WHAT WE DO

Luminarias’ objective is to transform impoverished adolescent girls into exemplary leaders, providing them with comprehensive support in all areas of their lives and promoting their academic and personal development. The program focuses on offering quality education to those girls with few academic opportunities, but with high intellectual potential, who want to continue their studies and improve themselves. Through the support of committed people, Luminarias strives to be a beacon of hope and transformation for these young women, helping them fulfill their dreams and become agents of change in their families and their communities.

The girls study at Colegio Valle Americano, a private college-preparatory academy that educates students from preschool to high school. Our young women are taught by professional educators who deliver rigorous academic content, spark their students’ imaginations, and fuel their dreams. The school provides an environment conducive to learning, with adequate facilities, resources, and mentoring support. The girls also participate in a range of extracurricular activities—they learn piano, strum guitars, play soccer, take karate lessons, read books, create art, and watch movies with friends. They reflect on their journeys, make self-discoveries, and grow in their faith as they understand their God-given identity.

Casa Luminarias

The young women of Luminarias come from impoverished villages. Most of them live in tin-roofed homes with dirt floors and no running water. Casa Luminarias is designed for “women who dare”. It is for girls to dare to become the best women they can be, to dare to get a strong education, to dare to keep their integrity in a dangerous and corrupt society. Furthermore, it is for those who dare to be leaders in their community, and dare to live out their faith. This home exists to support girls who desire to transform the trajectory of their lives and to make a positive difference in their families, their communities, and their country.

From our residential home in San Lucas Sacatepéquez, we invite girls ages 12 to 18 to grow and flourish in a safe, communal environment. The number of girls in the program is intentionally capped at 16 in order to provide a comprehensive, formative experience and, more importantly, to allow the girls in the program to experience deep and impactful relationships with staff mentors.

Personal Development

At Luminarias, we believe that in order to transform the lives of Guatemalan girls, it is essential to adopt a holistic approach. This means implementing a variety of strategies, programs, and values that not only strengthen the girls’ education, but also their dignity, authenticity, integrity, and spirituality. Through guided workshops and extracurricular activities, girls learn to value themselves and realize their dreams.

They develop confidence, master academic and life skills and, ultimately, gain a life filled with new choices. We are able to provide the individualized care and attention they need and deserve.

In the Luminarias home, we provide our girls opportunities that can get them to graduation, transform their futures and improve their lives and communities for generations to come. We develop strong women of character by nurturing their physical, intellectual, social, spiritual and emotional health.