orphan transition program

The First Training
Center of Its Kind for Institutionalized Teens
in Guatemala

Guatemala is home to over 370,000 to 500,000 children and teens lacking parental care. Thousands face life without support. We walk with them into a future of stability, faith, and opportunity.

Orphan Transition Program

Building Brighter Futures for Orphaned Teens

Equipping vulnerable youth in Guatemala with the skills, support, and hope they need to thrive.
Through our Thinking Outside the Box program, Transforming Futures empowers orphaned and vulnerable teens to overcome the challenges of life after institutional care. Centered on three pillars, life skills training at our Guatemala City Training Center, scholarships for education, and safe residential opportunities, the program equips teens with practical tools, nurtures emotional and spiritual restoration, and helps them build pathways toward independence and a hopeful future.

Our Response: Thinking Outside the Box

A Holistic Program for the Most Vulnerable Teens

Thinking Outside the Box is our flagship program, designed specifically for orphaned and vulnerable youth aged 14 - 18. Our approach addresses every layer of need: emotional, spiritual, educational, and practical.

Training Center

We currently serve 120+ teens at our Guatemala City Training Center, a safe, structured space where they learn life skills, build emotional intelligence, and grow spiritually through mentorship and community.

Residential Support

With over 80% of institutionalized teens lacking post-orphanage housing, our residential program offers structure, stability, and guidance. Teens receive personal development plans, work readiness coaching, financial planning, and safe housing during the transition.

Training Center

We currently serve 120+ teens at our Guatemala City Training Center, a safe, structured space where they learn life skills, build emotional intelligence, and grow spiritually through mentorship and community.

Scholarships + Career Training

We provide full and partial educational scholarships for trade schools, covering fields like mechanics, carpentry, and culinary arts. We also help with job prep, résumé writing, and workplace integration to ensure teens can support themselves long-term.

Transition Support for Independent Living

Graduating teens receive critical transition support designed to help them adjust to independent living. This includes rent assistance, basic home essentials such as a bed, stove, and groceries, and ongoing mentorship to ensure emotional and practical support during their first steps into adulthood.

Lifelong Community

Even after they complete the program, we continue walking alongside them. Our alumni remain part of a supportive community through regular discipleship, emotional check-ins, and faith-centered engagement that helps them stay grounded and connected as they grow.

Real Lives Changed

Astrid’s Journey:
Faith and Renewal

From surviving the streets to thriving in college, Astrid’s story shows how faith, guidance, and opportunity through Transforming Futures can break cycles, giving vulnerable teens the chance to heal and build a brighter future.

120+

Teens currently enrolled from 17 different orphanages

1ST

training program in Guatemala created specifically for vulnerable teens and orphans, equipping them to transform their lives and communities.

100%

Receiving emotional, spiritual and mentoring

As of September 2025, Transforming Futures supports 120+ orphaned and vulnerable teens, representing 2.6% of the institutionalized population. Every life touched reflects the dedication to creating lasting change.

Mentorship & Support system

They May Leave the Orphanage, But They’re Never Alone

Each teen receives personalized counseling that continues to guide and support them beyond the program. This ongoing care provides stability, wisdom, and the kind of lifelong encouragement every young person deserves.

All training, counseling, and community-building take place at our Guatemala City Training Center, a safe base where teens can learn, grow, and feel supported every day.

100% Model at Transforming Futures

Since 2025, Transforming Futures has embraced the 100% Model, where every dollar you give goes directly to transform the lives of our teens.

Overhead? Covered by dedicated families.
Every dollar given by our generous supporters goes straight to the programs that help vulnerable youth build independent, functional lives grounded in faith and purpose, including our feeding center, which provides essential nourishment and care.



From housing support and vocational training to discipleship and mentorship, your donation fuels direct transformation, no overhead, no hidden costs.

donate now

Together, We
Transform Futures.

Be the difference today

Build a personal connection that transform lives.

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Walk with a vulnerable teen toward healing and hope.

Join a Transforming Futures Vision Trip to Guatemala

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Recent News

2025 Annual Report

A year of progress, growth, and measurable change. The 2025 Annual Report shares inspiring success stories, key achievements,...

Every Number Tells a Story of Transformation

Every statistic tells a story, a story of courage, growth, and hope in motion. Over 120 teens are learning and developing lif...

A Hidden Struggle: The Orphan Crisis in Guatemala

Six Months of Growth, Hope, and Changed Lives

Nick Vujicic’s Conference

Transforming Futures had the incredible opportunity to attend the Nick Vujicic Conference, a powerful reminder that no obstac...

FUELING THE FUTURE

At Transforming Futures, even snack time is part of the journey! Nutritious snacks help our teens stay energized and focused ...

Building Brighter Futures

At Transforming Futures, our Training Center is more than a space, it’s where dreams take shape.Here, young adults learn life...

It all starts with why we exist

In Guatemala, nearly half a million children grow up without parental care. When they turn 18, many face the world completely...

2024 Annual Report

See the difference your support makes. Our Annual Report shares inspiring stories, key achievements, and the lasting impact o...

our mission

Led by Faith.

Lived Through Service.

Transforming the future of orphaned and vulnerable teens in Guatemala by providing a platform of opportunity for their growth and development. We envision a nurturing, family-like community where young people can be restored and transformed by the gospel of Jesus. Through life skills training, technical education, job opportunities, and access to safe housing, we walk alongside them as they build a future filled with hope and purpose.
Transforming Futures uplifts Guatemala’s most vulnerable youth: orphans who have been abused or abandoned and children who live in extreme poverty. 
Transforming Futures, a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2019, equips teenage orphans in Guatemala with job skills and emotional support as they transition out of orphanages. In addition, we provide daily meals to hundreds of children living around one of Guatemala City’s largest garbage dumps. Transforming Futures Guatemala is officially registered with the Superintendence of Banks of Guatemala and complies with all regulations to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism, ensuring transparency and integrity in every aspect of our work.