Roger Embraces the World 

More than two decades ago, a Honduran youth, alone and vulnerable, was found by street outreach workers on a busy road in Guatemala. Sitting on a sidewalk, with neither money nor destination, Roger Canaca was just 13 years old when he embarked on a story that today is one of the clearest examples of Covenant House’s transformative impact. 

Roger remembers that first meeting clearly: “They offered me water, food, and a safe place. I was suspicious; I had been taught to trust no one. But there was something different about them.” Shortly after, he walked through our doors at Covenant House Guatemala, and for the first time in his life, he had a bed, hot food, medical care, psychological support and, above all, he was treated with dignity. 

Roger came to Guatemala fleeing the lack of opportunities in Honduras, within a regional context of intense migration. Like many Central American children and teenagers, he dreamed of making it all the way to the United States, but his path stopped in Guatemala, where he found something unexpected: safety and stability. At Covenant House Guatemala, Roger received holistic care, love, structure, and the chance for a new start. 

"In a matter of days, I received everything I hadn't had in 13 years: food, care, sanitary conditions, love. I started seeing a psychologist; I had never spoken to one before. It was like starting to live," he recalls. 

At Covenant House Guatemala, he began the step of returning to his country. We moved Roger to Covenant House Honduras as part of a protocol between our two programs. The change wasn’t easy for him, as he had to say goodbye to the first place he ever felt protected and valued. But the staffs of both programs accompanied him every step of the way, ensuring a dignified and careful transition, without disruption.

A Bigger Picture 

“Unlike other adolescents who come to us with a history of substance use or a long stay on the streets, Roger didn’t present serious situations of risk. His biggest challenge was emotional abandonment and lack of family structure. At Covenant House Honduras, he began a process of reintegration and personal development that would transform his life.

At our residence in Tegucigalpa, Roger lived with young people who, in many cases, faced more complex situations. "We all admired our elders, and we wanted to be like them. But they weren't always the best role models [for what we thought we wanted in life]," he says.

Then one day, he met Pierre, a Swiss volunteer who showed him photographs of his country. Pierre became a key figure for Roger, prompting him to pay attention to the workshops, the educators, and the international volunteers. Roger said to himself, “One day I will go to Switzerland.” Years later, that dream would indeed come true.

Education as a Tool for Change 

One of the things that really excited Roger was learning about the world of computing. “I had never touched a computer. Carolina Hernández, who oversaw this youth development program, taught me from scratch. It inspired me so much,” he says, “that I decided to pursue a bachelor's degree in science and letters with a focus on computing.”

That access to education was accompanied by Roger’s growing curiosity about other cultures. “Thanks to the volunteers, I began to be interested in languages, geography, and the stories they shared. Without them, I probably never would have dreamed of living outside my country,” he says.

Eventually, Roger's dream came true. He traveled to Switzerland, where he now resides with his wife and two daughters: the very family that today shares and preserves the values he learned at Covenant House.

Covenant House: ‘The Home I'll Never Forget’ 

Years after leaving Covenant House, Roger feels a deep need to return. "Every time I come to Honduras, I pass by Covenant House. This is still my home. To return, to see the educators, to share with the children, is to return to my roots."

Today, his life is marked by gratitude. "The values I never received in my family of origin I received here. The songs, the crafts, the routines, I pass all that on to my daughters," Roger says.

But beyond his personal experience, Roger has sought to multiply that impact. In Spain, he and his wife founded an organization to work with children of immigrant mothers from various countries. For five years, they provided support, culture, and a sense of belonging to dozens of young people. "It was our little Covenant House," he says.

"Changing a child's life has a multiplier effect," Roger notes. "Thanks to my transformation, today my family, my brothers, my nephews, my daughters, and my friends have also received a positive impact."

For Roger, the message is clear: "It’s worthwhile supporting projects like Covenant House. Because they don't just transform lives, they transform entire futures." And he concludes with a wish that reflects the spirit of our organization: "Hopefully, one day, Covenant House will close. Not because it fails, but because there are no longer children on the streets who need it."

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

Last year, across all three countries in the region, we reached more than 11,200 children and adolescents. Learn more about how we support children and teens in Latin America.

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

This story was written by Grecia Lizeth Moreno, coordinator of Covenant House Honduras’ Human Rights Observatory on Children and Adolescents, with support from communications officer Oscar Ortiz and designer Alejandra Padgett.