Guatemala

Guatemala is a democratic Central American country bordered by Mexico on the North and West. It is among the 10 poorest countries in Latin America and has a high number of children involved in sex trafficking.

The Problem
• More than half of the population is below the poverty line

• 43% of children under five are chronically malnourished, one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world.

• 16% of the population lives on less than a dollar a day

• Only 2% of Guatemalans attend universities

What Buckner is Doing
Buckner began working in Guatemala in 2002. In January of 2003, we began hosting volunteer mission trips and became a Guatemalan Foundation in 2005. Buckner has held, and continues to offer, ongoing training in the areas of foster care, preventative health care, child care, residential care and social services.

Humanitarian Aid
Through humanitarian aid support and distribution of new shoes, Buckner is helping to prevent future disease and infection in children. Many diseases enter the body through the feet when a child walks through mud and filth without shoes. The gift of a new pair of shoes not only protects their feet, but keeps their entire body from being subjected to a number of diseases. New shoes also help a child go to school, where wearing shoes is often a requirement. Buckner has sent 99,029 pairs of shoes to Guatemala to date.

Transitional Homes
Buckner sponsors two homes for boys and two for girls who are aging out of orphanage care. Residents are enrolled in an academic, vocational or rehabilitation program. Services include case management, room and board, education, job training, tutoring and mentoring. Assistance with childcare may also be provided for residents' children.

Home School for Transitional Youth
Buckner Guatemala provides comprehensive education to youth in our transitional homes that have fallen behind and cannot attend public schools. The home school is accredited by the Guatemala Education System and operated solely by Buckner.

Foster Care
Buckner manages a foster care program in Guatemala that places children who cannot live with their parents in temporary, loving homes. Buckner has been chosen by the government to pilot the official foster care program in Guatemala and we work directly with Guatemala's Child Protective Services to identify and train in-country foster families. Buckner also manages residential homes that allow foster children to live with other children in family-like structures that are designed to care for children in the home of unrelated family.

Community Transformation Centers - Jocotenango, San Jose Pinula, and El Cerrito
CTC's focus on improving the lives of individuals and families in three communities of extreme poverty with a holistic ministry approach through the following basic services:

• Family Intervention - Moderate to intensive services provided to families who are experiencing or are at-risk of abuse/neglect, welfare dependency, delinquent behavior or other problems. Social workers provide case management to develop an individual family plan to address specific needs of at-risk families and resolve issues that enable them to move towards self-sustainability.

• Medical/Dental Services – Includes Health Care Clinics/Centers operated by Buckner that provide basic health care services, as well as an HIV/AIDS intervention program including case management, medical services and humanitarian aid

• Family/Life Education – Specialized training offered to children and families to improve personal and/or family well-being, including parenting, nutritional, hygiene and literacy classes.

• Evangelical Ministry/Mentoring – Adults connecting with at-risk children, providing faith-based character development, a positive influence and strong role modeling through regular contact in group and individual settings.

• Vocational Training – Family-based programming that provides job skills/technology training, educational support and faith-based character development training.

Advocacy Program for Victims of Abuse and Sexual Trafficking
Buckner Guatemala, in collaboration with International Justice Missions, is developing an advocacy program for the victims of abuse and sexual trafficking. The advocacy program will provide assessments of placements by a social worker with a day program as well as a temporary shelter. Services will include psychological, social, familial, education, religious and physical evaluation. The shelter will be staffed with the houseparent model, professional staff and protection from victimization. A permanency team will plan long-term solutions, including placement options and follow-up planning.

How You Can Help:
• Pray: Make a commitment to pray for the children and families of Guatemala.

• Give: Make a donation online to support any of the programs listed above or call 214-758-8050 to make a donation by phone.

• Be an Advocate: Share the needs of children in Guatemala with your church, community, family and friends.

• Collect Shoes: Host a shoe drive or give a pair of shoes to help orphans in Guatemala. Learn more at www.ShoesForOrphanSouls.org.