Guatemala is one of our favorite countries, particularly because of its gentle, generous and extraordinary people. The physical beauty of the country is breathtaking. Guatemala is also a region of enormous poverty and a recent history of a devastating civil war between the ruling elite and the indigenous Mayan culture.
One courageous woman from Maine, Hanley Denning, also fell in love with Guatemala and the children whose families live and scavenge daily in the garbage dump of Guatemala City, a huge festering place filled with disease and peril. In 1999 Hanley founded an educational program, "Safe Passage", with a mission to "empower the poorest, at-risk children of families ...by creating opportunities and fostering dignity through the power of education. Children and parents discover that through their own efforts, they can move beyond poverty. "
Tragically, Hanley was killed in an automobile accident near Guatemala City in 2007. Her dedication to this program inspired her colleagues to continue the work she began. This video from 2006 was posted on Youtube, I assume, by a volunteer who worked with these amazing children. I thank him for giving us a glimpse of the lives of the children who participate in Safe Passage.
If you'd like to sponsor a child or make a contribution, contact Safe Passage.
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