NGO Status:
Buckner Guatemala became an NGO in 2005
Primary Office:
Guatemala City
Buckner began its Guatemala program in 2002. In January of 2003, we began hosting volunteer mission trips and became a Guatemalan Foundation in 2005. Since 2004, we’ve had a partnership with the government of Guatemala and meet with the Ministry of Social Welfare almost monthly to discuss the needs of children in the government orphanages. In 2005, Buckner had four meetings with the First Lady in order to discuss further partnership with Buckner and the Orphan Care Ministry as well as 10 meetings with the First Lady’s advisors in order to establish contracts, partnerships, funding of projects and further interactions with government homes. In 2006, Buckner staff met with the First Lady again on several occasions, one of them being the inauguration of the well for the San Gabriel Orphanage, as well as in her own private office at the Guatemala White House. In 2007 Buckner attended the inauguration of the girls' dorms at the Manchen Home by invitation of the First Lady. Buckner has held, and continues to offer, ongoing training in the areas of foster care, preventative health care, child care, residential care and social services.
Buckner services and country support include:
Residential Care -- Buckner Guatemala offers residential care to two homes, Casa Esperanza and Fundacion Salvacion. The program is designed to give these children a home with the structure and support they need to heal and recover from a family crisis or an abusive or neglectful situation.
Transition Ministries -- Buckner Guatemala began its transition ministry program in 2005 to serve children who are 14 years and over to help prepare them for independent living. The program helps them face independent living with success. The program is currently serving 10 teenage girls and seven teenage boys.
Single-Parent Home -- Buckner opened the Single Parent Home in early 2007 to provide a small group-home environment for mothers to teach them to properly care for their children and maintain their focus on receiving an education.
Follow-up Program -- Buckner Guatemala has a follow-up program to ensure long-term sustainability in the Guatemala orphanages and evangelism. Buckner Guatemala has eight part-time follow-up staff.
Other programs include:
• Supporting the Orphan Graduate Sponsorship Program which provides girls and boys who have aged out of the orphanages the opportunity to continue their education.
• Operating five Buckner-owned facilities: a girls’ transitional home, a boys transitional home, a baby and single-parent home in Guatemala City and a children’s home in Hue-Hue..
• Sponsoring mission trips throughout the year to minister to children in government and privately-owned orphanages.
• Providing ongoing humanitarian aid; The Voice Program & Shoes for Orphan Souls
• Community & church programs in at risk communities.
You can provide change in Guatemala
During 2008, you can be a part of helping the orphans of Guatemala through:
• Foster Care Pilot Program -- Buckner Guatemala will begin a foster care pilot program for the children in residential care at Casa Esperanza and Fundacion Salvacion.
• Expand Transitional Program by offering educational support to children aging out of the orphanages
• Mission Trips 2008: Approximately 42 trips projecting 885 volunteers.
