We exist to help impoverished adolescent Guatemalan girls expand their opportunities. With the support of their parent(s), we empower girls to re-imagine their futures and become the women they aspire to be. We fulfill our mission by providing safe and stable housing, education in private schools, and career exploration. This is augmented by providing music and the arts, recreation and socialization alongside personal development and support.

By focusing on quality instead of quantity, the program can provide a robust level of services and opportunities:

1. Values

Our program is anchored in the values of our founder: dignity, authenticity, integrity and faith in God. Each week, these principles are reinforced through talks and testimonies from people committed to our mission, both nationally and internationally. These talks offer real examples of how to live according to foundational values in various situations.

2. Community Service Projects

We encourage the practice of these values. Our girls participate in activities such as visits to nursing homes, collaboration with local charities, and park cleanup. These experiences teach them the importance of gratitude and sharing their blessings with those who need it most.

3. Art and Culture Workshops

During their stay at Casa Luminarias, our girls participate in workshops where they explore such topics as cultural diversity, gender equality, and social justice. These workshops encourage self-expression, creativity and appreciation for the beauty of the world around them.

4. Fostering Multiple Intelligences

We recognize that each girl is unique, with different talents and abilities. We promote the development of individual differences through:

• Reading and Creative Writing Club to explore and improve literacy;

• Debate Club to strengthen oral expression and self-confidence;

• Chess and Strategy Games Workshop to promote logical and strategic thinking;

• Music Program to develop skill on a musical instrument and music appreciation.

5. Karate Program and Sports Activities

Karate is a fundamental sport in our program because it promotes safety, confidence and discipline. Our girls have participated in tournaments, earning awards that reflect their effort and dedication. In addition, we offer a variety of sports activities, such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, track and other outdoor recreational pursuits.

6. University Orientation Program

A program has been designed to guide girls in their transition from high school to college. This includes college information sessions, campus visits, and career choice workshops that help them identify their interests and future options.

7. University Program

Our most recent program supports the college education of our scholarship students who are now young women with a foundational value system. We rent a house in Guatemala City where university students can live more independently, yet still in community. Here they focus on their university courses leading to a professional career.

8. Psychological Clinic

We implemented a psychological clinic to support the emotional wellbeing and healthy development of our girls. Here we offer mental health services to both our scholarship recipients and the community as needed. We provide a safe and specialized environment where mental health challenges can be prevented or diagnosed and treated.

Our young women leave their families and communities for 11 months of the year to live in the Luminarias community home. They study hard to close a wide academic gap between their poor village schools and their new private, college-prep middle and high school.

Casa Luminarias provides a home for these young ladies to grow during their formative years in a strong family-oriented community. The full-time job of providing an education is given to the staff of a distinguished, bilingual private school called American Valley School, which is inside the same gated community as Casa Luminarias. The relationship between the two entities is a very productive intercambio (or exchange).

These Luminarias explore options and set career goals for which they have no role models. They are bravely changing expectations for themselves, for Guatemalan women, and for their country.