Currently at El Buen Samaritano, we not only have a safe and caring environment for our children, but we provide them with the most basic and essential needs —education, nutrition, healthcare and clothing— while developing a stronger sense of community.

Safe Harbor
Many of the children at EBS grow up in an atmosphere of violence and with a constant hunger for love. They are deeply affected by their living conditions. Their need for attention, hugs, kind words and positive interaction is tremendous. For the older children without any place to go, they are at a great risk of ending up on the streets being forced to work, steal, have sex or use drugs. EBS provides these children with a safe and loving environment — a shelter from sadness and fear; a place where tears are replaced by smiles.

Education
The majority of these families cannot afford to send their children to school. For one child in elementary school it costs around $120 US per year, and over $1000 US to continue past the sixth grade. These costs include school registration, uniforms, books and supplies. EBS is working tirelessly to raise funds so that all of these children will have the opportunity to go to school.

In the afternoon at EBS, the director and volunteers assist the school children with their homework. Without this extra support many of the children would not be able to pass their classes. Unfortunately, they cannot receive help at home from their mostly illiterate parents. Progress at school is checked every three months by Magda, who is in constant communication with all of the schools and teachers.

Nutrition
The majority of the children do not receive a sufficient amount of food at home. Magda, who studied nutrition, supervises the EBS kitchen to prepare well-balanced meals daily. The children are given breakfast, a snack for those who go to school, and lunch.  On average -- 70 breakfasts and 120 lunches are given daily.

Healthcare and Emergency Support
In Guatemala, families in poverty normally do not have health insurance.  Frequently injured children are ignored by their families, for lack of money to get adequate medical attention, or by carelessness due to drug addiction or alcoholism. Therefore EBS tries to help the parents by paying for medicine and consulting with a doctor if necessary.
In many cases EBS has provided more direct assistance. In 2001, EBS financed heart surgery for a five-year old girl. In 2002, emergency support twice saved a boy with a defective kidney. We also support 2 girls age 2 and 6, who were diagnosed with epilepsy.
Since October 2002, we have had a special arrangement with a local hospital “Hermano Pedro”. Now the children of EBS can receive health services at a very low cost.  With the assistance of “Children’s Charity Onlus” of Italy, a local doctor has started helping us in the center twice a month. We are looking forward to future collaboration with other health professionals such as dentists and psychologists.
In April, EBS is organizing a benefit concert to collect funds for 3 children, who need an eye operation, treatment for leukemia and physiotherapy.  
In 2007 funds were being sought for a girl who needed her hip replaced. 

Clothing
It’s not uncommon for the children to wear dirty and torn clothing and shoes. Some have just the clothes they are wearing. The EBS staff and volunteers try to ensure that the children have clean clothing, proper shoes and that their school uniforms are well maintained. This is only possible through the generous international and local donations from volunteers.

Community Awareness
Monthly meetings are held at EBS with the goal of bringing parents together to help form a stronger sense of community. The parents and EBS, working together, can give the children and their family more hopes for the future.  The following is a list of some of the subjects discussed:

• family planning
• healthcare
• parental responsibility
• spiritual, moral and emotional stability
• education
• etc.