{"id":2962,"date":"2017-05-30T10:56:09","date_gmt":"2017-05-30T18:56:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/?p=2962"},"modified":"2017-05-30T11:51:32","modified_gmt":"2017-05-30T19:51:32","slug":"caras-alegres-and-the-youth-of-xeul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.entremundos.org\/revista\/xela\/caras-alegres-and-the-youth-of-xeul\/?lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Caras Alegres and the youth of Xeul"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Allan Ort\u00edz, Caras Alegres mentor<\/h3>\n

The Caras Alegres Association is a non-profit NGO that works with children and young adults in the Xeul neighborhood of Xela’s Zone 5. It was founded in 2004 by a Dutch couple who felt for the community and decided to work to support local families.<\/p>\n

Caras Alegres (Happy Faces) aims to improve the well-being and livelihoods of the children and young adults living in conditions of poverty, neglect and personal struggle.<\/p>\n

Even though the Xeul neighborhood is in Xela\u2019s urban area, many families live in poverty or extreme poverty, which\u00a0affects them physically, economically and emotionally. Children in these families are the most affected, as they lack basic opportunities and are particularly vulnerable as children.<\/p>\n

Through the Caras Alegres project we work to empower approximately 60 children both academically as well as emotionally. In the morning the children attend their neighborhood school, and in the afternoon we help them with their schoolwork, providing them with whatever tools or resources they need.<\/p>\n

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Children in a Caras Alegres program in Xeul, Quetzaltenango show off their creations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We work\u00a0to strengthen and empower these children while also allowing them to enjoy their childhoods. By focusing on experiential education through art and sports, they learn and practice key values as they participate in different activities. We use fun methods and tools to engage positively and ensure meaningful education for the kids.<\/p>\n

Self-esteem is an important factor for Caras Alegres and through our different programming we encourage our\u00a0students to achieve their dreams and believe that they can break the cycle of poverty, and that through education they too can become successful professionals and improve their lives.<\/p>\n

Other projects that we work on are:<\/p>\n