In the developing world, including areas in Guatemala, poverty and hopelessness create a "Circle of Despair" that lasts from generation to generation.  Poverty  was one of the major contributors to the 36-year civil conflict that tore Guatemala apart.  HELPS believes that economic changes are needed in order for Guatemala to have real change and permanent growth. 

Latin America and other coffee producing regions have been in economic crisis because of the   increase in highly competitive  coffee production throughout the world.  This has resulted in a fluctuation in coffee prices that have driven many producers bankrupt.  Even though Guatemala has some of the best quality coffees in the world and current prices are favorable, it is still "touch and go" for many of the coffee pickers and small farmers. 

As an example of its commitment to this problem, HELPS developed its private label of "HELPS Coffee" for sale.

HELPS Guatemalan Coffees

The HELPS Coffee Program is designed to bring economic improvement to the lowest levels of Guatemalan society by promoting opportunity and individual initiative.  

HELPS "private label" coffee is made with the finest Guatemalan premium coffee beans.  Because of the altitude and climate in Guatemala, its coffee is considered to be some of the best tasting in the world.  Each variety is blended especially for HELPS and comes from a specific area of Guatemala. Offering coffees from various altitudes and soils results in gourmet blends with different and distinctive flavors, ranging from smooth and mild to hearty and robust.  ALL the proceeds from the sale of each coffee bag go to programs that HELPS has specifically designed to improve the lives of the Guatemalan people.

The coffee program also contributes to the ecosystem of Guatemala and provides much needed jobs for coffee workers who would otherwise be jobless without the success of the coffee industry in their country.  These are the ways the HELPS coffee program contributes directly to the coffee industry and the lives of those working in the coffee fields: 

• HELPS buys roughly 66% of its coffee from small producers and larger farms that follow a 100 point program of "Social Responsibility".  This program relates to better working conditions, protection of environmental conditions, and other areas to improve the lives of the people associated with the coffee industry.  
  
  
  
• HELPS pays  the producers of its coffee approximately 76% more money  than the "going" market price for coffee.
  
  
  
• HELPS sells its "private label" coffee line here in the US and ALL of the profits from each sale go back into Guatemala and into the different HELPS programs.