Angelita (fictitious name) is an HIV negative four year old girl. Her mother left her in a box in front of the Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS, as per its acronym in Spanish), just like a gift. She embraces anyone who wants to share a little love and attention with her, such as the personnel in Hospicio San José, in Km. 27.5 Carretera a Bárcenas, Guatemala.

Father Francis O’Leary founded St. Joseph’s Hospice Association in 1962. Its goal was to create, manage, and support hospices devoted to St. Joseph around theworld. It operates thanks to “government and private sector donations to help the poor and terminal patients who don’t have relatives or who can’t have a dignified death”, said Olga Zapata, Psychology and Human Resources Coordinator.“A monthly HIV treatment for a child can cost from Q 4,000.00 to Q 7,000.00”, she said. This is why these donations are vital.
The head office of the hospice in Guatemala was founded in 1989, although through the years it specialized in helping people infected with Human Immuno- deficiency Virus, HIV. “Often, infected parents came to the hospice and when they died they left their children here”, said Zapata, explaining why this specialization took place.
This institution not only offers shelter, food, and medical attention but also education for infected children. “We try to give them an integral education so they can later assist to schools where they can graduate.Such is the case of an 18 year old girl who will soon graduate as bilingual secretary”, said a worker from this institution who’s face radiates a great love for these like ones, and who has committed to memory each one of their story.
They have more than 76 orphans, 350 HIV positive patients, and more than 700 people attend the clinics.

Planting a seed for the future. Just as the slogan ”Always Growing” states, every year UNISPICE helps the Hospice San Jose because it believes that children are like seeds that will germinat and be fruitful for society.This year, as proof of hope for these children whose parents are absent for different reasons, UNISPICE gave out Christmas gifts which they will open on December 24 for Christmas Eve.

Likewise, we gave out part of the silverware that will be used for a Convivio Navideño (Christmas party) for adult patients who are treated in this Center. Another institution that UNISPICE helps every year with vegetable donations or gifts is Casa  Bernabé, an orphanage.This orphanage assigns married couples 10 children of the same age so they can be brought up as a family. We also help the Hospice Valle de Los Angeles, managed by the sisters of charity.