Change a Life, Educate a Child

Concha is 13 years old and lives in the rural community of El Astillero, Escuintla. She is currently in sixth grade and dreams of becoming a lawyer one day. Her favorite color is red, she loves dogs, enjoys eating beans and rice, and spends her free time playing football with friends.

When we first met Concha and her family in May 2024, it was immediately clear they were facing overwhelming challenges.

We had traveled to El Astillero to deliver beds to families in need when Concha and her sisters approached us with a simple question: could they receive help too?

As we stepped inside their home, our hearts sank.

The family's small house, constructed from aging sheets of metal, appeared as though it might collapse at any moment. Outside, debris surrounded the property and chickens wandered freely through the yard. Inside, there was almost nothing. The family shared two and a half severely damaged beds with exposed metal springs. Their well water had become contaminated, making the children sick, and Concha's father had recently suffered an accident that left him unable to work.

The family had reached a point where even basic necessities felt out of reach.

We knew immediately they needed support.

On our next visit, we returned with a bunk bed so the family would have a safe place to sleep, an Ecofiltro water filter to provide clean drinking water, and solar lamps so they would no longer sit in darkness after sunset. The family was added to our regular visitation program, and throughout the year we continued bringing bread, shoes, and other essentials to help them through difficult times.

Yet what impressed us most was not their need - it was their determination.

Despite the poverty surrounding them, Concha and her sisters continued going to school.

They continued studying.

They continued dreaming.

As we got to know the family better, we knew education could become the pathway that would help change their future. In 2025, we began preparing to enroll Concha, her sisters, and several other children from El Astillero into ANA's Scholarship Program. Although logistical challenges delayed enrollment for a year, we were thrilled to officially welcome them into the program in 2026.

Just as things seemed to be improving, another crisis struck.

At the beginning of 2026, both of Concha's parents were unexpectedly jailed due to a legal dispute stemming from previous family circumstances. Concha and her sisters were temporarily placed in the care of their grandmother while the legal process unfolded.

For any child, it would have been a devastating experience.

Thankfully, by April both parents had been released and reunited with their children. Today, Concha's parents work making and selling handmade palm brooms to provide food and support for their family.

Throughout these challenges, Concha never lost sight of her goals.

She and her sisters eagerly completed every requirement needed to participate in the Scholarship Program. In February, they received their school supplies and first scholarship assistance, followed by additional support in April, May, and June.

When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, Concha answers without hesitation:

"A lawyer."

Her dream was inspired by the legal difficulties her family experienced and her desire to help innocent people who find themselves facing similar challenges.

Her goal this year is simple: graduate from primary school and be happy with her family.

When asked what she would do if she had one million dollars, Concha smiled and said she would first thank God and then use the money to help people in need.

And when asked how she would change her community, her answer was equally beautiful:

"I would have more good people in it."

A new middle school is currently being built in her village, allowing her to continue her education close to home. Eventually, she will need to leave her community to attend high school and university. While that journey will not be easy, Concha is confident she can achieve her dream with the support of ANA and her sponsors.

The gratitude felt by the family is difficult to put into words. During one of our visits, Concha's mother shared this message:

"I asked God that you would give my children a scholarship. I knew my daughters would value it and work hard in their studies. I am grateful with all my heart. May God protect you and bless you for the wonderful blessing you have brought into our home.

I have asked so many people for help and many people have come here, but nobody helped us. Thanks be to God, you listened to me. My daughters now have beds to sleep on. They have shoes, schoolbags, and the water filter you gave us. I thank you with all my heart.

When my husband had his accident, he could not work and we didn't know how we would eat. Sometimes we had food and sometimes we didn't. My daughters would ask me what we had to eat, and sometimes all I could give them was a glass of water.

I asked many people for help, but no one did anything. Then, thank God, you came and supported us. With your support, we can keep moving forward."

Today, Concha is thriving academically - a reflection of the same perseverance and determination that have carried her through every challenge she has faced.

Children like Concha remind us why this work matters.

A scholarship is more than financial assistance.

A bed is more than a place to sleep.

Clean water is more than a necessity.

Together, these gifts create opportunity. They restore dignity. They give children the chance to dream beyond their circumstances and believe in a future that once seemed impossible.

Because of compassionate supporters like you, Concha is no longer defined by the challenges she has faced.

She is defined by the future she is building.