Our Story

Caras Alegres is a non-governmental organization based in Zone 5 of the department of Quetzaltenango. Founded in 2004 by Judith Bank and Marcel Van der Geest, the organization initially operated from a rented house in the neighborhood. By 2006, they moved to a classroom provided by the Street School (EDELAC) for five years. In 2010, Caras Alegres relocated to its own building with concrete and sheet roofs. The facility includes spaces for kindergartens, a multipurpose room, kindergarten classrooms, and workshops for mothers.

 

The organization features a large kitchen for preparing children's meals, spacious bathrooms suitable for children, an administrative office, and a psychology clinic offering psychotherapeutic services to children and families. The courtyard serves as a recreational area where children engage in various activities.

 

Caras Alegres operates two shifts: in the morning, they cater to kindergarten and early childhood education, while in the afternoon, children from Canton Xeúl and Barrio las Rosas attend craft workshops, sports activities, and receive academic support through tutorials. The Camino a la Independencia project serves mothers in the afternoons by providing vocational training in areas such as tailoring, crafts, jewelry making, cooking, and baking, aimed at fostering labor inclusion.

 

Financial support for Caras Alegres comes from a central office located in Holland, as well as donations and volunteer efforts from abroad.

 

History:

Caras Alegres began with funding from "Vastenaktie," a Catholic social aid group based in Holland, supported by four Catholic parishes: Hoogmade, Woubrugge, Oud-ade, and Rijwering, who collaborated to fund the organization since 1995. The funds are centralized through Vastenakie. The parish federation of Doortocht, including the parishes of Leijmuiden/Rijnsaterwoude, extended this support under the name of Emmanuel in Roeloarendsveen/Oude Wetering.

 

The initiative gained momentum through the efforts of Mrs. Betty Bank, who passionately shared her daughter Judith's experiences in Guatemala with Marcel. Despite not directly seeking assistance for Caras Alegres, her anecdotes sparked enthusiasm within the parish community, prompting support for Judith and Marcel's efforts.

 

In late 2008, Caras Alegres received approval for the "Road to Independence" project, with initial organization efforts led by two individuals and later transitioned to local leadership. The project's inception involved identifying key challenges in Barrio las Rosas, leading to the formulation of mission and vision statements, setting objectives, and creating an action plan with comprehensive evaluation mechanisms to achieve desired outcomes.