Humanitarian Aid in Guatemala
As of January 2008, the adoption of children from Guatemala to U.S. families is on hold. The closure of adoption has put a new strain on the already impossible situation for at-risk children in Guatemala. Not only will many thousands of additional children be without homes and the prospect of a family, but facilities that have traditionally been supported through international adoption fees will have lost critical funding. This is a critical situation, one exacerbated by an overall worsening economic situation.
In recognition of the emergency situation for children in Guatemala, Wide Horizons For Children is launching the Rayo de Esperanza (Ray of Hope) Campaign with a goal of raising $10,000 per month in emergency funding through December 2008. The funds will be used to support operating costs at the hogars (orphanages) and to ramp up the Child Sponsorship program to prevent more abandonment of impoverished children. It is not known how long adoptions will be halted in Guatemala, so WHFC will be working with its partners during the upcoming months to identify long-term sustainable solutions to provide children with healthy and loving living environments.
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Guatemala's hogars are expected to become filled to capacity in the coming months, and are in desparate need of funds to keep their doors open for an increasing number of children. |
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Children enrolled in the Guatemala Sponsorship Program are usually those who have remained with their birth families, but are living in extreme poverty. |
For more information on any of our humanitarian aid work in Guatemala, contact Ali Crandall at 781.419.0340 or acrandall@whfc.org.