Investing in People, Purpose & Possibility
Serving and Learning in Guatemala
In January of 2026, DLP team members traveled to Guatemala for DLP PRF’s first official staff vision trip. The trip supported Transforming Futures, a PRF Signature Impact Partner dedicated to walking alongside Guatemala’s orphaned and vulnerable youth—providing them with support, mentorship, practical skill-building, and faith-based guidance on their path to living stable, independent lives.
Throughout the week, the team experienced this transformation firsthand, visiting several of Transforming Futures' growing program areas, each one reflecting the impact of long-term, relationship-centered care.
Transforming Futures’ women’s residential housing program focuses on housing stability and independence for young women as they approach adulthood. The program is designed to support young women, ages 18-24, through mentorship, structure, and practical life skills. Participants contributed directly to that effort by helping build closets and create a community garden—small but meaningful additions to promote daily routines, stability, and spaces where residents can grow, gather, and take pride in their environment.
The “Think Outside the Box” program prepares youth ages 14–17 for independence and has doubled its capacity, thanks in part to support from DLP PRF. Through hands-on projects and shared moments of connection, participants could see firsthand how their time and support make a real difference in the daily lives of the young people they serve.
At the City Garbage Dump feeding center, support took the form of encouragement and presence for families navigating extreme poverty through preparing and serving meals to 400+ children. In the rural community of Palencia, that same spirit of care materialized through hands-on support—serving families directly by delivering food and furniture and assisting with everyday household needs.
This vision trip highlighted the power of showing up for a community, offering a powerful perspective on how simple acts of care can drive meaningful impact. As one participant reflected, “This is an experience that I will always cherish and remember,” a testament to how just a few days of presence, service, and attention can inspire hope, uplift communities, and leave an impact on both those serving and those being served.
Empowering Entrepreneurs in the Dominican Republic
In February, a group of DLP investors traveled to the Dominican Republic for a vision trip with HOPE International, gaining a firsthand look at a major DLP PRF-supported initiative. In 2025, the Foundation partnered with HOPE on a three-year effort to help more than 4,000 entrepreneurs access microfinance loans to start or grow small businesses. This work is carried out through HOPE’s microfinance institution, Esperanza, which provides loans, business training, and spiritual guidance, and has expanded with DLP PRF’s support to grow its team, enhance technology, and increase loan sizes—advancing a model of sustainable empowerment that strengthens families, businesses, and local economies.
Participants saw how these investments are already creating new opportunities, meeting with several entrepreneurs and hearing firsthand how access to capital, training, and support is helping them grow their businesses and provide for their families.
Felipe, a farmer living in a rural community, shared how his journey began with a loan of just $79. With that initial investment, he was able to purchase 5 hectares of land and a pig to begin a small breeding operation. Through consistent work and careful reinvestment, Felipe gradually scaled his operation. Today, he and his sister oversee a total of 120 hectares of land—the equivalent of roughly 227 football fields! Felipe shares that he thanks God daily for the opportunity to grow his business, claiming that the HOPE loan officers he works with have “the head of a banker and the heart of a pastor.”
Alta operates three businesses: selling clothing, farming yucca, and managing nine milking cows. Her success has enabled her to provide a safer home for her children and even send her youngest child to university. Similarly, Antonia, who began with a $31 loan, now manages a farm producing bananas, plantains, and lemons while gradually improving her home and supporting multiple children through university.
While each story is unique, a common thread runs through them all: support, no matter how big or small, can spark opportunities that extend far beyond a single individual. By working with HOPE and DLP PRF, these entrepreneurs aren’t just building businesses; they’re opening doors, creating pathways to stability for their families, and laying the foundation for multigenerational impact.