Corning-Painted Post Project Esperanza

Project Esperanza: Spreading Hope, Love, and Education

The dusty roads led us far from the paved highways, where towering villas gave way to small shacks with thatched roofs, barely standing against the harsh winds. We didn’t arrive in sleighs, but in a line of 4Runners, the hum of their engines the only sound breaking the silence of a village worlds away from the comforts of home. As we stepped out, uncertainty washed over us—how could we, a group of people from another world, truly make a difference here?

Then we saw them. The children, their eyes bright with hope, running toward us with laughter that filled the air like music. They didn’t care who we were or where we came from—they just ran with open hearts. And in that moment, we realized we weren’t outsiders anymore. We were part of something much bigger, something built on shared joy and the promise to help.

In our first year, we handed out notebooks and crayons—gifts from others that seemed simple, but were treasures to these children. Watching their faces light up as they received these tiny offerings, we knew this was just the beginning. Their joy was contagious, and with each smile, our resolve to do more grew stronger.

Last year, as we reached the final village, we found a local Santa surrounded by children laughing and hitting a piñata. Their joy rang out like music as the piñata burst open in a cascade of candy, scattering like confetti. The children dove in, small hands grabbing at the sweet prizes. We stood among them, no longer just a group of outsiders, but part of a moment of pure happiness. We remembered when we first arrived, unsure and hesitant—and now we were part of this beautiful connection.

At Project Esperanza, we don’t just hand out gifts—we create moments of magic. We don’t just provide school supplies—we give children the tools to dream. Your support helps us spread that joy to mothers and children who have nothing but each other. Together, we can make this holiday season not just a moment, but a chance for a brighter future, one child at a time.