Our Work in Guatemala
While international adoption is currently closed in Guatemala, that in no way means that the need has dissipated. There are currently over 500,000 orphans in Guatemala, and one child is abandoned in Guatemala City every 4 days. Vulnerable families are especially in need of our support. Lacking support, safe work, or daycare services, many families in Guatemala struggle to provide adequate care for their children. This gap in support leaves over 50% of children under the age of 5 chronically malnourished.
HOW WE’RE INTERVENING FOR ORPHANS IN GUATEMALA
Since AGCI began working in Guatemala in 2001, 1,400 orphans have received elevated care through our Hannah’s Hope home and partner homes. Prior to the closure of international adoption in Guatemala, 514 children were united with their forever families through AGCI’s adoption program. Following the closure, we shifted our focus to serving children and families through family preservation efforts.
Through our partnership with a local ministry, over 3,500 women and children have received counseling and economic support through AGCI’s community development programs.
We Intervene in 1 Way
Prevent
Additionally, we support vulnerable families through Education Sponsorship, which provides much-needed funds for school fees, lunches, and uniforms. All of the children in our Guatemala Education Sponsorship program reside in La Limonada—one of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods in Guatemala City. La Limonada is notorious for gang violence, poor access to education, running water, and electricity.
Many families and children in La Limonada work as scavengers in the city dump in order to simply survive. For $35 a month, you can help sponsor a child’s education and ensure that a vulnerable child in Guatemala attends school, receives regular meals to fuel their studies, and remains within their family’s care!
Stories
How We’re Intervening For the 8 Million
There are currently 8 million orphans living in institutions around the world. For AGCI, the current state of the orphan crisis is alarming and unacceptable…
Why Our Sponsorship Program Is Different
AGCI’s Education Sponsorship program is truly life changing for the vulnerable children we serve. But what really makes our Colombia Education Sponsorship program so different?
The Dream Home Has Officially Launched!
24 young women entered their first real home after spending their lives in institutions…
Connected Care: AGCI’s Pilot Caregiver Training Program
We believe every child, regardless of their circumstances, deserves to find true connection, healing, and love…
The Tkacik Family
We never dreamed that watching our three-year-old daughter take her first steps would bring such genuine pride and joy…
Adoption Isn’t Easy, But It Is Worth It
Cady shared with us what it was like to let go, trust God, and say yes to uncertainty!
PREVENT
15-year-old Paula is in the 10th grade and is dedicated to finishing school and creating a new life for herself! Paula lives with her mom and two older brothers in La Limonada, one of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods in Guatemala City. Paula loves studying English and her dream is to attend university so she can help her family escape poverty. AGCI staff were in Guatemala and able to tell Paula in person that people came forward to sponsor her education. It took a little while for this to really sink in, but once it did, tears of gratitude streamed down Paula’s face!
