For the children we serve, an education is not a given. Many children are unable to attend school due to financial hardship, family needs, and language barriers. Particularly in rural areas of Guatemala—where families live far away from essentials such as hospitals, schools, and employment opportunities—attending school is often not a feasible option for children.
But education isn’t just “nice to have.” It can mean the difference between remaining in poverty and breaking the cycle. That’s why every school supply donated, every meal served, and every child sponsored is one step towards giving children a hopeful future and sharing the love of Christ.
A Safe Place to Land
Over 50% of Guatemalan students drop out of school between 6th and 9th grades, according to data from World Bank Group. And with fewer than 20% of children making it to high school, there is a real education and literacy crisis.
Poverty is the biggest reason children are held back from receiving an education. According to 2023 World Bank statistics, 56% of Guatemala’s population lives below the poverty line. There is a huge emphasis on children entering the workforce from a young age in order to support their families.
The fewer children who attend school, the more poverty is reinforced, creating a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break. An education provides more than valuable knowledge; it gives children a sense of normalcy, childhood, and protection from societal dangers such as drugs and gang violence, which sadly, is much more likely for children who drop out of school.
It is our goal to free children from that poverty cycle and give them a safe place to land.
Education opens up that door, making it possible for children to learn in a safe environment and to have career opportunities that could completely transform their situations.
The Power of a Pencil
Another obstacle to an education?
School supplies.
With poverty being so widespread, these added costs act as another barrier to entry. The backpacks, writing utensils, uniforms, and books that we often take for granted are invaluable to the children we are blessed to serve.
We see these needs every day in our Living Water programs across Guatemala and Albania. We have seen countless children who share the same story and are looking for hope.
To date, our M25 programs fund 3 schools in Guatemala, ensuring that no child with a need is turned away from an education. School supplies are another need we are able to meet through the generous donations of sponsors.
Purchasing school supplies is more than providing useful tools—it is changing lives for Christ.
Don’t let extra costs like backpacks and books stand between a child’s future. When you donate school supplies, you are helping to roll back the tide of poverty and empower children in Jesus’ name.
Paving the Way for Gospel Hope
Child sponsorship is another essential way we are able to reach the physical and spiritual needs of “the least of these.” Sponsored children receive consistent and nourishing meals—something which goes hand-in-hand with education. Nutrient-rich diets are essential to being able to focus and succeed within a school environment. By meeting these physical needs, we are also able to minister to their spiritual needs.
But sponsorship doesn’t end with a meal. It extends beyond that, providing access to essential dental and medical care, churches and youth centers, pastoral support in their own language, and the loving relationship of a sponsor. The opportunity to develop relationships with sponsors through letters—and even meet them in person—means the world to sponsored children in our programs.
Most importantly, sponsorship provides an opening for us to share the hope of the gospel.
At Living Water, everything we do stems from a desire for children to know their value in Christ. Every child is loved and seen by God. Every child is deserving of a chance to hear the gospel and to receive the profound hope that it gives.
Through an education, children are able to read, write, and understand the gospel’s life-changing impact. An education is much more than imparting knowledge.
It is paving the way for gospel hope.
From Classrooms to Changed Lives
An education opens up a wealth of opportunities for children that would never have been possible otherwise, such as acquiring life skills, leadership abilities, and job opportunities.
But the hope that starts in the classroom doesn’t stop there. Hope changes everything.
Would you join us in changing lives by sponsoring a child or donating school supplies? Your prayers, donations, and partnership are vital to our mission of ending the poverty cycle through Christ-centered charity—one school supply at a time.
