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Why Niños de Guatemala​

Niños de Guatemala works to break the cycle of poverty through holistic, bilingual education. We operate three schools near Antigua Guatemala and support more than 500 students and 400 families each year.

Our work is led in Guatemala by a local team that understands the communities we serve.

Our aim is not only to help students stay in school, but to help them build the skills, confidence, and opportunities to shape a better future.

See our Impact
Our Team

Who We Are

Niños de Guatemala is a Guatemalan nonprofit organization focused on long-term education and opportunity. We do more than help students attend school. We work to make sure they learn, receive support, and have a clearer path after graduation.

Our work is led by a Guatemalan team of educators, psychologists, social workers, and staff who work closely with students and families every day. Their knowledge of the community, combined with clear roles and strong collaboration, helps sustain meaningful support over time.

Our Journey

Our History

Niños de Guatemala began with a simple encounter.
A Simple Encounter

2006

Marten Dresen was volunteering in Guatemala when he met a young girl named Mirna. She often walked without shoes. Marten gave her a pair, and her reaction stayed with him. That moment raised a bigger question: what would it take for a child like Mirna to have not only a better day, but a different future? That question became the beginning of Niños de Guatemala.
A Simple Encounter
Officially Founded

2007

In 2007, Marten, his sister Annemiek, his friend Sander Wirken, and other friends helped turn that idea into Niños de Guatemala. They believed education could open doors that poverty had kept closed for too long.
Officially Founded
Nuestro Futuro Opens

2009

The first school, Nuestro Futuro, opened in Ciudad Vieja in 2009. Later, El Porvenir opened in San Lorenzo el Cubo.
Nuestro Futuro Opens
Expanding the Model

Growing

As students grew older, Niños de Guatemala opened secondary and high school programs so they could continue moving forward. The Hospitality Certification Program later added a practical bridge from school to formal work, helping graduates build skills, confidence, and real employment opportunities.
Expanding the Model
Social Business Connection

Good Hotel

Over time, the organization also looked for ways to make the work more sustainable. Good Hotel became part of that long-term vision. As a social business connected to Niños de Guatemala, Good Hotel helps support the organization while also reflecting the link between hospitality, opportunity, and social impact.
Social Business Connection
A Sustained Path Forward

Today

Today, Niños de Guatemala operates three schools near Antigua Guatemala and supports more than 500 students and 400 families each year. The work is now led in Guatemala by a local team that understands the communities we serve, with support from an international network of donors, partners, and board members.
A Sustained Path Forward
“The story began with one child and one pair of shoes. It has grown into a long-term pathway of education, care, and opportunity.”
Founder Video

Mirna's story and the inception of NDG (4 mins)

Our Compass

Vision and Mission

Our work is guided by the belief that education can create lasting opportunities when it is consistent, relevant, and connected to real life.
Vision

Transformative change through education

mision
Mission

Transformative change through education

vision
Our VALUEs

Why Niños de Guatemala

Our values guide how we work with students, families, staff, volunteers, donors, and partners every single day:

Holistic Development

Nurturing academic, social, and emotional student growth in an integrated way.

Holistic Development

Strengthening shared responsibility through close local engagement.

Holistic Development

Overcoming economic and social challenges with creative, flexible solutions.

Transparency

Acting with absolute integrity, reporting clear results, and remaining responsible.

Impact

Creating measurable, lasting generational change for students and families.

Commitment to Excellence

Striving for the highest quality education and top-tier operational efficiency.

THE REALITY ON THE GROUND

The Challenge in Guatemala

In Guatemala, many children grow up with limited opportunities from the start. These challenges are visible every day in the communities of Ciudad Vieja and San Lorenzo el Cubo, where our schools operate.

Poverty, malnutrition, and weak learning outcomes often reinforce one another. Even when children attend school, many do not gain the skills they need to continue studying or move toward stable work later on. National evaluations show that only 35% of graduating students reached the benchmark in reading and only 16% did so in mathematics.

These challenges are connected. A child who is hungry will struggle to concentrate. A child who falls behind academically may lose motivation. A student facing pressure at home may leave school early.

That is why real progress requires more than one solution.

SUPPORTED BY RESPONSIBLE PARTNERS & ORGANIZATIONS

Good Hotel
El Cubo Center
Stichting NDG
Dutch Ministry
US Friends of NDG