Alpharetta, Georgia – June 12, 2025 — Kids Alive International has been awarded a grant from the MIGMIR Fund to support the creation of seven trauma-informed, child-friendly court facilities throughout Guatemala.
The grant will fund the remodeling of Peace, Juvenile, and Femicide Courts to create safe, welcoming environments where children and families can participate in legal processes with dignity and protection. This initiative is part of Kids Alive’s ongoing Justice Advocacy program in Guatemala, which partners with local courts and communities to strengthen systemic responses to violence, especially sexual abuse and exploitation.
“This generous investment from the MIGMIR Fund will accelerate our vision of transforming Guatemala’s justice system into one that reflects compassion, safety, and healing for children and families,” said Corbey Dukes, President and CEO of Kids Alive International. “Each court space we renovate will stand as a testimony to what restorative justice can look like — where truth can be told, trauma can be met with care, and hope can begin to take root.”
Across Guatemala, children and young adults who have experienced sexual abuse or violence are often required to testify in formal, intimidating court environments. Kids Alive’s work in partnership with local judicial authorities has already shown that child-friendly and family-safe spaces — rooms equipped with calming colors, toys, comfortable seating, and trauma-informed design — help reduce fear and prevent re-traumatization.
The MIGMIR grant will enable Kids Alive Guatemala (locally known as Vida Para Niños) to expand this initiative to seven additional court facilities across five municipalities, including Escuintla, La Gomera, Tiquisate, Palín, and Puerto de Iztapa. Each remodeled space will include private waiting areas, secure interview rooms, and environments that encourage emotional safety and trust.
The vision behind these new child-friendly court spaces is inspired by the first video testimonial room (Gesell Chamber), that Kids Alive helped build in Peru. Featured in our short video story, this groundbreaking space allows children who have experienced abuse to share their stories in privacy and safety, supported by trained professionals and observed remotely by judicial personnel.
This model—designed to prevent re-traumatization and uphold the dignity of survivors—has become a powerful example of what trauma-informed justice can look like. The same principles are now guiding Kids Alive’s efforts in Guatemala, where each remodeled court facility will serve as a safe, healing environment for children and families seeking justice and restoration.
Beyond physical renovations, the grant will fund training for at least 50 judges, clerks, and court staff in trauma-informed care and child protection, strengthening the national capacity to handle cases of abuse and violence with empathy and excellence.
“These spaces are more than rooms,” said Rosalva Alvarado, National Director of Kids Alive Guatemala (Vida Para Niños). “They represent an invitation to change the experience of justice — for children to feel safe when telling their stories and for families to experience dignity, reconciliation, and restoration in the process."
Through this project, Kids Alive will also host community outreach events that promote prevention and education around child protection and family strengthening, ensuring that the impact extends beyond the courtroom and into the community.
Rooted in Isaiah 1:17, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed,” Kids Alive’s global mission integrates faith and evidence-based care to bring hope and healing to children who have endured trauma. This grant directly advances the organization’s Justice that Heals initiative — a framework that unites legal advocacy, psychosocial support, and discipleship to address both the personal and systemic dimensions of injustice.
The MIGMIR Fund partners with faith-based organizations around the world that demonstrate integrity, sustainability, and deep impact in the lives of those they serve. Its support of Kids Alive reflects a shared vision for holistic restoration — one that meets both the spiritual and practical needs of children and families.
“The MIGMIR Fund is honored to partner with Kids Alive International in supporting the remodeling of Peace, Juvenile, and Femicide Courts in Guatemala. This transformative effort reflects our shared commitment to be the hands and feet of Christ—bringing restoration, dignity, and hope to children and families impacted by sexual abuse and injustice. We believe that justice and compassion must walk hand in hand, and we are proud to stand with Kids Alive International to strengthen systems that protect the most vulnerable through effective strategies that nurture spiritual and physical flourishing.” - Kristin Smith, Sr. Program Officer and Board Member, MIGMIR Foundation
Kids Alive International is a global non-profit dedicated to protecting children, strengthening families, and advocating for justice. With a presence in seven countries, Kids Alive provides holistic care that addresses immediate needs such as safety, education, and health, while also confronting the deeper wounds of trauma and abuse.
In Guatemala, Kids Alive operates under the name Vida Para Niños and is recognized for its leadership in trauma-informed care, restorative justice, and advocacy for survivors of sexual violence. Through safe homes, foster family programs, counseling, and legal accompaniment, Kids Alive ensures that children are protected, empowered, and treated with dignity.
The organization’s Justice Advocacy Program works in partnership with national courts, government agencies, and local communities to integrate trauma-informed, Christ-centered care into legal and social systems. Each project reflects the ministry’s unwavering belief that every child is seen and loved by God and deserves to live free from fear, abuse, and exploitation.
