LOS AMIGOS DE CASA DEL NINO INC
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : r*******8@h*****l.c*m
Mission Statement
The goal of Los Amigos de Casa del Nino is to support Casa del Nino in Jocotenango, Guatemala. This organization provides health, education, cultural and sports activities for children within the community. In addition to the K-6 school, there are services and activities throughout the year for families within the community.
About This Cause
I remember the day in 2008 when the director knelt on the ground with a stick in his hand and drew a rectangle in the dirt. He had been given this piece of land, and he explained to me his vision of having a school/community center. It was to start with a soccer field and grow from there. There wasn't even much grass on the property at that point, but he was so sincere and convincing AND had a plan. If he had lights for the field, he could start with an adult soccer league which could generate income. I gave him money for the lights and when I returned home, started the non-profit that has continued to lend support. Over the years, I have watched them navigate many highs and lows. The adult soccer league did begin and was followed by the construction of a small building for a nursery school. It gradually grew to include K-6. The director worked with many local organizations to help achieve this dream. He has also welcomed international volunteers who have visited the school to work on a variety of projects. I visit most years and have a clear memory of being there with a professor from a local university in Pennsylvania in early March of 2020. We traveled there at that time because it was during her spring break. The school was then preK-5 with about 120 students. They were thriving. Over the years, in addition to financial support, my small organization had been able to provide books, math materials, computers, soccer shoes, art supplies and on and on. They had plans then to add grade 6. While we were there, we got messages that the university might be extending spring break because of "this virus." We left a few days later and shortly after, the border was closed. Covid wreaked havoc with the school/community center. Many families were without a computer or cell phone. The focus of the school became helping the families to have access to food. It was daunting. The people there are hard-working and resilient and kept putting one foot in front of the other. They knew it would be a long road, but didn't anticipate a dengue emergency in '23. Again, they just kept moving forward. I visited in July 2023 and again recently in January 2025. My two young grandsons, ages 8 and 6, were with me in '23. They brought along a hundred boxes of crayons and markers that they had paid for with money earned doing extra jobs. On my most recent visit which was right before the start of the new school year (1/20/25), I found the director, teachers and staff to be excited and feeling positive. They are not yet back to their pre-pandemic numbers but are moving in that direction. There are many after-school and weekend activities, including soccer and rugby as well as many cultural activities. They collaborate with community organizations. This has been a long and winding road, but I believe that Casa del Nino has had a lasting impact on many people in Guatemala and in the United States. When you toss a stone in a pond, you never really know how far the ripple will travel.