Guatemala Success Story

“With each year we have visited we have seen such remarkable changes in the boys. We were there when the idea of the program was just being formed by German and Karla. The boys were still on the street, shining shoes, sleeping where they could. They seemed so apart from the greater community. They were shy and clearly hungry and “lost”. They now seem so self confident.” - President Suzy Grossman-Stephens

It is hard to believe that almost four years have gone by since a team from Child Shelter International first visited the Cambio Interno program in Quetzalteango, Guatemala. We were in search of a new project and had heard about Cambio Interno’s work with the local “shoe-shine boys”. The goal of our trip was to see the program first hand and assess whether it fit CSI’s mission and could benefit from our support and guidance.

What we saw was truly impressive and compelling. At the heart of the operation were Karla and German Avila. The Avilas were devoting all of their energy and what financial resources they could muster to provide emotional and practical support for a group of street kids working as shoeshine boys in the central square. At night the boys slept in a dilapidated dormitory or wherever they could. Seeing these children either orphaned or with families who could not afford to keep them, CSI decided to fund the Cambio Interno Guatemala program for a three-year commitment.

Now, as we are nearing the end of our commitment, we are taking a step back to evaluate the impact of our support. By any standard, this project has been a resounding success. Working closely with the Avilas, CSI has provided the boys with the basic necessities that every child in the world deserves, giving them educational and training opportunities which will help keep them out of poverty as they grow into adulthood.The first order of business was to rid the dormitory of lice and bed bugs! Then, we updated the lavatory facilities and sleeping areas so they were functioning, clean and safe, and we supplemented the boys’ diet with more healthy fruits and vegetables.

With these necessities taken care of, we then focused on giving the boys skills they could use to build a future for themselves. To this end, CSI paid for many of the boys to attend school, some for the first time. With funds from CSI, the Avilas created a classroom in their home, where the boys go to do homework, study for exams and get tutorial help – not to mention feel like they are loved and supported as part of a family. We are very happy to report that the boys have had great success in school, some of them graduating from middle school this year.

The boys have also made great strides on the social front, a key component in being full members of the greater community. For example, all of the boys are now on a soccer team, coached by German Avila, playing in a youth league, and interacting with other boys. They have also made friends among their classmates, and in some cases have even taken a leadership role, despite the huge difference in their economic and social status. This is very important for the boys for whom regular school is not a fit. It will give them an opportunity to learn a trade. At some time in the future, besides serving as a training facility, this workshop may even help sustain the program itself.

It has been quite a journey since that first visit to Quetzaltenango. The shared dream of helping these boys has become a reality. Cambio Interno is gaining attention and support from local authorities to help the neediest children of the city. We will remain in close contact with our friends at Cambio Interno, helping them where we can with their future projects, and learning about the progress of the boys. The lives of these individual boys have been touched in ways that are immeasurable.

It does not get much better than that! Thank you for your support, and we look forward to sharing news of our future projects with you.

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Quote from Karla’s letter to CSI

“The month of February was a happy time for us and for the boys because after waiting so long, we were :inally able to open the carpentry workshop. The boys worked hard during the last days, cleaning and disposing of debris. We commented that it was like life—sometimes there are things in our life that don’t work for us and we have to get rid of them. But our talents and strengths are useful to us, and therefore, those things we keep.”