Humanitarian Aid in Guatemala - Guatemala's Hogars
OUR WORK IN GUATEMALA
Hogars are small homes licensed to care for orphaned and abandoned children. Most are privately run and all of their funding comes from the nongovernmental sector, primarily international adoption fees. With the closure of adoptions, hogars will be asked to provide a permanent home for thousands of children. However, the closure of adoptions also means that hogars have lost their principal source of funding for basic child care, staff salaries, and general operations. Without immediate support, hogars will be forced to close their doors and the number of children living on Guatemala's streets will skyrocket.
Wide Horizons has collaborated closely in its adoption and humanitarian aid activities with two excellently-run hogars in Guatemala City: Hogar Luz De Fatima and Hogar Luz De Maria. These hogars are licensed to receive 30-40 children each. We expect in the coming months both facilities will be filled to capacity as thousands of children who, instead of being placed for adoption with a permanent family, will live in a hogar indefinitely. They are in desperate need of funds to keep their doors open for an increasing number of children.
Hogar Luz De Fatima
Founded: 2002
Capacity: 40 children, ages birth-7 years
Staffing: Attorney Barbara Cofiņo Vides is the director. The assistant manager to the hogar is certified in pedagogy (the art of teaching). A child psychologist and pediatrician visit the hogar once a month or more often as needed.
Description: Each room has an assigned care taker and holds about 6 children. There is a play room for toddlers to learn to walk. Older children receive art classes each day and during their free time they can enjoy swings, a slide, and open space to run around and play. Children of age are transported to
and from school by a small bus.
Hogar Luz De Maria
Founded: 2004
Capacity: 30 children, ages birth-5 years
Staffing: Dinora Palacios is the director. Most caretakers have a background in
childcare and receive extensive training in CPR, First Aid and pedagogy from certified personnel on a regular basis.
Description: More than 250 children from this hogar have been placed with loving
families. The hogar has a wide open courtyard with baby swings, hammocks, and other play equipment for babies and toddlers to enjoy. This is the area where birthdays are celebrated, piņatas are broken and children learn to take their first steps. The animated drawings on the wall complement the vivacity experienced in this hogar.