Lucy Transforms Perseverance into Achievement

For 16-year-old Lucy, music and dance are not only her favorite activities; they reflect her strength to express who she is. Those who saw her light up the stage as the lead in the Covenant House Guatemala music festival this year saw a teenager deeply connected to her own talent. Before coming to us in early 2025, though, the rhythm of her life had been interrupted, especially in education.

Lucy had fallen behind academically and faced significant barriers in reading and writing. Facing instability at home, she was also obliged to work for a paltry salary and was prohibited from going to school.

But Lucy's desire to excel did not take long to awaken. Since she walked through Covenant House Guatemala’s doors, she has found that getting up every morning to walk to the comprehensive education classroom has become her favorite ritual. She loves that the classroom is a space where she can learn and, also, clear her mind and heal.

“Math is my favorite subject because it helps me solve problems and de-stress,” said Lucy, who now has both the determination and the desire to continue learning.

All the effort she’s put into resuming her studies has transformed her academic delay into extraordinary achievements. Thanks to the support of our teaching team and her constant participation, at the end of 2025, Lucy completed the second stage of her primary education through our accelerated education program, achieving her promotion to the next level. She also won a scholarship to study English virtually and has advanced in those studies as well.

Education that Goes Beyond the Classroom

Rejoining the formal education system has not only allowed Lucy to pass her subjects but to completely transform her self-esteem and her vision for her life plan. With the very same perseverance, she is preparing for her future by participating in training and vocational workshops and will soon attend in-person computer classes at INTECAP, a highly regarded training institute in Guatemala City.

Lucy’s goals are a mixture of creativity and independence. She dreams of being a Latin dance teacher, working in a beauty salon, and continuing to make her way. "I’ve been able to develop things that, before, I didn’t even recognize I needed or wanted. Now, I’m putting it all into practice and really getting into it," Lucy reflected.

The advice she always shares with the other residents of Covenant House Guatemala? "Keep going, no matter the circumstances. Always persevere."

For Covenant House Guatemala, Lucy's story confirms that guaranteeing education has implications that go far beyond the classroom. It is the impetus for each girl and adolescent to discover, anew, everything they’re capable of.

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Covenant House has programs in 34 cities across five countries: the United States, Canada, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. The children and youth at our Latin America sites are the youngest across our federation, at just 12 to 18 years old.

Your donation is the most immediate and impactful way to support Covenant House’s work in Latin America.