Why did I go to Guatemala to visit some street kids?
Let's cut to the chase.
This is what I knew about Duncan 3 weeks ago:
He’s a friend of Steve’s, who moved from the UK to Guatemala about 30 years ago to start a charity to help street kids.
Street kids: children who are incredibly poor and/or homeless, who live on the streets of a city.
In Guatemala specifically, La Terminal is the roughest area of the city where kids are exposed to drugs/solvents, prostitution, and gangs all well before 8 years old. Their parents, if not alcoholics, drug addicted, or prostitutes themselves, are often absent working all day to do what they can to put food in their kids' mouths. 5 year old's are babysitting 2 year old's - it’s something you can’t really believe until you see it.
It’s rough. Have a look.
This is what I knew about Duncan 3 weeks ago:
He’s a friend of Steve’s, who moved from the UK to Guatemala about 30 years ago to start a charity to help street kids.
Street kids: children who are incredibly poor and/or homeless, who live on the streets of a city.
In Guatemala specifically, La Terminal is the roughest area of the city where kids are exposed to drugs/solvents, prostitution, and gangs all well before 8 years old. Their parents, if not alcoholics, drug addicted, or prostitutes themselves, are often absent working all day to do what they can to put food in their kids' mouths. 5 year old's are babysitting 2 year old's - it’s something you can’t really believe until you see it.
It’s rough. Have a look.
Quick backstory on the charity:
Duncan’s goal: every kid has a roof over their head at night – no child goes homeless.
Next, came 2 incredible centers where the children can come to have a meal, play, do homework, watch movies, get mentoring/tutoring, but mainly, just to be somewhere clean, safe, off the streets, away from exposure to drugs, gangs, and prostitution. A safe place for them to just be kids.
These centers are beautiful. This is where I met the kids, and you would never guess what they go home to.
Up until this point, until I see where these kids live, I have no idea the impact these centers have made.
Duncan’s goal: every kid has a roof over their head at night – no child goes homeless.
Next, came 2 incredible centers where the children can come to have a meal, play, do homework, watch movies, get mentoring/tutoring, but mainly, just to be somewhere clean, safe, off the streets, away from exposure to drugs, gangs, and prostitution. A safe place for them to just be kids.
These centers are beautiful. This is where I met the kids, and you would never guess what they go home to.
Up until this point, until I see where these kids live, I have no idea the impact these centers have made.
One place is your reality, the other is a literal sanctuary - it's easy to see how this program changes lives.
So what do they do?
The Street Team (Duncan, JC, and a few others I wasn’t able to meet) focus on kids who are under 10 years old, playing in the streets. They show up at specific locations, consistently so the kids can color, play, pray, have a drink/snack… The kids just want attention. They want to play. They want to be hugged, picked up, and played with. They want to be noticed. They want someone to tell them, “Good job”.
The Street Team is consistent. This consistency over years, allows him to development a relationship with the kids, so that when they are 10, they are able to go to the center. The impact on them just by showing up, is huge. When they know they can trust you, they have a better chance at committing to the program when they turn 10.
What's the program after 10?
They come to the actual centers, either by walking, or bus, and they are mentored. This mentoring keeps them in school, off drugs, access to rehab if they were to need it, away from prostitution…and again, allows them to be somewhere safe. It literally saves lives.
“Don’t play with matches” : When Negative Attention is better than NO Attention
This little boy below, age 5 but about the size of a 3 year old, had that look in his eyes. Looking for trouble because trouble gets attention. He was lighting matches and thought it was funny, but you knew he knew it was wrong… unfortunately, attention for doing negative things, is at least attention.
This isn't uncommon. Just 2 weeks prior, one of the 8 year old girls who is a part of this group was doing the same on November 8th. She lit her clothes on fire, and mom wasn’t home. She is currently in the hospital with severe burns on her body.
This isn't uncommon. Just 2 weeks prior, one of the 8 year old girls who is a part of this group was doing the same on November 8th. She lit her clothes on fire, and mom wasn’t home. She is currently in the hospital with severe burns on her body.
This boy wasn’t in “the group”...yet. Duncan wasn’t familiar with who he was…and I could tell right away, he’s a kid who’s going to need this to literally save him.
“Muy peligrosa” is all I kept saying (very dangerous) while trying to distract him with the coloring and games.
When he was coloring and playing with the others, you could see the energy shift in him by getting attention for doing something "good". The same energy lit up his face, too, when his effort for coloring was noticed. It literally starts with these tiny little things to help them build trust with the SKD team.
“Muy peligrosa” is all I kept saying (very dangerous) while trying to distract him with the coloring and games.
When he was coloring and playing with the others, you could see the energy shift in him by getting attention for doing something "good". The same energy lit up his face, too, when his effort for coloring was noticed. It literally starts with these tiny little things to help them build trust with the SKD team.
Unfortunately, I could already see the kids bullying him a bit…likely, because he is probably known as a bit of a terror, so to those kids, I kept saying “Se amable” – be kind.
"Good Job!!!"
This handsome boy above - his concentration on the task at hand was heartwarming, he was so focused. He would bring his paper up to me and seriously look at my face for a reaction. All I had to say was, “WOW! This is amaaaazing!!" and his face lit up. He was so happy...relieved even (he did something good!). 30 minutes later when he came to me with a second paper, I made sure to really look into his eyes when I said, “Really great job!!!”
Being a source of positive reinforcement is the main priority of the Street Team. It starts there.
Being a source of positive reinforcement is the main priority of the Street Team. It starts there.
"This is what happens to the 2% that don’t make it through the program".
This is Erika. She is….34 years old. To make it to 34 on the streets is “old”. She asked us to take a photo with her. This is what happens to the small percentage of kids who slip through the cracks, and don’t make it through the program.
Stephen went to Street Kids Direct almost 3 years ago, and Duncan asked him if he remembered any of them; if any of them specifically had left a lasting impression. He did. The point? 2 years later, the same kids were still in the program, they were still in school, still off the streets, still away from drugs, still out of gangs. For many, this program is literally their only shot. They choose school, or they choose the streets. This program helps kids choose school.
Without this program, these kids are at risk of being addicted to drugs by 10 years old (solvents), and if they make it to 15, into gangs…without the program, many of them wouldn't make it to 15 years old.
Stephen went to Street Kids Direct almost 3 years ago, and Duncan asked him if he remembered any of them; if any of them specifically had left a lasting impression. He did. The point? 2 years later, the same kids were still in the program, they were still in school, still off the streets, still away from drugs, still out of gangs. For many, this program is literally their only shot. They choose school, or they choose the streets. This program helps kids choose school.
Without this program, these kids are at risk of being addicted to drugs by 10 years old (solvents), and if they make it to 15, into gangs…without the program, many of them wouldn't make it to 15 years old.
Are you coming back tomorrow?
“It’s unfair to the kids to come and go…” is what I have heard from people who haven't visited these places. And in some cases, they might be right.
This would typically make me feel bad, because they did ask that... but SKD is there, and they are consistent. I personally might not be there, but someone will, and they can count on that.
This would typically make me feel bad, because they did ask that... but SKD is there, and they are consistent. I personally might not be there, but someone will, and they can count on that.
So, why did we go?
Steve’s daughter Chloe has been volunteering with Street Kids Direct, for 3 months. We wanted to come see her world and what she’s been involved with for the past 3 months. The 3 of them picked me up from the airport, where Duncan shares two unfortunate stories that are exactly what make many skeptical of charities.
The Dark Side of Charities
1. Duncan had visited a charity looking for projects to support. The place was full of kids. The kids…were paid to be there for that day - so they looked like a legitimate operation. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a natural, normal day for this particular operation...who knows where the money would have gone. Things like this, of course can leave you hopeless and angry.
2. The second organization showed a commercial on TV with footage of the children…the children who were a part of Duncan’s program. He approached them to find out more information. Unfortunately, they had bought the footage of the children and were using it for marketing, a way to fundraise money, and they said enthusiastically, “it was working really well.” Yes, this exists everywhere in the world. This is so dangerous to the charities that are full of integrity and hardworking people, trying to genuinely support and change lives.
The Dark Side of Charities
1. Duncan had visited a charity looking for projects to support. The place was full of kids. The kids…were paid to be there for that day - so they looked like a legitimate operation. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a natural, normal day for this particular operation...who knows where the money would have gone. Things like this, of course can leave you hopeless and angry.
2. The second organization showed a commercial on TV with footage of the children…the children who were a part of Duncan’s program. He approached them to find out more information. Unfortunately, they had bought the footage of the children and were using it for marketing, a way to fundraise money, and they said enthusiastically, “it was working really well.” Yes, this exists everywhere in the world. This is so dangerous to the charities that are full of integrity and hardworking people, trying to genuinely support and change lives.
Street Kids DIRECT
"Direct", because 100% of the donations go directly to the kids, and their needs.
Bryan needed eye surgery for $500. So they raised $500 for Bryan’s eye surgery.
A few years ago, one girl was on the brink of being pulled into prostitution, at only 12 years old. She got pulled into the program, and now needs 1460 pounds to pay for her education to become a doctor, as she has been accepted into a program in college. LIFE CHANGING.
Have a look here, and here.
Bryan needed eye surgery for $500. So they raised $500 for Bryan’s eye surgery.
A few years ago, one girl was on the brink of being pulled into prostitution, at only 12 years old. She got pulled into the program, and now needs 1460 pounds to pay for her education to become a doctor, as she has been accepted into a program in college. LIFE CHANGING.
Have a look here, and here.
These stories can explain it in way more detail than I can.
Each volunteer brings with them their own personality and interests – Chloe taught the kids dance and got them into swimming lessons. Opportunities they haven’t had yet…ever. Most importantly, she gave them her time and presence.
Her and her mother did some fundraising to buy Christmas presents for under the tree – for many of them, “a first” – the first time a present has ever had their name on it.
This was incredibly valuable to see as a life coach. Want to shake up your world? Get out of your bubble.
“I just want to add value to the world.”
So many of my clients in the corporate world want to "add value" to what they are doing. What does value look like to you?
Is it effort? How do you measure that? Is it a dollar amount? Is it recognition?
It's eye opening to see places and situations where a tiny amount of effort in a pace like this can make a 200% impact, yet depending where you live (ie. corporate America), your 100% effort can often go completely noticed – or it might certainly feel that way. You’re running on the hamster wheel, giving your all, and feeling you are have no real impact...like there is no real value.
This goes for dollar value, too. It's incredibly eye opening how far you can stretch a dollar here.
When we get out of our bubble, we see that there are different ways of living. Different ways of having an impact. Different ways of adding value to the world, and you can fill your own cup while serving others. Where we live in this world can be what keeps us on that hamster wheel…
Her and her mother did some fundraising to buy Christmas presents for under the tree – for many of them, “a first” – the first time a present has ever had their name on it.
This was incredibly valuable to see as a life coach. Want to shake up your world? Get out of your bubble.
“I just want to add value to the world.”
So many of my clients in the corporate world want to "add value" to what they are doing. What does value look like to you?
Is it effort? How do you measure that? Is it a dollar amount? Is it recognition?
It's eye opening to see places and situations where a tiny amount of effort in a pace like this can make a 200% impact, yet depending where you live (ie. corporate America), your 100% effort can often go completely noticed – or it might certainly feel that way. You’re running on the hamster wheel, giving your all, and feeling you are have no real impact...like there is no real value.
This goes for dollar value, too. It's incredibly eye opening how far you can stretch a dollar here.
When we get out of our bubble, we see that there are different ways of living. Different ways of having an impact. Different ways of adding value to the world, and you can fill your own cup while serving others. Where we live in this world can be what keeps us on that hamster wheel…
Looking back at the photos, the scene looks rough, but while in it, all you see is the people.
The smiles, their happy energy, their potential...kids taking care of kids. It doesn't "feel" as sad as it looks in the photos...but their futures could look incredibly sad without people like Duncan and the SKD team.
What I know about Duncan now:
The world needs more of him. A man who followed a calling, and lives passionately every day, not for the money or the status, but to connect with one person at a time, human to human. He (and the rest of the SKD team) is literally their savior. We could all learn so much from having a Duncan in our lives. Yes, this world can be a scary place and leave us feeling hopeless at times, but it's people like Duncan who keep spreading hope, being the light for others, not only believing in a better future, but is out there creating it.
You should go down and meet him. Seriously.
What I know about Duncan now:
The world needs more of him. A man who followed a calling, and lives passionately every day, not for the money or the status, but to connect with one person at a time, human to human. He (and the rest of the SKD team) is literally their savior. We could all learn so much from having a Duncan in our lives. Yes, this world can be a scary place and leave us feeling hopeless at times, but it's people like Duncan who keep spreading hope, being the light for others, not only believing in a better future, but is out there creating it.
You should go down and meet him. Seriously.
