Lemonade International

We are proud of Adriana Ruano Oliva, who won Guatemala's first gold medal with an Olympic record in women's trap! 🇬🇹 Go Guatemala! 🇬🇹

It’s $25 Tuesday! Our goal…for 100 of our friends to donate $25 to our Building Blocks campaign TODAY! Your gift of $25:

⭐ Builds bathrooms to support health and hygiene.
⭐ Expands outdoor classroom space for parenting classes and more classroom space for close to 200 students.
⭐ Funds mental and emotional health care for children, parents and staff.
⭐ Provides medical care and medicine like lice treatments, acetaminophen and antibiotics.

Will you join us? https://bit.ly/3UZ8j1W

A few weeks ago, an incredible team from NorthEast Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky joined Lemonade for a Service Learning Trip focused on a little bit of everything – medical care, spiritual care, fun, games and learning about the goodness of God – at the El Carmen Center.

While our groups may focus on a specific project during their time in marginalized neighborhoods throughout Guatemala City, we encourage them to come first and foremost as learners. We believe that more is learned from the people who live and serve in these communities than from what a group could teach in the short term. That’s why we are careful to approach our Service Learning Trips from a perspective of “learning from and participating with” the people of the community.

Every year, Service Learning Trips come from all over the U.S. and go to marginalized neighborhoods in Guatemala City to serve, love, and build relationships with this unique community. The new roof at El Carmen Center will allow more space for Service Learning Teams to have the opportunity for shared learning and to build meaningful long-term relationships with the children, families, and staff.

Your donation today provides that opportunity. Thank you for your investment in the children of Guatemala City. https://bit.ly/3UZ8j1W

As we celebrate Day of the Psychologist this week, we are grateful for those who lead the way in emotional health. We celebrate our full-time psychologists, the El Carmen staff recently trained in TBRI, and the parents and children who are both healing and bringing healing to others. With your donations we can continue to empower the staff and grow the mental and emotional health services provided at the El Carmen Center.

https://bit.ly/3UZ8j1W

The education of entire communities is essential for breaking stereotypes and reclaiming territories for God’s kingdom. The parenting classes at El Carmen Center do precisely that. They guide and mentor families and help them establish the necessary parenting tools.

With your donations today, we can supply a roof over the patio at the El Carmen Center. This expanded area will allow us to reach more families and keep the Center open regularly despite weather conditions.

Walk alongside us to help share hope and be a light for communities in Guatemala City through this small yet impactful difference in the lives of many.

Donate today! https://bit.ly/3UZ8j1W

We have a tremendous opportunity in Guatemala City. Only by working together in unity can we see the city's needs as a whole and have a lasting impact. Check out the slides to learn more.

Visit https://bit.ly/3UZ8j1W to be a part of community transformation and redemption.

When our partner Alcance opened their El Carmen Center, we were blessed to impact the lives of 40 children, and now God has increased that number to 170.

Because of this beautiful increase, the center needs to construct more bathrooms to maintain the health and well-being of staff and children. Creating more bathrooms will help reduce the wait time for students to continue learning, reduce sickness, and give staff and children the right to basic sanitation.

Help us continue to show love by donating today and meeting the new needs that God has blessed us with.

Donate today by clicking on the link below: https://bit.ly/3UZ8j1W

Hear from Executive Director, Chal Knox, on how the crisis in Haiti can open our eyes to opportunity in Guatemala City.

https://lemonadeinternational.org/blog/what-we-can-learn-from-haiti-about-gang-displacement/

Be a part of Building Blocks today! Deep, city-wide transformation at a generational pace may be slow but it is so much more effective, and frankly, biblical. Lemonade needs your help as we focus on the building blocks for the futur

When children attend a center like El Carmen, they receive so much more than an education. In addition to daily meals, they receive medical care like lice screenings and treatments, vitamins and supplements, and even Acetaminophen and antibiotics—which are hard to come by in Guatemala.

Donating to Building Blocks means investing in the health of our children. Donate today! https://bit.ly/3UZ8j1W

. Reaching at-risk youth. ⭐Educating and intervening to prevent kids from joining gangs. ⭐Home visits. ⭐ Community relief. ⭐These are all the things we see when we look at the work of Lemonade International in Guatemala City.

But there’s so much more.

Behind the scenes, foundational work is being done to provide stability, develop leaders, and develop strategic plans to prevent gangs and produce fruit for many years. Profound, city-wide transformation at a generational pace may be slow, but it is so much more effective and, frankly, biblical.

It’s like pouring the footers into a new building. Start with a strong foundation, and you’ll have something lasting.

Be a part of Building Blocks today and support the foundational work with transformative impact: https://bit.ly/3UZ8j1W

Imagine the classic arcade game, “whack-a-mole.” In this game, you use a fake hammer to whack a “mole” that pops up on one part of the board while another or two simultaneously pop up in other places.

In Guatemala City, we are seeing a version of this—more need and hope continue to pop up as we reach more of the poorest neighborhoods in the city.

In meeting with new and potential partners on the ground, we see that poverty and gang violence are growing, yet a new generation of leaders is rising to meet the challenge.

We are now working toward effective community transformation and redemption through long-term partnerships with various indigenous-led organizations and international NGOs serving multiple locations in Guatemala City.

Only by working together in unity can we see the city's needs as a whole and have a lasting impact. Profound, city-wide transformation at a generational pace may be slow, but it is so much more effective and frankly, biblical.

Click on the link to learn more and take part in our Building Blocks campaign today: https://bit.ly/3UZ8j1W

This week, we celebrated Teacher’s Day in Guatemala. We want to celebrate teachers and staff who continuously pour into the students and scholars at our academies and centers, helping them choose a life of hope instead of a life of gang violence.

We honor these teachers who give their all under some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable. It’s not just academics but mentoring, life skills, medical care, nutrition, family support, and much, much more.

Asociación Comunitaria Alcance, a Lemonade International partner, serves nearly 1,000 students in four Alcance community centers — Santa Catarina Pinula, El Pueblito, El Carmen, and Villalobos.

Filled with light, hope, and laughter, kids can be kids here. They experience an alternative to gang life.

🌟Centers are safe havens with loving instructors welcoming the children with smiles and hugs.
🌟Staff and volunteers help with homework, teach important life values, and embody the love of Jesus.
🌟Teachers offer instruction, discipleship, and life-skills. They make holistic impact possible.
🌟Students grow socially as they play with friends, teachers, and volunteers.
🌟Students grow physically as they are fed, clothed, taught proper hygiene, and receive vitamins.
🌟Students grow spiritually as they are loved, valued, and taught the way of Jesus.

Your prayer and financial support help make all of this possible.

Would you sponsor a child or a Center today? https://lemonadeinternational.org/sponsor/

They start making decisions that shape their future. And if they are still alive at 18, their tattoos, police records, and damaged relationships nearly seal their fate.

Our partners focus on children ages 3-7, walking with them through their most vulnerable years. They offer a bridge over the darkness that awaits them. The team also works with youth-at-risk, seeking to rescue those who have fallen deep into the darkness.

The ultimate goal that we share with our partners is to see the children equipped and transformed, ready to lead godly families and act as the future leaders of their community while living full lives in Jesus.

And you can help! Learn more: https://lemonadeinternational.org/get-involved/

We are committed to the mission of our Guatemalan partners, who work in gang prevention, rescue outreach, and community care in Guatemala City. Our shared desire is for those most in need to experience holistic transformation and live full lives through a relationship with Jesus.

⭐ Gang prevention through education and intervention: The Academies serve the children and their families, while the Scholars program enables children to continue their education past 6th grade.

⭐ Outreach to those already drawn into the darkness: The Rescue program reaches youth at risk who have already been tempted by gang life.

⭐ Comprehensive care through Home Visits and the Community Relief program: Providing relief for the urgent and unexpected needs of the most vulnerable in Guatemala City.

At Lemonade International, we partner with one community, acting as a conduit for generosity and love.
We believe in listening to, knowing, and honoring the stories of everyone involved—community members, volunteers, partners, and staff—because all people have inherent worth and unique gifts given by God to share with others.
Most importantly, we are motivated by our Christian faith to join God in working for the transformation of marginalized neighborhoods in Guatemala City.
Will you join us? Learn more at https://lemonadeinternational.org

What is Lemonade International all about?

We exist to stand in solidarity with Guatemalan leaders as they break the cycles of poverty, violence, and injustice through education, gang prevention, and community relief for families in the poorest neighborhoods of Guatemala City.

And you play a very important part! Learn more at https://lemonadeinternational.org

Over the last weeks, through our El Equipo series, you’ve been introduced to the team of people – in both Guatemala and the U.S. – who have committed to bringing hope and support to the children and families of Guatemala City.

But there’s one group – an integral one – that serves as the very foundation for the work that’s being done in Guatemala City.

Who is this group of all-stars? IT’S YOU!

Because of YOU, our faithful and generous donors, lives are being transformed in Guatemala City. We couldn’t do it without you and are eternally grateful for your prayers and support.

Meet more of our US team and learn a little about why we believe in Lemonade International's work.

Check out our website to learn more! www.lemonadeinternational.org

There's still time to send a gift of appreciation to the teachers at our centers in Guatemala City. As we celebrate Guatemalan Mother’s Day today, thank you for encouraging them as they faithfully serve the students, scholars and families in some of the toughest conditions imaginable.

Send a gift today: https://funraise.org/give/Lemonade-International/dc542d90-ab76-43f3-b801-4ff83bf01eb1

You’ve met members of our Guatemalan team, now meet our U.S. staff and learn a little about why we believe in Lemonade International's work.

To learn more, check out: www.lemonadeinternational.org

Teacher Appreciation Week in the U.S. is just days away! While preparing to show appreciation to your child’s classroom teachers and staff, would you please consider sending a gift to show appreciation to the teachers and staff of our centers in Guatemala City?

These teachers faithfully serve the students, scholars, and their families in the toughest conditions imaginable. They show up day in and day out because they are committed to transforming the lives of children who would otherwise find themselves stuck in a cycle of poverty, gang violence, and hopelessness.

Would you please consider a gift to support our teachers today? Check out more at our new website:https://lemonadeinternational.org/

We love to see our friends and partners excited about the transforming work that's happening throughout Guatemala City.

Forest Hill Waxhaw What an honor it is to work alongside you to expand impact in Guatemala City. We can't wait for the 5K next weekend. See you on Saturday!

Meet more of El Equipo (The Team): Here are more amazing teachers of Lemonade International! For more information, check out Lemonade International's blog below: https://lemonadeinternational.org/blog/meet-el-equipo-the-teachers/

Meet El Equipo (The Team): You generously give your resources to provide the hope of Jesus and opportunities for communities to thrive. This is lived out through various teams all over Guatemala City, and we want you to “Meet El Equipo (The Team)" of amazing teachers of Lemonade International. There is more to come! For more information, check out Lemonade International's blog below: https://lemonadeinternational.org/blog/meet-el-equipo-the-teachers/.

The more time I spend with the leaders we support in Guatemala City – particularly our Guatemalan staff like Lizza, Lucia, Jose, Irene, and others – the more I admire their tenacity and resilience. As our Guatemala Director, Lizza serves our staff, whole communities, and organizations, strategically empowering them to step forward with faith and love. Lucia encourages teachers and visits homes. Jose prepares teams and guides them through their emotions as they process grief and suffering. Our team deals with such trauma and such heavy stories, yet they have a miraculous inner strength to “mourn with those who mourn” and to “rejoice with those who rejoice.” It’s not just authentic for leaders to grieve; it’s vital. At this link, read more about Holy Saturday and the Power of Lament, written by Chal Knox, Lemonade's Executive Director. https://lemonadeinternational.org/blog/meet-el-equipo-the-guatemala-leaders/