Thanks to your support, Street Kids Direct has been able to help fund GO Guatemala over the last 12 years.
The children who attend the centre come from a very dangerous area in Guatemala City. Just across the valley in “El Infernito”, 26 children have been killed by the gang for not joining.
Here, violent gangs rule entire neighbourhoods, and fear often dictates daily life. Children grow up surrounded by violence, poverty, and pressure to join the local gang. Many are recruited as young as nine years old.
Through your support, Street Kids Direct funds Go Guatemala, a local organisation that works daily in the heart of Zone 18. Their dedicated team provides a safe space where children can study, play, and dream of a different future. Every Saturday, they serve meals, offer mentoring and counselling, and help children stay in school, protecting them from the devastating cycle of violence that claims so many young lives.
Go Guatemala’s presence is a lifeline. The staff visit homes, encourage parents, and walk alongside families who feel trapped between fear and hope. In a community where the sound of gunfire too often replaces laughter, they bring compassion, stability, and the chance for a child to simply be a child again.
We believe that no child should have to choose between joining a gang, or losing their life. Together, we can ensure that children in Zone 18 have another choice, the chance to grow up safe, loved, and full of hope.
