Young people living in poverty in Guatemala face many challenges regarding health, education and employment.  There are programs in place addressing such needs, but due to a critical lack of resources, there are gaps in existing services.  As under-served children reach adolescence, their opportunities diminish.  We hope to bridge some of those gaps so that under-served youth and families will have the opportunity to earn a living wage with the education and skills they have developed, and in turn will be able to contribute to their communities in a positive way.
 

We do this in two ways:

• Student support

• Environmental education and food sovereignty programs

 

Our work in El Hato is a model for our student support.  In the El Hato Literacy Center we supplement the work of the underfunded public school.  We have a full-time teacher on staff and our partner organization Las Manos de Christine provides a part-time teacher.  Together, these teachers provide students with homework help, library services, tutoring, computer instruction, and after-school activities.

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The Garden of Hope in El Hato is a model for our environmental education and food sovereignty programs.  In the Garden of Hope, we provide environmental education and activities to children and parents who often don't have access to green space.  In this program participants learn about nutrition, the plant life cycle, healthy cooking and how to grow fruit and vegetables in a sustainable way.  The garden provides a tranquil place where children and families can get away the four walls of indoor spaces.