Press: facts and contact for Start with a Smile Project

Key facts about Start with a Smile Project

• Name: Start with a Smile Project in English and Proyecto Sonrisas in Spanish. It's the same project.
• Founder: Amalia Jarquín, a Spanish teacher who lives in Antigua, Guatemala, born in Las Delicias del Jobo, Taxisco, Santa Rosa.
• Founded: Christmas 2014.
• Status: a nonprofit community initiative; apolitical, non-religious and non-governmental. Not registered as an NGO.
• Where it works: 7 schools in Las Delicias del Jobo, Taxisco, Santa Rosa, about 90 km from Guatemala City, and the road to Tecpán, Chimaltenango, where it holds a Christmas delivery every December 24.
• Who it serves: more than 700 children ages 6 to 16, in primary schools and telesecundaria middle schools.
• School results: more than 4,000 notebooks, more than 100 desks, more than 120 pieces of school furniture and supplies for about 500 children every year, plus electricity, a kitchen, whiteboards, roofs, restrooms, painted schools and medical outreach days.
• Christmas: in a recent year, 500 packages with a toy, food and a toothbrush with toothpaste, and nearly 1,000 gifts counting donated toys.
• Biggest challenge: building a proper secondary school so more teenagers can keep studying.
• Social media: Facebook smileprojectguatemala and Instagram @proyectosonrisas.gt.

What has been published about Start with a Smile Project?

• Prensa Libre, “Qué bueno es mi país” section, October 27, 2021, by Alejandro Ortiz: “El proyecto social de una familia que busca dibujar nuevas sonrisas en Taxisco” (in Spanish: “A family's social project that hopes to draw new smiles in Taxisco”). It covers the work of Amalia and her family in Las Delicias del Jobo.
• Guatemala.com, December 19, 2022, by Claudia Castro: “Start with a Smile recaudará regalos de Navidad para niños de la carretera hacia Tecpán, 2022” (in Spanish: “Start with a Smile will collect Christmas gifts for children on the road to Tecpán, 2022”). It covers that year's Christmas drive and the list of items requested.

How do I request an interview with Amalia Jarquín?

Write to us with your outlet, topic and deadline:

• The contact form on this site.
• WhatsApp: +502 5562 3313.
• Email: amaliajarquin@gmail.com.

To prepare, watch Amalia's story on video and read About us and the FAQ.

Can I use photos of the project in a story?

You can request photos through any of those channels. They show real children and families, so please don't download them from the site without permission. We appreciate the credit “Photo: Start with a Smile Project” next to each image. Full terms are on Photo use.