Sofia was living with an older boyfriend when she had her first child. She was fifteen years old, had never regularly attended school and had very little contact with her family. After her relationship turned abusive Sofia left to live on the street. As a minor she was unable to gain custody of her son. He stayed with his father.

When she was eighteen Sofia had a brief relationship and became pregnant for the second time. Worried that she might lose her second child like she had her first, she returned home to her estranged mother to carry her child to term. After several months, however, it became clear that she couldn’t cope with life at home. She struck out on her own again and soon gave birth to her second son, Manuel.

Manuel was standing, walking and playing just weeks after arriving at Pa’nibal

Sofia worked odd jobs to support herself and Manuel, but was unable to afford a home or even regular meals. After several months of street life she attained some stability working as a maid for a family that offered her and Manuel a place to stay, but when they could no longer afford to keep her on she was forced back onto the streets. Sofia knew that she couldn’t care for her one year old son while homeless and jobless. She immediately started looking for a better situation.

When Sofia got in touch with Pa’nibal she had been living in the streets without work for several weeks. Manuel was suffering from malnutrition, and Sofia was terrified at the prospect of losing him. That was in October of last year.

Alejandra, the Director of Operations at Pa’nibal, helped Sofia and her son to settle into a room of their own at our home in Sacatepéquez. She worked with them over several weeks to outline a basic plan for both mother and son, including health check-ups, establishing a relationship with a therapist, and beginning to seek stable work and ongoing education.

Today Sofia goes about a regular, daily routine at Pa’nibal. She works during the day selling clothing at a nearby marketplace and attends a one hour primary school equivalency class four days each week. She is learning to read for the first time in her life. Manuel received medical attention and a several week treatment for malnutrition. He has recovered his health and is walking, playing and interacting with other children at the home.

Sofia studying at Pa’nibal

Sofia attends group and private sessions with a therapist weekly. She has completed an introduction to parenting class offered by a sister organization and attends regular workshops at Pa’nibal including English classes, sewing, recreation (dance & exercise) and women’s health among others. She also has her own share of chores and responsibilities at Pa’nibal. She helps to prepare meals, cleans and otherwise assists in the management of the home.

Alejandra has helped Sofia establish contact with her family, and has negotiated weekend visits between Sofia and her oldest son, now five years old. Alejandra hopes that Sofia will stay at Pa’nibal for another eighteen months, long enough to finish her primary school equivalency, find stable work and save some money in preparation for living on her own.

“Sofia is happy,” Alejandra says, “she has a lot of support now but the road is still long and difficult.”

Your support makes what we do possible. A contribution of $100 monthly covers all the basic costs of one resident — meals, a bed, a safe place. Any amount makes a difference.