedtoteachbusinessandfinancialliteracy,nutritionand leadership programs. The women use their increased wages which average $12 per day(orsixtimeswhatoftheindigenouspopulationliveson)tobuyshoes,books, school supplies, and nutritious food for their children. Over the last 13 years HOT has made more than 50 grants including (i) paying instructors to teachthewomendifferentskillsetsinceramics,sewingandweaving(ii)fundingloan programs where the women borrow money to purchase sewing machines and repay their loans withpartoftheincrementalincometheyreceivefromtheincreasedproductionfromthe machine. Most of these loans have been fully repaid and re-loaned, further leveraging ourdonorsgifts,(iii)payingfortheground transportationandsuppliesforaCaseWestern ReserveMedicalTeamthattaughttheArtisan Communitiestheimportanceofnutrition,sanitary procedures,cleandrinkingwater,andthebasicsof 20thand21stcenturymedicine,and(iv)Emergency Assistance Program used for dire, one-time personal crises.EverygrantwehavemadetoMGhashadan immediate impact on the artisans and their families. Health, Schoolbooks, and Foodwhat could be more important??? MGs current wish list includes:$2,900 for a Pilot Program to bring all the Presidents of each co-op together monthly$3,987 visual and education materials and cooking ingredients and travel expenses for a trainer to train nutritious cooking to 198 women in 19 communities $6,254 for equipment (2 sewing machines, 1 leather cutter, 1 fabric cutter and 3 floor looms) to train additional artisans to be able to work on existing orders 11'