PROGRAM
They have the ability.
We supply the opportunity.
Youth looking for an opportunity to achieve their dreams and goals, apply to the program to receive a comprehensive quality education, in a supportive environment to develop their skills, attitudes, and values that will allow them to lead a successful and happy life.
WE’RE BEYOND A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION.
WE TAKE A LONG-TERM AND COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.
WHO WE SERVE
We serve young people with recognizable grit and determination needing access and opportunity. Need includes a variety of tough situations such as poverty, family stress, parent/guardian illness, or lack of educational options—most anything that would create significant barriers to a child reaching his or her full potential.
- Both male and female scholars
- Young people ages 8-13 at admission through college graduation
- Capable of rigorous academic college-preparatory work
- Perform at or above grade level
- Demonstrate integrity and leadership potential
- Need for a long-term, value-centered, nurturing setting
- Volunteers for the program, understanding and accepting expectations
- Relates positively to peers and adults
- Has a family, parent, or guardian that is supportive of the decision to join, and willing to help their scholar meet program expectations
- If the student is from surrounding communities, willingness to live in our residences in the capital.
OUR PROGRAMMING
Long-Term
Boys Hope Girls Hope Scholars begin their journey with us in primary school and stay with us through secondary school, university, and career launch. Through our Educational Center and Residences, Scholars move along together as we channel their energy, and leverage their talents, strengths, and passions into an individual plan that helps them reach their full potential.
Empowered Learning
Boys Hope Girls Hope scholars get ongoing academic support such as tutoring and college preparatory coaching. Residential scholars receive an academic scholarship, affording them an opportunity to get a first-class education at one of our partner schools.
Life Preparedness
In addition to help with their academics, all scholars learn basic skills they need to live happy, productive lives, such as budgeting, communication skills, household chores, planning for the future, following a recipe, travel basics, and opening a bank account.
Personal Development
Boys Hope Girls Hope programming includes social & emotional awareness and physical activities that promote all-around health and well-being. Scholars are encouraged to explore their own spirituality as a critical part of living a healthy, well-adjusted life. All Scholars are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities that feed their purpose and passion.
Leadership & Service
Boys Hope Girls Hope Scholars are taught to become people for others—to live with purpose and give back to others in need. This is reinforced through community service; dialogue about important global and local issues; and the development of their own passions for social justice and being a change maker in their family and community.
College & Career Readiness
Our career preparation and leadership programming helps scholars identify their strengths and talents and what future careers they are interested in. Then, with mentoring, setting educational goals, planning, assistance with jobs and internships, as well as mock interviews and other experiential opportunities, we help get them there. Boys Hope Girls Hope remains a network of support for our Alumni.
Educational Centers
We have two campuses—elementary school starting in 3rd grade and high school, beginning in 5th grade—that serve students in Guatemala City and our Residential Scholars from the surrounding communities.
Our school is certified by the Guatemalan Ministry of Education and offers education from third to 12th grade.
Educational Excellence
Students participate in classes from 7am to 4pm, Monday through Friday, during 11 months of the year. They receive 2.5 times as many class hours as their Guatemalan counterparts who attend school from 8am to 12pm daily. Each grade level has a maximum of 20 students to enhance learning.
After graduating from Esperanza Juvenil Middle School, participating youth attend top private high schools in Guatemala for two years before entering university.
Beyond the Classroom
In addition to a rigorous academic schedule, students have many opportunities for personal development. They receive English, cooking, dance and guitar classes, perform in the school traveling choir, and play soccer. They participate in educational trips and receive visits from local and international leaders.
Residential Homes
We have 8 homes in the city serving students who come from the surrounding communities across Guatemala year-round to attend our Educational Centers.
Family-Like Settings
We create caring environments with an emphasis on character and responsibility. Children are active participants in all of the daily activities in their homes. They wake each day to do their chores, help the Tia’s prepare food, and wash their clothes.
Whole-Person Development
We address the needs of the whole child, providing a continuum of care that includes attention to the psychological, emotional, and medical needs of each child.
Educational Focus
We focus on education. The children in our residential program participate in our educational program, where university graduation is the goal.
Collegian and Alumni
We not only prepare our scholars for aspects and challenges of the college experience but continue to provide support and mentorship through college graduation and into their first career, no matter where in the country they attend university.
Scholarships
With the help of partial scholarships provided by the universities, Esperanza Juvenil finances the students’ education.
Continued Relationship
University students work part-time and volunteer 5 hours per month at Esperanza Juvenil as a way of giving back and maintaining a relationship with the younger children as role models and mentors.
My Road
My Road is Boys Hope Girls Hope’s network-wide innovative online learning experience which consists of a journey of activities, assessments, and benchmarks that ensure scholars are developing academically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually in preparation for college, career, and life.
Alumni Community
Graduates of Boys Hope Girls Hope programs across the Network become members of the Alumni Association, a growing body of professionals. Our alumni are leaders, changemakers, and people for others who give back to their families, local communities, and younger generations of scholars.
The Boys Hope Girls Hope Network
There’s power in numbers. As a part of the Boys Hope Girls Hope Network, our scholars benefit from programming, resources, partnerships, research, scholarship funds, and shared best practices. Our program uniquely offers a combination of deep local impact and the benefit of diverse international perspectives and interactions. Our scholars, collegians, alumni, and team members come together with other impact-driven individuals, maximizing opportunities to share, support, solve problems, and serve.
Our Network includes Boys Hope Girls Hope Network Headquarters and affiliates across the U.S. and Latin America. All Boys Hope Girls Hope affiliates ascribe to the same research-supported Program Model and Theory of Change. We’re proud of the support, and connections we receive from our Network!
Esperanza Juvenil has taught me so much. I’ve learned to be responsible and independent, and I’ve also learned how to live alongside students from other parts of Guatemala. Since I first joined, Esperanza Juvenil has felt like my second home. They’ve always been there for me, caring about me and helping me with my education.
I really like being at Esperanza Juvenil, my previous school was not as big as here. At Esperanza Juvenil, they have taught me the importance of trying hard and doing things correctly. My favorite classes are Art and Maths, I really enjoy playing with my classmates and participating in different activities together. When I grow up, I would like to be a doctor to help people who can’t go to hospital because of lack of money.
I like that our classes are recreational. Maths competitions, reading clubs, science fairs, technology presentations, etc; the preparation I have received at Esperanza Juvenil has helped me improve my academic performance and motivation.
I joined Esperanza Juvenil in 2016 during elementary school and currently, I’m in my last year of high school. I thoroughly enjoy being in school because it exposes me to diverse perspectives and allows me to learn from both my teachers and classmates. My short-term goal for this year is to graduate from high school, while my long-term aspiration is to complete college and support my family. For me, Esperanza Juvenil means family, where I can always find support and love.
I am currently in my third year of university, studying Law and Social Sciences at the Da Vinci University in Guatemala. I think university is a very complex process, especially when combined with work, but I am very happy with the experience and the knowledge I am acquiring. I am completely grateful to God and to Esperanza Juvenil for supporting me every step of the way, not leaving me alone, and always looking for ways to push me forward.
I am thrilled. Beyond my professional growth, graduating also represents personal growth for me. I have learned to face obstacles and to find a positive meaning in them. I think that, in the end, attitude is key in this process. The truth is that I would not have achieved everything I have done if I had been alone. First, I thank God, who has always sustained me, also, the support of people and institutions such as Esperanza Juvenil, who have accompanied me since primary school, guiding me in every step, teaching me new ways to grow, and always showing me their support and affection.
HERE IS HOW YOU CAN PROVIDE HOPE
HERE IS HOW YOU CAN PROVIDE HOPE
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