‘It Feels Good to be Here” 

Osman first came to our Covenant House Guatemala safe house for young and adolescent boys when he was 15. The shelter is unique in Central America, the only safe place in the region for male youth who have been abused, trafficked, or exploited.  

In less than a year and a half, Osman can already see the course of his life changing for the better. For perhaps the first time in his life, he has known unconditional love and absolute respect. And this has fueled both his recovery and his motivation to learn and dream. 

Our boys sanctuary in San Juan del Obispo has been full for most of the three years since its opening. It is confirmation that the work we’re doing there, while singular, is desperately needed in the region.  

The boys and youth we serve at the residence are 12 to 18 years old, yet they’ve endured hardships no child should have to experience. With the relentless support of our dedicated staff, who are experts in trauma-informed practices, our youth can thrive.  

For Osman, it has been a journey to hope and healing. He shares in his own words, what the experience of being at Covenant House Guatemala has meant to him.  

“Hello, I’m Osman. I’m 16 years old, and I’ve been here at the San Juan del Obispo campus of Covenant House Guatemala for a year and four months. At Covenant House Guatemala, I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned to make furniture and, also, blacksmithing. I’ve completed many blacksmithing projects.  

“I’ve also learned to play music, which is one of my favorite classes; how to access applications on the computer; search for jobs; and how to work in Word, Canva, and other platforms. 

“It feels good to be here. The truth is this is a very special place. I feel like here we can express our feelings and know what to do if we feel bad. And the truth is what I like about being here is how they treat me. It’s really nice.” 

Covenant House has worked in Latin America for nearly 45 years. Besides Guatemala, we also operate in Honduras and Mexico. Across all three countries, we reached more than 11,200 children and adolescents last year. Learn more about how we support children and teens in Latin America. 

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is July 30. Learn more about human trafficking and what you can do to help.