Two Years of Love, Learning and Hope: Inside Our Children Daycare Center in Guatemala

Since its opening, our Children Daycare Center has grown into a nurturing space where children receive care, love, and early learning opportunities. With the help of local staff and international volunteers, we are building a community that empowers children and their families through compassion and education.

A Place Where Children Can Simply Be Children

When the Children Daycare Center opened its doors on November 1, 2023, it began as a small but powerful dream — a place where children could feel safe, seen, and loved. Today, the center welcomes 20 children: six children between 1.5 and 4 years old and fourteen children older than 4 years. Each child brings their own story, energy, and smile. Every weekday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, the center becomes a home away from home. Younger children spend their mornings learning through play, while older children join in the afternoons for tutoring and creative activities. Three nutritious meals are shared daily (bananas being an all-time favorite, so much so that Jennifer, our cook, sometimes has to hide them!).

Our dedicated team, Susanna (educator), Evelyn (teacher), Jennifer (cook), and Elvia (management), puts their heart into every moment. They are supported by volunteers like Daniela, who joined through our partner Explorengo and will be with us until November 2025.

More Than Education — A Mission of Compassion

The Children Daycare Center is much more than a childcare space. It’s a place where children experience kindness, respect, and love — values that are often missing in their daily environment. Our mission is simple yet profound: to create a safe space where children can learn what it means to share, to care, and to dream. From their first words, they are encouraged to say please and thank you. They learn how to treat others, and themselves, with respect.

Educators also teach the children about animals and plants, helping them build empathy and connection with the living world. Many of the children have never interacted with animals at home or have seen them mistreated. Here, they learn that every creature deserves care and kindness. In the garden, the children watch lemons, avocados, oranges, figs, and mint grow, learning how food and life itself begin from tiny seeds.

Supporting Families Beyond the Classroom

Many of the children come from difficult social and economic backgrounds. Some live with single mothers who work long hours on markets or plantations, often earning just enough to pay for a single shared room. For families in crisis, the center provides more than education, it provides dignity and support. Essentials like infant formula, diapers, and medicines are supplied when needed, either through donations or directly funded by the daycare. This holistic approach means that each child receives not only care and learning, but also the foundation for a healthier, more hopeful future.

Stories That Remind Us Why We Do This Work

Triana came to the center when she was just four months old. Her mother, only sixteen at the time, was unable to care for her, and Triana arrived severely undernourished. After two months in the hospital, she returned stronger — surrounded by the love and care she had been missing. Today, she smiles, plays, and continues to grow in every sense of the word.

Genesis and Fatima, half-sisters, live between two unstable homes. When Genesis first arrived, she was quiet and fearful, especially around men. Over time, through gentle care and trust, she began to open up. The moment she hugged a volunteer goodbye for the first time was more than just a gesture, it was a sign of healing, of learning to trust again.

 “Each child who comes here carries a story, sometimes a difficult one. But when we see them laugh, play, and feel safe, that’s when we know our work is making a difference.” — Elvia, Management at the Children Daycare Center.

 Stories like these are why the Children Daycare Center exists: to give every child the chance to heal, to learn, and to feel loved.

The Role of Volunteers — Small Actions, Big Impact

Volunteers like Daniela play a vital role in daily life at the center. They bring creativity, joy, and new perspectives to the children and staff alike. Whether reading stories, helping with lessons, or simply being present, their contribution leaves a lasting mark. Through our partnership with Explorengo, volunteers from around the world can join us to support education and empowerment in Guatemala. Each volunteer reminds us that change begins with compassion, and that every act of kindness matters.

Two Years of Growth — and Many More to Come

As we celebrate the second anniversary of our Children Daycare Center, we look back with gratitude and forward with hope. In two short years, this space has become more than just a daycare — it’s a community of care, a place where laughter meets learning and every child is given the chance to dream.

To everyone who has supported us — our volunteers, donors, partners, and team — thank you for believing in this mission.