History

SONRISAS IS A PROGRAM OF THE FUNDACIÓN CRISTIANA EMANUEL (EMANUEL CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION) THAT IS LEGALLY CONSTITUTED. IT WAS BORN AS A PART OF MISION CRISTIANA DIOS CON NOSOTROS (GOD WITH US CHRISTIAN MISSION), WITH THE PURPOSE OF HELPING GUATEMALAN PEOPLE.

SONRISAS FOCUSES ON ATTENDING BOYS AND GIRLS OF SCARCE RESOURCES AND IN HIGH RISK, TEACHING THEM CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES AND VALUES, INFLUENCING THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES TO HAVE A HOPE IN LIFE AND PROVIDING THEM NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT.

We originally started visiting a specific sector of the City of Guatemala called La Verbena, that is known for being an area with a high index of violence and drug addiction. We approached around 50 families and we shared our vision for their sons and daughters, our plan was well received, and so a 4th of October of 2010, SONRISAS started.

A few months in after starting the program, we realized the great need of these children. This led us to look for new opportunities to expand. SONRISAS currently has four different points where we serve more than 350 families in urban and rural areas of Guatemala.

We have expanded our vision to help widows and abandoned women, providing them with ecological stoves, water filters, scholarships so that their kids can keep attending to school. We are also providing them with family gardens and family businesses and building them houses.