EST. 2006

A different future starts here

Niños de Guatemala helps students in Guatemala stay in school, keep learning, and build a clearer path toward opportunity.

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Schools in sacatepequez

+500

Students supported

+400

Families supported

Our Origin

It started with one child

In 2006, Marten Dresen met a young girl named Mirna while volunteering in Guatemala. She had no shoes. He gave her a pair, and the moment stayed with him.

That simple encounter became the beginning of something larger: a belief that lasting change requires education, commitment, and opportunity over time. Today, Niños de Guatemala operates three schools and supports hundreds of families each year near Antigua Guatemala.

"Lasting change requires education, commitment, and opportunity over time."

Our Mission

To break the cycle of poverty through holistic and bilingual education

The Context

The Challenge in Guatemala

Many children in Guatemala face more than one barrier at the same time. Poverty, weak access to quality education, family pressure, and poor nutrition can all affect whether a student stays in school and learns enough to move forward. That is why education has to be more than a classroom.

Our Difference

What We Do Differently

A child’s future is shaped by more than one problem, so one solution is not enough.

Niños de Guatemala combines five connected supports that help students stay in school, keep learning, and move toward real opportunities after graduation.

Socio-emotional Support

Quality Education

Nutrition

Digital & practical skills

Family engagement

Together, these supports help students learn, build confidence, stay healthy, and prepare for what comes next.

How change happens

Students face connected barriers. Our response is connected too.

Barriers

Students have talent and ambition, but limited access to quality education, nutritious food, and the support they need to thrive.

Connected support

Quality education, daily nutrition, socio-emotional support, and strong family involvement help each student move forward.

Student progress

Students stay in school, strengthen their academic and life skills, and grow in confidence, resilience, and independence.

Long-term opportunity

Graduates are prepared to continue their education, enter formal employment, and create new opportunities for themselves and their families.

What we are seeing

We track results because they show whether students are moving forward.

500+

Students and 400+ families

Consistent support each year

99.1%

Retention and 98.9% attendance

Students are staying enrolled and showing up

98%

Transition to lower secondary

Nearly all students continue beyond primary

+54%

English proficiency gains

Nearly all students continue beyond primary

80%

Formal employment

Nearly all students continue beyond primary

Be Part of the Change

Your support helps students stay in school, keep learning, and move toward a more stable future.

Sponsor a Child

Connect directly with a student’s educational journey and support their long-term path.

Sponsor NDG

Make a one-time or monthly contribution. It is the most flexible way to help support all our centers.

Leadership Giving

Give through Donor-Advised Funds (DAF), stock gifts, or corporate partnerships.

Tax-deductible giving options are available in Guatemala, the United States, and the Netherlands.

Real Stories

Rosa's Story

The family workshops changed how we talk at home. NDG didn’t just help my children study—they helped me learn how to support them, manage stress, and build a peaceful home. The food baskets and medical support took a massive weight off our shoulders.

Carlos's Journey

When Carlos first came to Niños de Guatemala, malnutrition and reading gaps made school feel overwhelming. With daily nutrition, intensive reading support, and bilingual tutoring, Carlos caught up with his peers. Today, he is a confident student who plans to pursue a computer science degree.

Stories and Updates

See what is happening across Niños de Guatemala, from student stories to school and program updates.