Stronger Together A new chapter for 2026

After months of reflection, evaluation, and planning, Caras Alegres began 2026 with renewed focus and structure. This year, all of our work is organized under one integrated initiative: “Fortaleciendo Juntos” (Stronger Together).

The goal is simple: strengthen families so children can grow up safe, nourished, and supported. Instead of isolated activities, our programs now function as one coordinated strategy with clear monitoring, community assessments, and measurable progress.

The project is divided in four main topics: 

The core of our work: Our Community Lunch  & afternoon program

Every day, our Community Lunch Program provides breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack to approximately 75 children. The program was originally designed for 55. The fact that we now support 15 additional children each day is not a minor fluctuation, it is a clear sign that families are struggling to meet basic nutritional needs.

Children do not simply come for meals. After eating, they remain at the center to participate in structured activities through our Afternoon Program. Throughout the week, these activities include sports, artistic workshops, recreational activities, and psycho-emotional learning.

These activities strengthen self-esteem, emotional regulation, and social skills. More importantly, they reduce exposure to violence and unsafe street environments, challenges that remain a reality in many parts of Guatemala. 

A full stomach and a safe place to spend the afternoon change a child’s day. Over time, they will change a child’s future.

APARES 2026: Investing in youth potential

APARES 2026 focuses on adolescents with strong potential who face socioeconomic barriers. The program removes practical barriers. Scholarships cover tuition, school materials, and, when needed, transportation and daily meals. Students also receive training in digital skills, leadership, entrepreneurship, and emotional intelligence to strengthen both academic performance and future job readiness.

In partnership with local schools and social organizations, APARES provides an important support network that helps young people transition into employment with preparation and confidence. 

Men for equality: Shared responsibility

Sustainable change and preventing violence require participation from everyone. Therefore, Men for Equality engages male community members in guided workshops on masculinity, family dynamics, and shared household responsibility. Aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality), the program promotes practical behavioral change, not abstract discussion. The objective is clear: healthy families require accountability from both women and men.

Women on the way: ‘Conociéndome como Mujer’

Gender-based violence remains a serious issue in the region. Through Mujeres en Camino, Caras Alegres provides psychosocial support to women affected by violence while also working on prevention through structured workshops focused on rights, self-esteem, and personal development. To date, the program has supported more than 80 cases.

Thismonth, we held the workshop “Conociéndome como Mujer”(Knowing myself as a women), led by a psychologist and attended by 30 women from the community.

The session opened with the question: “Who is my first love?” Most answered, “My children.” This sparked an honest conversation about self-worth and the importance of valuing oneself beyond the roles of mother, caregiver or wife. 

In one powerful exercise, each woman stood before a mirror and read an affirmation aloud, recognizing her own inherent value. The workshop ended with gratitude and a clear desire for more spaces like this.

The workshop “Conociéndome como Mujer” demonstrated the need for continued work around identity, self-esteem, and emotional wellbeing. While many responses reflected limited self-recognition, the session planted an essential seed: the understanding that being a woman is not defined solely by roles or responsibilities, but by inherent worth.

Creating spaces where women can pause, reflect, speak, and see themselves — literally and emotionally — is a transformative act.

Through Mujeres en Camino, Caras Alegres continues to foster empowerment not only through skills and support, but through dignity, recognition, and self-love. month, we held the workshop “Conociéndome como Mujer”(Knowing myself as a women), led by a psychologist and attended by 30 women from the community.

The session opened with the question: “Who is my first love?” Most answered, “My children.” This sparked an honest conversation about self-worth and the importance of valuing oneself beyond the roles of mother, caregiver or wife. 

In one powerful exercise, each woman stood before a mirror and read an affirmation aloud, recognizing her own inherent value. The workshop ended with gratitude and a clear desire for more spaces like this.

The workshop “Conociéndome como Mujer” demonstrated the need for continued work around identity, self-esteem, and emotional wellbeing. While many responses reflected limited self-recognition, the session planted an essential seed: the understanding that being a woman is not defined solely by roles or responsibilities, but by inherent worth.

Creating spaces where women can pause, reflect, speak, and see themselves — literally and emotionally — is a transformative act.

Through Mujeres en Camino, Caras Alegres continues to foster empowerment not only through skills and support, but through dignity, recognition, and self-love.

The team behind our work

We are excited to introduce the people strengthening this new chapter at Caras Alegres! First and foremost, Veronica Di Maggio, our coordinator whose leadership ensures our programs operate with lots of enthusiasm, structure and clarity. Veronica is Italian and lived in London for the past ten years, where she worked as a business developer in the fashion industry.

Although she comes from a limited NGO background, she brings a structured and strategic vision to the organization’s development and growth. With the strong support of Allan, the General Director, she contributes to expanding and strengthening the organization’s capacities. She is actively working on reinforcing relationships at both national and international levels, fostering partnerships that enhance the organization’s impact and sustainability.

Nataliia, originally from Ukraine and with a background in law, supports policy and governance initiatives in the mornings. In the afternoons, she works directly with the children, teaching dance, creating short videos, and developing a collaborative artistic performance with the group.

Luna, from the Netherlands, holds a background in political science and economics. She spends her afternoons teaching English to both younger and older children, thoughtfully combining structure with play — because learning should always be engaging and enjoyable. She also supports the organization’s outreach and donor engagement efforts.

Carlene, from the United States, is a program and operations professional currently based in Guatemala. She supports community-led education and nutrition initiatives, bringing experience in project management and stakeholder coordination across both corporate and nonprofit sectors. She is deeply committed to advancing equitable access to opportunities and fostering sustainable community development.

Our $40,000 campaign is live!

We are excited to officially launch our 2026 fundraising campaign.

Today, 75 children rely on Caras Alegres for daily meals and a safe, structured place to spend their afternoons. To sustain this support throughout the year, we are raising $40,000 to secure nutrition, programming, and essential operations. These funds will directly cover daily meals, supervised activities, and the safe spaces our children depend on.

 LINK TO DONATE

https://www.omprakash.org/global/caras-alegres/crowdfund/a-full-plate--a-brighter-future--support-the-caras-alegres-comedor-program 

We’ve also created a short campaign video to share the story behind this effort; we invite you to watch and help us spread the word!

Donors spotlight: A special thank you to Jonathan Rubinstein for his generous past support, we couldn’t thank him enough.