Children of St. Peter

Guatemala, a Central American country south of Mexico, is home to volcanoes, rain forests, ancient Mayan sites, and coffee fields. Poverty is widespread and the gap between rich and poor is among the highest in Latin America.

Children of St. Peter, known as Niños de San Pedro in Guatemala, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that helps the poor and underprivileged children and families particularly in the village of San Pedro Las Huertas, Guatemala. The village of San Pedro has an amazing view of two volcanoes, Fuego (fire) and Agua (water).

While primary school is technically free in Guatemala, the reality is that the government spends less than 3% on education. As a result, the majority of public schools lack proper resources and require students to pay for their school’s lack of funding. Families are expected to pay for their children’s uniforms, registration and tuition fees, school supplies, and other required expenses. These expenses make school an impossible expense for many Guatemalans as more than half the population lives below the poverty line. As a result, only four out of ten children who enter the Guatemalan school system graduate from primary school. In fact, about 2 million children in the country never attend any level of formal school.

Children of St. Peter is based on the belief that education is the Key to the Future for children and families in the country of Guatemala.