Our Sponsors - Their Stories
Sponsorship can have a life-changing impact not only for the children and families who are helped, but also for sponsors. Take a minute to read this page and be inspired by the stories, testimonials, and photos of the transformation happening in lives around the world.
Hello everyone my name is Alex and I am one of the sponsors of the Kamalbe School in Guatemala.
About me, I was born in Seoul, Korea as an only son of a teacher (father) and a tailor (mother) in a lower class family (financially).
When I was a kid, I also went thru hardships as the children in El Tigre. However, I was lucky to immigrate to USA when I was 18 years old and be able to capture the opportunities that USA can provide.
Even I was quite young, I knew the value of the education, so I was able to finish my university with a fine art major while I was supporting myself with two or three jobs during my university days. I had to work in day time and only be able to attend the school at night which made me graduate in almost 8 years, instead of 4 years.
However, all the complicated situations in life taught me many valuable lessons in life. I realized that being persistent with determination & hard work, I was able to go much faster in business and life than other people. I went into an Electronic company as a sales person when I was 28 years old and stayed in one profession and one company for 25 years. But I always knew that was not my real passion and profession in my life.
1. Why did you decide to support the Scholarship Program in El Tigre with the help of Kamalbe School?
a. I feel that helping kids to pursue their education and to finish their schools, hopefully all the way to University, is the most important step in any kind of NGO or sponsorship. Education will help them to understand who they are and also what is better for their lives and be able to help themselves to go out in the world to obtain better opportunities. And hopefully, some of them will come back to their own community and also be able to help other kids to continue their educations and provide better life standards for everyone.
b. I chose Kamalbe because of David Mazariegos who is responsible, caring and also be able to carry out many responsibilities without making mistakes and the most important part for me is that David Mazariegos (the founder of Kamalbe) cares about the people and the childen in El Tigre, that is why I chose Kamalbe.
2. Is there any personal reason (from your past or present) that motivates you to help in Guatemala?
a. As for personal reason, when I was a kid in Korea, I also went thru tough time like the kids in El Tigre. I also had to work when I was a kid and actually I did not have anyone to help me on education and my direction in life. However, fortunately, I was lucky enough to immigrate to USA when I was 18 years old and that brought new opportunities and life for me. And by continuing my education and being able to motivate myself to be better, I was able to be in a position to help others.
Currently, I am doing coffee export business in Guatemala which involves every aspects of Guatemalan life and products. So, I feel that it will be fair for me to contribute and share what we can make and do via our company with other unfortunate people around us.
So, about 3 years ago, Daniel Yancor and I decided to make an International green coffee exporting company in Quetzaltenango while roasting and selling roasted coffee beans to local hotels and restaurants. Also at the same time, I decided to help and sponsor the kids from El Tigre school in order to make some sort of difference in their lives.
Fortunately, our company is getting better and as we get better, I feel that we can do more for the kids which gives me infinite joy in my life.
About me, I was born in Seoul, Korea as an only son of a teacher (father) and a tailor (mother) in a lower class family (financially).
When I was a kid, I also went thru hardships as the children in El Tigre. However, I was lucky to immigrate to USA when I was 18 years old and be able to capture the opportunities that USA can provide.
Even I was quite young, I knew the value of the education, so I was able to finish my university with a fine art major while I was supporting myself with two or three jobs during my university days. I had to work in day time and only be able to attend the school at night which made me graduate in almost 8 years, instead of 4 years.
However, all the complicated situations in life taught me many valuable lessons in life. I realized that being persistent with determination & hard work, I was able to go much faster in business and life than other people. I went into an Electronic company as a sales person when I was 28 years old and stayed in one profession and one company for 25 years. But I always knew that was not my real passion and profession in my life.
1. Why did you decide to support the Scholarship Program in El Tigre with the help of Kamalbe School?
a. I feel that helping kids to pursue their education and to finish their schools, hopefully all the way to University, is the most important step in any kind of NGO or sponsorship. Education will help them to understand who they are and also what is better for their lives and be able to help themselves to go out in the world to obtain better opportunities. And hopefully, some of them will come back to their own community and also be able to help other kids to continue their educations and provide better life standards for everyone.
b. I chose Kamalbe because of David Mazariegos who is responsible, caring and also be able to carry out many responsibilities without making mistakes and the most important part for me is that David Mazariegos (the founder of Kamalbe) cares about the people and the childen in El Tigre, that is why I chose Kamalbe.
2. Is there any personal reason (from your past or present) that motivates you to help in Guatemala?
a. As for personal reason, when I was a kid in Korea, I also went thru tough time like the kids in El Tigre. I also had to work when I was a kid and actually I did not have anyone to help me on education and my direction in life. However, fortunately, I was lucky enough to immigrate to USA when I was 18 years old and that brought new opportunities and life for me. And by continuing my education and being able to motivate myself to be better, I was able to be in a position to help others.
Currently, I am doing coffee export business in Guatemala which involves every aspects of Guatemalan life and products. So, I feel that it will be fair for me to contribute and share what we can make and do via our company with other unfortunate people around us.
So, about 3 years ago, Daniel Yancor and I decided to make an International green coffee exporting company in Quetzaltenango while roasting and selling roasted coffee beans to local hotels and restaurants. Also at the same time, I decided to help and sponsor the kids from El Tigre school in order to make some sort of difference in their lives.
Fortunately, our company is getting better and as we get better, I feel that we can do more for the kids which gives me infinite joy in my life.
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Janan Lawlan
Sponsor Story
Coming soon..
Sponsor Story
Coming soon..
