Utah-Based Nonprofit · Chiapas, Mexico
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." — Nelson Mandela
"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically." — Martin Luther King Jr.
"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." — Benjamin Franklin
"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." — John Dewey
Hands for Hope Foundation empowers indigenous and marginalized communities through education, leadership development, and entrepreneurship, creating sustainable pathways out of poverty.
5,000+
Students
130+
Graduates
The Crisis
The Educational Emergency in Chiapas
Chiapas is the poorest state in Mexico, with a 66% poverty rate. More than one third of the population lives in extreme poverty, earning less than $1.90 per day.
66%
Poverty rate in Chiapas, the highest in Mexico
55.24%
Illiteracy rate in rural indigenous communities
5%
Complete secondary school
$1.90
Daily income for those in extreme poverty
43%
Complete primary school education
0.7%
Attend university, less than 1 in 100
"The only thing standing between a child in Chiapas and a university degree is the absence of infrastructure, access, and investment. We are building all three." — Hands for Hope Foundation
"Investing in girls' and women's education is the single most effective development investment a country can make."
— World Bank
Stories of Transformation
From Student to Teacher. A Story of Transformation
2015 — Enrolled in university with 2 young children at home.
2019 — Graduated. Became a licensed teacher. Returned to serve her community.
Today — Rocelia advocates for indigenous women's education. Her children are top students.
"I never thought someone like me could earn a university degree. The support I received helped me believe it was possible and then made it happen." — Rocelia, Teacher & GraduateRead the Full Story
Teacher
& Advocate