Fundacion Salvacion

• Guatemala - Central America

Fundacion Salvacion is a Christian orphanage that runs completely on outside donations in Guatemala. The orphanage does not receive any government support and depends entirely on the donations of Guatemalans and foreigners alike. The ages of the kids in the orphanage range from 6 months to 18 years and about 90 children live in the orphanage.

It was founded more than 14 years ago by an incredible woman named Sandra Juarez de Temaj. Tragically, Sandra died in a car accident on December 29, 2011, leaving her husband, Dr. Cesar Temaj, as the president of the orphanage. Cesar and his daughter Carmen are doing everything they can to ensure that the Fundacion continues in the direction that Sandra set over the past 14 years.

The orphanage is based in Huehuetenango, Guatemala.

Most of these children come from backgrounds of abandonment and abuse. The adults in their lives were meant to be role model and provide a safe environment but instead these kids often suffered physical injury caused by punching, beating, kicking and burning. Some have been sexually abused others have been abandoned outside the huge metal gate of Fundacion Salvacion. When their parents left them outside the gate of FS, these kids lost their story, their sense of belonging, their sense of identity and direction.

The orphanage doesn't provide just food, clothes to wear, and a bed to sleep in, the orphanage also seeks to give them psychological help and an education so they can change the course of their lives and not allow their past dictate their future. They get English classes, maths, art, music and local churches come to the orphanage to offer spiritual guidance.

The kids are the most extraordinary kids I've ever met in my life. I spent almost two months living with them and they have changed my life forever. Despite their young age, they take on the role of “parent” together with the burden of adult responsibility for their younger siblings. They get up at 5am in the morning to clean the common areas, they help to wash the little ones, cook their meals, clean the dorms, wash their clothes by hand and support each other morally and emotionally.

I had the honour to know Sandra Juarez de Temaj and her family, the privilege of spending the most beautiful two months of my life with these kids and the staff of Fundacion Salvacion.My body has left Guatemala but my heart and mind will remain there with them forever. Try it! You won't regret it!