The mission of our organization, UPAVIM, is to empower the women of our community, giving them an opportunity to improve the quality of life, for themselves and for their families. We pursue this mission by giving them access to education, employment opportunities, daycare services for their children, health care services, and programs for personal and professional development. UPAVIM is locally run and operated by the women of La Esperanza, a former squatter settlement on the outskirts of Guatemala City. International volunteers work as English teachers, craft designers, or program coordinators in the after school program, Reforzamiento.