Guatemala: Zapote Care Center

GUATEMALA HOME

LOCATION
Zapote is located in the department of  Escuintla. just at the base of the active volcano, Fuego and is only reached by 4 x 4 vehicles because the road includes four rivers without bridges that in the rainy season often make the way impassable. The earth is largely volcanic rock which is highly infertile and means there is no agricultural work within the village of Zapote.

HISTORY
Named Fuente de Esperanza (Source of Hope in English), our prayer is that this new Care Center will bring hope to many children in the impoverished area of Zapote, Escuintla.

The focus of Fuente de Esperanza is reaching out to the community through its children. We came to hear of Zapote through one of our local churches in San Lucas, Galilea Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Galilea Church planted this church in this village of 3,000 people five years ago. Over the past two years, God has been guiding both Kids Alive and Galilea Church to combine their efforts to reach this impoverished area through social help. In February 2006, we received approval from our Board of Directors, and our Care Center commenced full-time on July 31, 2006. We currently care for 75 little ones between the ages of 5 and 9.

FACILITIES
The Zapote Care Center is currently being held in the local church with the vision of having its own site in the future. 

PROGRAM
In line with the Kids Alive vision and mission, we continue to strive for holistic care for the children.  Our program will particularly focus on meeting the spiritual, educational, nutritional and medical needs of the children.

The center, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., provides Bible classes, academic education through a Guatemalan home-school progrman, access to medical care, and a nutritious snack and lunch each day.

In addition to providing the children of Zapote with education, we are currently working on educating the parents on topics such as the importance of purifying water, preparing well-balanced meals, and Christian parenting skills.  

FUTURE

The children we serve in Guatemala are children in crisis. Upon receiving a new child, our immediate goal is to evaluate their individual needs and begin formulating a plan of healing. We help them to recover from malnutrition, abuse, violence and illness. The children partake in education classes, spiritual enrichment, and recreation activities. We see the future of Guatemala being transformed by the children in our care. We are raising the future leaders and decision makers. We believe that the answers to the problems of Guatemala lie within the children we care for and that they can break the cycles of poverty, violence and abuse that brought them into our care.

Financially, KAG strives to create a sustainable funding base, both inside of Guatemala and internationally. Through individual Child Sponsorship, grants, and United States church support, we are able to maintain financial security and move forwards strategically to expand the number of children in our care.