For more than 25 years, Nueva Vida has walked alongside children with disabilities and their families in Santa María de Jesús. We began with a simple conviction: that every child is created in the image of God, precious in God’s sight, and worthy of care, education, and belonging.
In a community where disability is often misunderstood and families are frequently left to navigate isolation on their own, we seek to be a place of welcome, accompaniment, and long-term presence. What began as a small grassroots response to a few families has grown into a school, a therapy center, and a community shaped by faith, perseverance, and deep relationships.
We do not see our work as programs alone, but as shared life. Day by day, we witness resilience, growth, laughter, grief, and hope. It is a privilege to walk with families through all of it.
At Nueva Vida, our programs grow out of everyday life in Santa María de Jesús and the needs families themselves have named.
Education – A small school where children with disabilities learn in classrooms shaped by patience, consistency, and care. Many of our students have been turned away from other schools. Here, they are welcomed and given time to grow.
Therapy – Speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, and social work, offered by local professionals who build long-term relationships with students and families. Therapy is not only about skills, but about dignity, confidence, and participation in daily life.
Community Services – Food support, access to medical care, parent gatherings, home visits, and practical accompaniment so families can find stability and no one has to navigate disability alone. Much of this support happens quietly, through long-term relationships and trust built over time.
Together, these pieces form a model of whole-person care that holds education, therapy, family life, and faith together. We believe every child has something to offer, and every family deserves to be supported with dignity, consistency, and care.
Nueva Vida is rooted in Santa María de Jesús, a town on the slopes of the Agua Volcano in Guatemala. This is a community rich in culture, faith, and resilience, with deep Mayan Kaqchikel traditions and strong family ties.
And yet, for many families, disability is still surrounded by stigma and misunderstanding. Children with disabilities are often excluded from schools or leave within the first years. Access to disability-informed healthcare, therapy, and early intervention is extremely limited. Parents frequently carry the weight of care alone, with little support and few resources.
We stand in places where families have been told their child is a burden, where people have been told God is absent, and we refuse to agree.
Nueva Vida exists to walk alongside children and families with education, therapy, and long-term community, so that each child can be known, valued, and given the opportunity to grow.
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New Life with Education DBA Nueva Vida is USA 501(c)(3) public charity, EIN 46-5002138. All donations tax deductible.
