Ayaan Is Discovering Healing Happens Together

Rebecca* arrived at Kids Alive Guatemala's Oasis campus carrying many of the questions that often follow children who have experienced trauma and separation from their family.

Am I safe?

Will anyone understand me?

Do I truly belong anywhere?

At Oasis, Rebecca found a team of caregivers, counselors, social workers, and educators committed to helping her heal. Over the next year, she received individualized support as she worked through emotional challenges, struggled to communicate her thoughts and feelings, and faced difficulties in school. Through consistent encouragement and care rooted in Christ's enduring love, she slowly began growing in confidence and discovering new possibilities for her future. As the team cared for Rebecca's physical and psychological healing, they were pursuing something else as well: helping her find a family where she could grow and thrive.

As Rebecca continued her healing journey, Seleny and the Oasis team began carefully exploring possible extended family members who could provide a safe, loving home for her long-term future. Over time, they identified an opportunity for kinship care, where children are welcomed into the care of vetted relatives rather than remaining in residential care.

Eventually, their search led them to her aunt.

At first, Rebecca's aunt knew very little about the situation. She had no idea what her niece had experienced nor the challenges she was navigating. When the Kids Alive team explained Rebecca's circumstances and asked whether she might be willing to help, God had already been working in her heart to respond with an immediate "yes."

That moment was an answered prayer.

"Her aunt was a miracle for Rebecca. We didn't know much about her at first—but when she found out about Rebecca's situation, she said, 'I want to help my niece.'"

The journey toward reunification did not happen overnight.

The Oasis team worked carefully to help Rebecca and her aunt build their relationship while also preparing the family for what reunification would require. Rebecca's aunt learned about her academic challenges, her difficulty expressing herself at times, and the long-term support she would continue to need as she healed.

Even knowing those realities, her aunt's family remained committed.

"Even knowing that Rebecca has learning challenges—that it's hard for her to grasp some things—this family said, 'We want to support her,'" Seleny explained. "Her aunt is an extraordinarily patient person. That patience has helped Rebecca."

Over time, a deep bond of trust began to grow between them.

One of the most meaningful moments in her reunification journey came during Rebecca's quinceañera celebration in 2025. Family members who had once felt distant showed up to celebrate alongside her. Her aunt was there. Her relatives were there. For Rebecca, it became more than a birthday celebration.

It became a reminder that she was not alone.

She was seen. She was wanted. She belonged.

Shortly after her quinceañera, Rebecca moved in with her aunt and began a new chapter surrounded by family.

The transition brought new opportunities and new adjustments. But Kids Alive's involvement did not end when Rebecca left Oasis.

The team continued visiting her regularly through psychology appointments, social work follow-ups, and weekly phone calls. Counselors met with Rebecca and her family in their home and community, helping everyone navigate the challenges that naturally come with reunification, and strengthening the relationships that were continuing to grow.

At a recent court hearing, the judge overseeing Rebecca's case was so encouraged by the progress being made that she authorized continued follow-up support to help ensure Rebecca's long-term success.

The team also continued supporting Rebecca's education and development. They helped connect the family with educational resources and practical strategies to support learning at home. Sometimes those moments are beautifully simple. While running errands together, Rebecca's aunt points to signs and words and encourages Rebecca to read them aloud—small acts of patience and encouragement that help her continue growing.

Rebecca is studying while also training in part-time work to build important life skills. She is learning responsibility, managing money, and building confidence in her abilities to build a future of indepedence. Recently, she saved enough money to purchase her own "traje típico," the traditional Guatemalan clothing that has always been an important part of her identity.

"Rebecca always maintained her identity," Seleny shared. "She always wore her traje típico. And now she has the opportunity to buy one with her own money. That is something to admire about Rebecca."

Most importantly, Rebecca says she feels happy and safe with her family. She says she wants to stay with them for a long time, and her aunt feels the same way:

"Rebecca will be with us until she gets married."

Today, Rebecca continues growing, learning, working, and healing with a family that loves her deeply. A journey that began with questions about safety and belonging is becoming a future marked by family, community, and the confidence that she is chosen as a child of God.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.(Lamentations 3:22-23)

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Become a Safe Haven Champion

Become a Safe Haven Champion today and help children discover they are loved, valued, and chosen—surrounded by families and communities where bonds can mend.

Why Healing a Child Means Healing a Family: Rebecca’s story is a reminder that healing is strongest when children and families are supported together. Download our free resource guide to learn more about the role Family Systems Therapy can play in helping children and families heal, grow, and thrive together.

*Pseudonym used for child's safety.

Samir* had always been a bright student.

At Kids Alive Lebanon’s Dar El Awlad School, his teachers knew him as a teenager who learned quickly, participated in class, and usually kept up well with his studies. He was smart, capable, and full of potential.

But over time, his teachers began noticing a change.

Samir’s grades started to slip. He seemed distracted in class. Some days, he looked tired and withdrawn, as if something outside the classroom was weighing heavily on him. The student who had once been eager to learn was beginning to pull back.

In Lebanon, many children and families are carrying pressures that are not always visible. Ongoing instability, limited opportunity, and the stress of daily life can place strain on homes and relationships. For children, that stress often shows up first in the classroom—through exhaustion, withdrawal, conflict, or a sudden change in performance.

For Samir, the change was connected to anxiety at home.

When he made mistakes, his father punished him. Over time, Samir began feeling afraid to go home. To avoid that fear, he started spending more time outside with friends, staying out late and drifting away from the rhythms that had once helped him stay focused and steady. What began as a way to cope slowly began affecting his studies, his confidence, and his overall well-being.

On the surface, Samir was just a student losing focus, spending more time away from home, and falling behind a bit in school. But his teachers recognized the signs of something deeper. They knew he needed help beyond the classroom.

At Kids Alive, education is not only about academics. It is also about knowing each child well enough to notice when they are not thriving—and taking action. Samir’s teachers followed up with him regularly, creating space for him to feel seen, supported, and safe enough to share what was happening. Through their encouragement, Samir was referred to the school psychologist, where he slowly began opening up about his struggles and stress.

That support became an important turning point—not only for Samir, but for this family.

After learning more about the situation, the psychologist reached out to Samir’s father and invited him to meet. Through those conversations, it became clear that his father was also carrying significant pressure and struggling to manage his emotions. Rather than approaching the situation with shame or blame, the psychologist worked closely with him, offering guidance and practical strategies to help him respond differently to stress and parenting challenges.

This is what family strengthening can look like in daily life: not simply addressing a child’s behavior, but walking alongside the whole family so that relationships can begin to heal. Samir needed safe adults who noticed what was happening beneath the surface. His father needed support, encouragement, and practical tools to respond with patience instead of fear or frustration. Together, they needed a community willing to help them move toward something healthier.

Through the team displaying brotherly kindness, it reminded their family that healing happens in community, not isolation. As Scripture says,

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

For Samir’s father, that support made a difference. He was willing to listen, cooperate, and begin applying what he learned. Over time, the relationship between father and son began to change. Their home became less defined by fear and more marked by understanding. Samir began experiencing more support, and the bond between them started to mend.

As that relationship grew stronger, Samir also needed healthy ways to use his energy, express himself, and rebuild confidence. The team helped enroll him in art school, giving him a structured and creative outlet. Instead of spending long hours outside without direction, he began engaging in activities that helped him grow with purpose, like beginning training with his football team.

These changes did not happen all at once. They came through steady care, honest conversations, and a community who refused to give up on Samir or his family.

Little by little, Samir began to return to himself.

His confidence grew. His academic performance began to recover. He started getting back on track, not because one person solved everything for him, but because a circle of support formed around him—teachers who noticed, a psychologist who listened, a father who was willing to grow, and a school community committed to helping him experience stability and belonging.

Today, Samir is not only recovering academically: he is experiencing what it feels like to be supported, learning that home can be a safe place and challenges do not have to be faced alone.

Through family strengthening, Kids Alive Lebanon is helping children like Samir experience the kind of community every child needs: one where they are known, protected, encouraged, and given room to grow.

And as bonds begin to mend, children can step into a future shaped not by fear, but by hope.

Become a Student Champion

Children like Samir need schools where they are not only taught, but known, supported, and encouraged. Your support helps Kids Alive schools provide education, counseling, spiritual discipleship, and family strengthening that help students grow in confidence, stability, and belonging.

Become a Student Champion today and help children learn, heal, and thrive in classrooms where their families are strengthened and bonds can mend.

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Why Healing a Child Means Healing a Family: Samir’s story is a reminder that when families receive support alongside their children, healing and stability can begin to grow together. Download our free resource guide to learn more about the role Family Systems Therapy can play in helping children and families heal together.

*Pseudonym used for child's safety.

At the beginning of the school year, Wilson* was known as a student who carried his emotions close to the surface. Frustration often came out quickly — through arguments with classmates, harsh words, or conflicts that could escalate in moments. Even small disagreements sometimes became larger confrontations. For the teachers and staff walking alongside him each day, it was clear that Wilson was navigating more than what could be seen on the surface.

In Haiti, where ongoing instability, violence, and uncertainty often shape daily life, many children arrive at school already carrying stress, fear, and emotional exhaustion. For some children, those feelings show up not in words, but in reactions—raised voices, impulsive behavior, or the instinct to protect themselves before anyone else can hurt them.

What others may have dismissed as “bad behavior,” the Kids Alive Haiti team recognized as a child struggling to manage emotions from the survival instincts he had developed from a childhood surrounded in turmoil.

At Kids Alive School, teachers and staff took time to look beyond Wilson’s behavior and understand the stress and emotions driving it. Instead of only focusing on correction, the school brought together caregivers, a social worker, the psychology team, and spiritual mentor Pastor Wesly to better understand what was happening beneath the surface. Staff members spent time listening to him, helping him pause before reacting, talk through situations, and practice healthier ways to respond when frustration rose.

Day by day, there were small shifts that began to take root.

At first, the progress was small. There were still difficult days. But over time, he began learning that he did not have to react to every situation immediately. He could stop. Breathe. Ask for help. Walk away rather than compete for the upper hand.

The adults around Wilson consistently reminded him of one of the Kids Alive Life Declarations: self-control is strength that creates space for wisdom.

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”  (2 Timothy 1:7)

One day during recess, a classmate provoked and hit him. In the past, Wilson would have fought back instantly. But this time, he paused.

Instead of retaliating, he walked over to a nearby staff member and reported what had happened.

Later, he explained, “I was about to defend myself when I heard Mr. Judex’s voice in my head, reminding me that I must go to the staff members nearby to better manage the situation.”

For the staff, it may have seemed like a small moment. But for Wilson, it represented something much bigger.

He chose not to let anger control him.
He chose the wisdom of self-control over reaction.
He chose a different path.

Staff members were able to step in quickly, de-escalate the situation, and help both students move forward peacefully. More importantly, Wilson began realizing that his voice mattered—and that asking for help was not weakness, but demonstrated maturity.

From that day forward, Wilson’s growth became more visible. Teachers noticed him taking more time before responding in frustration. He became more thoughtful with classmates and more willing to communicate with adults instead of reacting impulsively. The student who once felt defined by conflict was beginning to see himself differently.

By the end of the school year, the school recognized Wilson for his improved behavior. But the real transformation was happening far deeper than the classroom rules he had learned to follow.

Wilson was beginning to understand that he was not trapped by his past reactions or mistakes. He was capable of growth. Capable of wisdom. Capable of choosing peace.

Today, Wilson is still learning and growing each day. What once felt like constant conflict is becoming a life shaped by courage, self-control, and the belief that a different future is possible when he leans into his strength as a child of God.

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Become a Student Champion

Children like Wilson need safe classrooms, caring mentors, and steady support as they grow up surrounded by ongoing instability and uncertainty in Haiti. Your support helps create places where children can learn, build healthy relationships, gain confidence, and discover a future shaped by hope instead of fear.

Your support makes that possible. Become a Student Champion to help children experience the care, encouragement, and opportunity every child deserves.

*Pseudonym used for child's safety.