By Lindsey Quinn
Sponsor Maria Guido embraces her sponsored child, María-Antonia.
María-Antonia wasn’t just a sponsored child to Maria Guido. After nine years of sponsorship, Maria viewed the young woman as part of her family, a long-distance little sister to her three biological children.
Maria hadn’t always felt so close to her sponsored child. In fact, her family canceled their original sponsorship of the Guatemalan girl after only two short years. Maria struggled to feel connected with María-Antonia, and was disappointed by the sadness reflected in the young girl’s eyes when her annual photo arrived.
Mistakenly believing that her sponsorship was unappreciated, Maria gave up.
Although she had stopped sponsoring her, Maria couldn’t stop thinking about the girl in Guatemala. So when her close-knit family planned a trip to Guatemala a year later, Maria arranged to visit the girl she left behind.
The visit was a revelation. Maria was overwhelmed by the girl’s living conditions. “The house was nothing more than a shack built from scraps of corrugated and rusted metal, and ripped black plastic roof.
María-Antonia and her grandmother join Maria and her cousin, Romana Ryzowicz, for a group hug.
The small room was divided by ripped old white and pink sheets, which had been sewed together.” It was in this tiny shack with four rusted metal beds that María-Antonia’s family of seven made their home.
The shock resonates today, even four years later. Maria comments, “I was speechless and suddenly I understood the situation, like a puzzle coming together…why she was sad... I realized in that moment that this was a battle for survival.”
Heartbroken by her decision to abandon María-Antonia’s sponsorship, Maria knew what to do, “I wanted to sponsor her again and never let her go until she was safe and independent.” Fortunately, Maria was able to re-establish her sponsorship of the Guatemalan girl. In the years that followed, Maria and her cousin, Romana Ryzowicz, who also fell in love with the family during that trip, worked hard to improve Maria-Antonia’s life.
María-Antonia and Maria shop for some much-needed staples at a local grocery store.
The family raised over $700 to improve the condition of the home. And, working with Aura’s House, they helped raise money to fund a tortilla business for the family.
As the years went by, though, a question started to haunt Maria. What will I do, she asked herself, now that sponsorship is drawing to an end? She decided that she wanted to say goodbye in person and began making preparations for another 2,000-mile journey from her home in Canada to Guatemala.
During that last visit, María-Antonia, who had grown from a shy girl into a beautiful young woman, ran across the yard and hugged her sponsor, tears in her eyes. The family rejoiced that Maria had returned and gathered around to thank her for her support. The parting was bittersweet for Maria: “I wish I could have helped her more than I did. If I had visited her sooner and gotten to know her and the family situation better, I would have made a great effort to help her complete her education and improve her life. I had nine years but, with my mistakes, I did not accomplish everything I wanted.”
It’s with that regret in mind that Maria urges other sponsors to create a close connection with their sponsored child. “Take a trip to visit, as this is the most rewarding experience for both sponsor and the child…and the whole family. The child feels special and important; children love to meet their sponsors.”
María and María-Antonia share a tearful goodbye.
Even though Maria-Antonia has graduated from the program, Maria’s work isn’t done. She decided to sponsor María-Antonia’s youngest brother.
Maria said, “Through Children International, I have a better chance of helping the family. Children International does amazing work helping children and I’m very happy to be part of it.”
