Our Story

Nueva Vida began with a simple but powerful conviction: every child is made in the image of God and deserves the chance to learn, grow, and be known. At the time, there were no schools in Santa María de Jesús that welcomed children with disabilities. Many families were told their children could not learn, could not belong, or were better kept at home. And yet, God was already at work, stirring compassion and calling people to respond.

In 1999, Judy Kerschner founded New Life School with a clear hope: to see this community transformed through leaders of integrity who love God. What began with a small group of students slowly grew as families began to trust that their children would be welcomed here.

By 2006, the school celebrated its first graduating class of five students, children who helped change what families believed was possible.
In 2007, a three-story school building opened its doors, creating space for classrooms, therapy rooms, and community gatherings.

In 2016, Megan Lewis founded Guatemala Occupational Therapy (GOT) Ministries to offer occupational therapy in a context where children’s needs were often overlooked. From the beginning, GOT worked closely with New Life School, serving the same students and sharing the same hope: that education and therapy belong together, and that children deserve care that honors their whole person.

In 2020, these two ministries formally united as Nueva Vida. This brought education, therapy, and community support together under one ministry and allowed us to deepen our commitment to long-term, whole-person care for children and families.

Today, Nueva Vida serves more than 70 students each year. Our building houses classrooms, therapy spaces, and the only elevator in town. It is home to teachers, therapists, and staff who walk closely with families every day. Since 2006, 184 students have graduated, each carrying their own story of perseverance, growth, and faith into the wider community.

Through every season, our mission has remained the same: to impact Santa María de Jesús through leaders of integrity who love God.

Our Work

At Nueva Vida, our work is rooted in the belief that every child is made in the image of God and deserves the chance to learn, grow, and be known. This conviction takes shape in the daily rhythms of classrooms, therapy sessions, and community life.

Education

Our school currently serves kindergarten through sixth grade, with plans to expand into middle school. Many of our students have been turned away from other schools before arriving here. Class sizes range from 7 to 13 students, allowing teachers to offer individualized support and build real relationships with each child. Our classrooms are adaptive, flexible, and shaped around the abilities of our students rather than their limitations.

Therapy

We offer occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychology, and social work services for both our students and members of the wider community. These services support communication, emotional well-being, motor skills, and daily independence. Our therapists work closely with teachers and parents so that children experience consistency and care across every part of their lives.

Community

Our work extends beyond the classroom. We walk alongside families through parent gatherings, home visits, food support, accompaniment to medical care, and practical support when needs arise. We also partner with local leaders, churches, and organizations in Santa María de Jesús. Many parents arrive feeling alone. Our hope is that, over time, families find stability, connection, and the knowledge that they do not have to navigate disability on their own.

Growing Leaders

In addition to working directly with students and families, Nueva Vida is committed to strengthening disability care and education beyond our own walls. Over time, our staff have become trusted voices within the wider community.

Our teachers and therapists regularly participate in professional training, often seeking out learning opportunities that are difficult to access in Guatemala. Staff have pursued training in areas such as occupational therapy practices, inclusive education, and Guatemalan Sign Language.

Nueva Vida staff also share their knowledge with others. In recent years, team members have provided training on disability and inclusion to local schools, non-profits, and the Sacatepéquez Department of Education. This work is not always visible, but it is part of how long-term change takes root.

We believe this investment in leadership, learning, and local capacity is part of faithful stewardship. Our hope is not only to serve today’s students well, but to contribute to a future where children with disabilities are welcomed and supported throughout the community.

Our Leadership Team

Analy Martinez, Executive Director of Operations

Analy serves as Nueva Vida’s Executive Director of Operations, leading our Guatemala-based programs with wisdom, warmth, and care. Most mornings, you will find her walking through the halls, checking in with teachers, greeting students by name, and making sure every detail is attended to. She never schedules a meeting during recess if she can help it, choosing instead to spend that time sharing a snack and laughter with students.

Analy is a trained psychologist, though over the past several years she has devoted her work primarily to community leadership and accompaniment. She brings both professional skill and deep compassion to her role, walking closely with families as they navigate complex realities and advocating for children with disabilities to be treated with dignity and respect.

Her leadership is marked by humility, discernment, and a genuine love for this community. She helps shape Nueva Vida as a place of consistency, trust, and care for students, families, and staff alike.

Emily Scriver, Executive Director of Development

Emily serves as Nueva Vida’s Executive Director of Development, overseeing our USA-based office and helping connect the story of this work in Guatemala with friends and partners around the world. After nearly a decade living and working in Guatemala, she now lives between Canada and Guatemala and considers both places home.

Emily holds a Master’s in Sustainable Development, but she is the first to say that much of her learning has come through relationships with families, colleagues, and communities over the years. She is passionate about telling honest stories that draw people closer to one another. Her faith shapes the way she listens, writes, and walks alongside others, and she sees storytelling as one way of honoring the dignity and sacredness of people’s lives.

When she is in Guatemala, you can often find her with a good cup of local coffee in hand (some of the best comes from Santa María de Jesús!). When she is in Canada, she is usually writing or wandering the woods with her young family and their Labrador retriever.

Irma Sirin, School Principal

Irma has been at the heart of Nueva Vida for more than a decade. As Principal of New Life School, she leads with faith, dedication, and an incredible love for children. She holds a degree in Social Work, and her steady presence has helped guide the school through seasons of growth and change. Irma is known not just as a leader, but as someone who walks closely with families, encouraging them and reminding every child that they are valued and capable.