45 GIRLS
6 DOUBLE ORPHANS
ORPHAN CRISIS IN GUATEMALA
Guatemala is known for its beautiful mountains, rainforests and ancient structures. Despite its stunning landscapes, it has one of the highest crime rates in the world. As a result of the fierce drug wars, crimes such as murder, burglary, kidnappings, and rape plague the population of Guatemala. UNICEF estimates that are over 370,000 orphans in Guatemala. The poverty level is also considerably high in Guatemala. Approximately 70 percent of people in Guatemala live below the poverty level and as a result, children sometimes find themselves abandoned, forced into child labor or victims of neglect and abuse. These children are also at risk of being recruited to gangs, forced into child labor and human trafficking rings. They need the immediate safety of homes like Casa Shalom to protect them from the vulnerabilities they would otherwise face.
CASA SHALOM ORPHANAGE
Casa Shalom is in a rural village a few miles outside of San Lucas, Guatemala. The orphanage takes in children from all over the country and is truly a place of peace for the children that live there. Today, over 100 children call Casa Shalom home. Over the years, under the leadership of Josh and Jessica Hanson, Casa Shalom has grown into a self sufficient home. The children and staff are busy raising pigs, rabbits and chickens on their animal farm. In fact, all the meat consumed by children, staff and missions teams is raised on the property. They also recognize that many of the children have experienced severe trauma. In response, they have been able to grow their resources to bring on counselors and mental health professionals to help the children cope better, and overcome their trauma in a healthy way. Casa Shalom offers a place of love, solace, and the chance to learn about the love of Christ. Here, they can develop practical life skills and become healthy members of society.
Serving Orphans Worldwide travels to every orphanage we partner with to ensure needs are legitimate and 100% of funds distributed goes to the livelihood of the children.
PROMINENT ISSUES
Abandonment
Many children are abandoned in Guatemala because of domestic violence and abuse, poverty. Many abandoned children wander the streets, where they work and are more prone to suffer from exploitation.
Child Labor
Ravished with poverty, Guatemalan children are often forced to quit school and work just to survive. In the past decade, more than 400,000 children were found to be engaged in child labor in Guatemala.
Drug Abuse and Crime
Many children in this part of Mexico are surrounded by cartel activity. Many gangs recruit from among the poorest neighborhoods. For many, earning money through criminal activity and the drug trade is more appealing than the alternative of extreme poverty.
HOME
Casa Shalom sits amidst of the kind of natural beauty that most people have never seen. Their well-constructed property overlooks beautiful Guatemalan countryside. Full of avocado trees,the land is large with plenty of space for the children to play.
EDUCATION
The children at Casa Shalom are given a quality education. All the school aged children are currently enrolled, and are transported safely by bus. They are taught trades such as farming, baking, and more. In fact, this past year, Casa Shalom launched their new vo-tech carpentry program on site.
FAITH
The children at Casa Shalom are blessed to grow up in an environment that promotes a love of Christ and Christian values. The caretakers and directors are strong believers who strongly promote a Christian upbringing for Casa Shalom’s kids.
HEALTH
The children have access to proper medical care, and are always taken care of when they are sick. The children are served 3 nourishing meals a day, and receives most of its food from the land and livestock which they farm, providing a source of sustainability. The home has access to clean water 24/7, a sure way to prevent water borne illnesses among the children.
SPONSOR THIS HOME
Casa Shalom Sponsorship Needs
$800 of $24,000 raised
This year, we have a goal to help improve the quality of care for these amazing children, and we need your help. Your gift will help provide education, a safe home, health, and adult mentors who can share the Love of Christ. Our promise to you is that 100% will go directly to the home.