The Need
Poverty is endemic for most of rural Guatemala . Jobs are scarce. And salaries are meager. Many men and women follow the crops—avocadoes to coffee to sugar cane—dragging their children with them. 16% of the population lives on a dollar a day. Over and over we are told of children that do not even get a single tortilla a day. But there is much pride and it's difficult for these folks to ask for help. Also, keep in mind that there is no social safety net in the country.

The orphanage is located in the middle of a million Mayan Indians, and, to make matters worse: the Indians are often discriminated against. It's been going on for centuries and many do not want to give up the cheap labor that they provide. One of the most common sights in rural Guatemala is the look of hopelessness on the faces of the adults.

The children—the next generation—are the big losers. Not only do they grow up malnourished, they are unable to take advantage of the public education system, which is not completely free. There is a stifling lack of opportunities to begin with, but without an outside influence they will be unprepared for the few that exist.

Casa de Sion not only takes abused and neglected children from the court system, but we also house children from migrant workers. The number one thing that children get from living at the orphanage is wealth of opportunities. We make sure they go to school and they do surprisingly well. They consider it a privilege and take their studies seriously. We have several certified teachers on staff for help. Generous sponsors make possible field trips that broaden the outlook of these children. They attend church and receive a moral structure for interacting with the world. They live with responsible adults that can serve as role models.

Most of the children in the orphanage fare better than average children in the pueblo. They eat better and are clothed better. And they have more opportunities. Beyond public school there are educational sponsors available for children that show promise and want to pursue career goals.

Building Program
Our present challenge is a permanent place to settle and then grow. As much as possible we want to build a self-sustaining organization. We want to have our own livestock, fruits and vegetables, as well as cash crops like avocadoes and some restaurant specialties like lettuce. No only will this save the orphanage money and increase the quality of its food, but it will be teaching valuable life skills to the children.

We are looking at 25 acres on the eastern side of the lake. It has beautiful vistas and the potential for vacation rentals, which would be a great financial help to the orphanage. Because Guatemala is so small, land is relatively expensive. The cost of this piece with access, electricity and right-of-ways will be slightly over $100,000. We have a donor willing to purchase the land if we can come up with the matching support for the buildings.

The boys' dorm with room for 30 children $25,000
The girls' dorm with room for 30 children 25,000
Dining room/common area 50,000

This latter building will house the kitchen and laundry area on the first floor. The second floor will have offices and dorms for staff and volunteers. You can help by supporting this building program or raising funds. Please contact us if you would like to invest your time in a heart-felt way.

Sponsorship Program
Even though these children are often seriously abused or neglected, they are just children. They are like your children—like you when you were a child. They want to have friends; they want to be popular. They don't want to wear rags, but nice clothes. They want to feel accepted and know that someone is behind them, supporting them. Even though they love being at the orphanage; they DO NOT want to be orphans. Having a sponsor changes their attitude about themselves. They feel cared for and feel like they are important to somebody. As you can imagine, this is doubly important for these children because their first parents did not do a good job. YOU can be that person in their lives.

Several of the older children have educational sponsors and it's interesting to hear them brag. Their chests inflate; they are important. YOU can build the self-esteem of these children by financially standing for them. But you also help by remembering them on their birthdays and Christmas. They, in turn, can tell you about their lives; what's going on at school and the orphanage, etc. We think you will be surprised how personally rewarding it will be.

Currently, the cost of maintaining the orphanage is $175.00 per child per month. This includes rent, utilities, employee salaries and miscellaneous. (This does not include clothes, shoes and school supplies which come as donations.

We anticipate several sponsors for each child. And that's good. An extra set of caring “parents” will only make them feel better about themselves. You will receive updates and personal letters from your child. We promise you a very gratifying experience.

If you would like to make a pledge to assist us in creating this wonderful environment for our children to grow and succeed, please download the pledge form. For more information, please contact us by email or call Sarah at (801) 360-8034