Only A Child

Only a Child maintains a shelter and a carpentry shop for youth in Guatemala City, but the shelter is far more than just a place to sleep. George Leger says it provides "a surrogate family in which the kids are taught accountability and responsibility... They must contribute time and effort daily toward meeting the needs of the family. In return, it gives them something to belong to, a place where they are respected and cared for, a place where they can grow and develop an identity complete with confidence and self-esteem."

Likewise, the carpentry shop, where program participants produce finely crafted mahogany boxes, serves a higher purpose. The youngsters who work in the shop produce objects of real beauty, helping to support the program that nurtures them. By working to craft a skill, they learn that they are capable of succeeding in life, once given the opportunity. With time they are able to see themselves in a different light, as valued and productive members of their society.