At our Valley of the Angels mission school in Guatemala, even boys with great promise can fall through the cracks and into criminal lives as gang members. At Valley, we must say goodbye to the boys after they graduate Grade 6 at age 13. Literate but without certain futures, this is when they become the most vulnerable to gangs.
In Central America, criminal gangs are a major industry and the greatest threat not only to the poor people living here, but also to North Americans because they find every opportunity they can to cross borders.
Yet despite these realities, we know there is hope because we see it with our own eyes. Boys who leave the rural mission to receive further education and technical training find good jobs and in turn support their parents and siblings to advance their situations as well. It is a multi-generational project, and we see progress every year.
Joaquin is striving for a positive future
![Four young boys including Joaquin on the right are pictured together outside at Valley of the Angels in Guatemala. They are clean, bright, and smiling with their arms around each other.]](https://franciscanmissionassoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/63a96f2d-dd07-44f5-84d4-04d50946e0c4.jpg "63a96f2d-dd07-44f5-84d4-04d50946e0c4")
Joaquin is just one boy nurtured at Valley of the Angels, but his story has similarities to many others. He came to Valley as the only child of a single mother. She passed away when Joaquin was in Grade Four. Yet with innate resilience and the support of generous donors, he finished his schooling at Valley with excellent performance.
“I am 13 years old and now I am in a school where I am completing my basic education,” he told us. “My purpose in life is to finish my studies and to become an engineer.”
We share Joaquin’s high aspirations for his future. He is popular among his peers and in the community because of his wonderful character. He is articulate and respectful of others—qualities he says he learned at Valley.
“My experience at Valle de Los Ángeles was beautiful because I learned many values about how to be a good person. They taught me to pray and go to Mass, how to greet others, and to always respect older people. I also learned many things in school; they taught me to read and to write. I am very grateful because they educated me well.”
Real opportunity for promising young men
To climb out of poverty and escape the manipulations of criminal gangs, Joaquin and several other Valley graduates wish to pursue additional education at Kinal Training Centre in Guatemala City. Kinal is a private, non-profit educational center that provides technical and professional training for young people and adults.
This Christian college provides boys with both moral and technical high-school education while preparing them to enter jobs upon graduation at age 18. For example, they can receive certifications to work in IT/computing, electronics, automotive mechanics, industrial electrical, technical drawing (for engineering and architecture), and electronics.
At Kinal, Joaquin would be able to follow his dreams, become independent, and contribute to a more prosperous Guatemalan society. We are gathering financial support for Joaquin and others like him to attend Kinal. The expenses include tuition fees of $80US/month during a 2-3 year certification, as well as safe and secure housing while they are in Guatemala City (Kinal has no dormitories or residences)—another $25USD each month.
Help boys choose careers over gangs
With the support of generous donors like you, we can help promising, hopeful teens like Joaquin become healthy, hopeful, and productive young men. Joaquin has already overcome incredible odds to be successful in his young life—let’s not allow $105/month be the reason he can’t continue.
About Valley of the Angels
Valley of the Angels orphanage in Guatemala is one of the missions supported by Franciscan Mission Associates.
Founded in 1993, the mission was originally established to educate and care for abandoned children. Over time, it has expanded to serve all children in need. Today, Valley provides housing, meals, and education to more than 200 children.
In addition to formal schooling, students participate in programs that support their academic, spiritual, and personal development. Through the continued work of the Franciscan friars and the generosity of supporters, Valley of the Angels remains a place where young people are given the opportunity to build stable and hopeful futures.
