So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

Hi, my name is Zoe Marie Mara Smart. I'm 31 years old and proudly Guatemalan American. I was adopted when I was just 24 hours old and raised in the United States. Today, I live in Panajachel, Guatemala, a beautiful town on the shores of Lake Atitlán.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now?

One thing I love about living in Panajachel, Guatemala, a beautiful town on the shores of Lake Atitlán, is seeing the lake every day. No two days look exactly the same, the colors, clouds, and reflections are always changing, making each view unique. I also love the people here; they are incredibly kind, welcoming, and full of love, which makes this community feel like home. Living here has allowed me to reconnect with my roots while serving the community through my work and involvement with my family's organization.

Tell us a little bit more about what your company does and how it started? How does it help your customers?

Fundamaya is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of indigenous and rural families in Guatemala through education, healthcare, nutrition, community development, and economic empowerment programs.

Our story began with my parents, Dwight Mara and Sharon Smart. In 1986, Sharon came to Guatemala as a buyer for a Canadian ethnic shop. What began as a business trip quickly became a lifelong love affair—with the vibrant culture, beautiful textiles, and most importantly, the people of Guatemala. She later started her own business exporting handcrafted products to Australia and worked closely with indigenous artisans, gaining firsthand insight into the challenges many families faced.

Meanwhile, Dwight began traveling through Central America in 1987, backpacking through the Darién Gap before returning north and falling in love with Guatemala in 1988. It was there that he met Sharon, and together they built both a life and a shared commitment to serving the communities they had come to care so deeply about.

Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Stan in 2005, Sharon, Dwight, and their close friend Patti Mort worked tirelessly to provide emergency relief to families whose lives had been turned upside down. As they listened to community members and witnessed the ongoing needs, they realized that long-term solutions were needed beyond disaster assistance. This led to the founding of their nonprofit organization, focused on helping families rebuild their lives and create opportunities for a brighter future.

Today, Fundamaya continues that mission by partnering with local communities to address barriers to education, healthcare, nutrition, and economic/empowerment opportunity. We believe that lasting change comes from investing in people, empowering families, and working alongside communities to create sustainable solutions that improve quality of life for generations to come.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice will help them?

My biggest piece of advice is to start with something you truly care about. For Fundamaya, my parents were passionate about helping others and seeing the smiles on people's faces. They didn't start with a huge organization or unlimited resources they started with a desire to make a difference and worked hard every day to turn that vision into reality.

Don't be afraid to start small. Every successful business or organization begins somewhere. If you are passionate about what you do, willing to work hard, and committed to serving others, you can grow something meaningful over time. Stay focused on your mission, build strong relationships, and remember that success doesn't happen overnight. Loving what you do will help you persevere through challenges and take you much farther than you might imagine.

What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won't forget about?

One piece of feedback that I will never forget came from a student in our sponsorship program. He grew up in Panajachel and, like many children in his community, his future seemed destined to follow the same path as his parents, working in the fields.

Thanks to a sponsorship through Fundamaya, he was able to stay in school and pursue his education. After graduating, he applied for a highly competitive government position and, out of many applicants, he was selected for the job. When he first arrived, some of his coworkers jokingly called him "the farm boy." He proudly replied that he was from a farming family, but that a sponsor had given him the opportunity to pursue an education and build a different future.

Over the years, he worked hard and earned promotions into finance and higher-paying positions. Two years later, he returned to our NGO to thank us. He shared how grateful he was for the opportunity he had been given and said that without the support of his sponsor, he never would have reached where he is today.

What touched me most was hearing how one person's generosity completely changed the trajectory of his life. Instead of being limited by circumstance, he was able to achieve his dream of getting an education, building a professional career, and providing a better life for his family. Now, his own children have opportunities that he never had growing up. Stories like his remind us why we do what we do and the lasting impact that a single act of support can have on generations to come.

Where do you see your company in the future?

We hope that Fundamaya will continue to grow its impact by sponsoring more children and families in the communities we serve. Over the years, we have seen a significant change in how parents and students view education. What was once often seen as optional is now increasingly viewed as a necessity and a pathway to a better future.

As more children gain access to education, they are making better life decisions, creating opportunities for themselves, and giving back to their communities. We envision a future where even more students can complete their education, become leaders in their fields, and inspire the next generation. Our goal is not only to support individual students but also to help create lasting positive change throughout the communities we serve.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

One of the biggest misconceptions about our industry is that sponsoring a child cannot truly make a lasting impact. In reality, sponsorship can completely change the course of a child's life.

No child wants to grow up in poverty or miss out on an education. Many parents simply were not given educational opportunities themselves, so they may not fully understand how education can open doors for their children. Through sponsorship, children gain access to education, nutrition, healthcare, and mentorship, giving them the tools they need to build a brighter future.

We have seen firsthand how sponsorship helps children break cycles of poverty, become leaders in their communities, and create opportunities not only for themselves but also for future generations. The impact of sponsorship extends far beyond one child it strengthens families, communities, and entire regions.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business and how did you deal with it?

One of our biggest struggles has been securing sustainable funding. There are many incredible NGOs working to create lasting change, and while we're all united by the same goal of helping others, it can be challenging to stand out and attract the resources needed to expand our programs. We focus on building strong relationships with our supporters, sharing the impact of our work, and demonstrating how every donation directly changes lives.

Another challenge has been managing growth. The needs in the communities we serve are often far greater than the resources available. It can be difficult knowing that you can't help everyone, even when you want to. We've learned to address this by staying focused on our mission, prioritizing programs that create the greatest long-term impact, and growing thoughtfully so we can continue serving families effectively and sustainably.

These challenges have taught us the importance of patience, collaboration, and staying committed to our vision of creating opportunities through education and community development.

What was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

Growing up, my favorite music artist has always been Selena Gomez. I admire not only her talent, but also the way she treats others with kindness and consideration. She seems genuinely caring, and it would be a pleasure to meet her one day.

My favorite athlete is Lionel Messi. What I admire most about him is that he has never forgotten where he came from. Despite becoming one of the greatest athletes in the world, he remains humble and proud of his roots. His journey from a child with big dreams to a global icon is truly inspiring and shows what can be achieved through hard work, dedication, and perseverance.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

I would like to give a special shoutout to my dad, Dwight, and my sister, Aleeya. Thank you for your love, support, and encouragement throughout my life. To my entire family—I love you all so much!

And to my mommy in heaven, I’m sending the biggest heavenly hug. Your love, guidance, and memory continue to inspire me every day, and you are always in my heart.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

To learn more about me and the work we do at Fundamaya, please visit our website at Fundamaya.org. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated on our programs, student success stories, community projects, and the impact being made throughout Guatemala. We would love to connect with you and share our journey of empowering children, families, and communities through education and opportunity.