Discovering ‘Family’ at La Alianza

October 11 marked International Day of the Girl Child, and last week, during Covenant House’s most recent Virtual Camino a Casa event, we learned again just how much girls can achieve when they have the support they need to build a strong, stable, and independent future.

The Virtual Camino a Casa, or “Path to Home,” event highlighted our Covenant House program in Guatemala, La Alianza. La Alianza is unique in our Covenant House movement in that it provides safety and care only for girls, ages 12 to 18, who have been sexually abused, exploited, or trafficked. La Alianza wraps them in love and support so they can heal and thrive.

Jennifer was one of those girls. She came to La Alianza when she was just 15. “La Alianza gave me so many opportunities to reach my dreams,” Jennifer, now 25, told the live audience of Virtual Camino participants. She recalled how she took classes in Guatemalan cooking and baking, learned to speak English in just eight months, and went on to college.

Today, Jennifer is the proud mother of a 4-year-old child and is building a career that puts her English-language skills to work. While she was still a resident at La Alianza, she began an internship at a call center and today, Jennifer continues to grow into that work and develop her skills as a full-time staff member.

Jennifer said that when she thinks about family, she has come to believe it is about more than blood ties. “Family is really people who care for you and love you and who will always be there when you need it,” she said.

The Covenant House community of youth, staff, and supporters surrounded Jennifer with unconditional love and absolute respect, and embraced her as family when she needed it most. You can view Jennifer’s video testimony here.