Recently, a group of people from the Guatemala City dump neighborhood moved on to a privately-owned vacant lot next to the Early Childhood Center. They have set up houses there without the owner's permission. It's unclear how this situation will evolve. Land invasions like these are not uncommon in Guatemala. Some are solved peacefully and some are unfortunately not. Our concern, as always is the safety of our children, volunteers and staff. With this in mind, and after conferring with the parents of the children at the Early Childhood Center, we are designing alternative programming for the Early Childhood Center children for the next two weeks and then will close the Early Childhood Center on November 15 for the summer/holiday break to re-open again in mid January 2010. 

Hanley and Safe Passage have chosen to work in the Guatemala City dump, an inherently unstable environment shaped as it is by extreme poverty, disease, drugs and crime. While this development is unsettling, it is not, sadly, unusual. Our management team is keeping a close eye on the situation and will make appropriate decisions as circumstances warrant. What remains unchanged is our deep commitment to our mission of service through education of the children of the Guatemala City dump. With your ongoing support, our children and their families will continue to move forward to a better future.

Please call (207) 846-1188 with any questions.