Valeria is Heard & Celebrated

Valeria is Heard & Celebrated

Valeria* is 15 years old and has been at Oasis since July 2025. She is quiet and observant, yet carries a deep inner strength, curiosity, and a strong sense of right and wrong — of justice.

But eight years of her childhood were marked by profound harm within her home.

Beginning at just 6 years old, Valeria endured repeated abuse by her father. For nearly half her life, violence was her normal. Instead of protection and care, she experienced fear, isolation, and control. She was kept out of school, forced to work during the day, and cut off from the outside world. By the time she arrived at Oasis at age 14, she had never attended school and had little understanding of life beyond survival.

During those years, Valeria carried a heartbreaking resolve. She believed that if she did not resist the abuse, perhaps her younger siblings would be spared. “I would rather this happen to me than to my siblings,” she once thought. Even in trauma, her instinct was to protect.

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A Path to Protection

When her older sister bravely reported the abuse to authorities, Valeria was brought to Oasis, the temporary protection home of Kids Alive Guatemala. She arrived malnourished, developmentally behind, and deeply traumatized — not only from sustained violence, but also from years of verbal abuse and isolation. She struggled with depression and barely spoke during her first days at Oasis.

Valeria’s psychologist shared, “In all of my time as a psychologist and the places I’ve worked, I’ve never heard a story like hers.”

And yet, little by little, healing began.

Faith, Healing, and a New Identity

Through consistent therapy, Valeria is processing her trauma in a safe, supportive environment. In the three caregivers at Oasis — her tías — she has found steady adults who walk with her daily, offering structure, encouragement, and safe relationships.

For the first time in her life, she enrolled in school and now receives specialized educational support from Kids Alive Guatemala teachers. Though learning foundational literacy as a teenager requires perseverance, she continues to grow. Her prayer is that she will keep healing and develop strong reading and writing skills — foundations once denied to her.

Faith has become core to her restoration. She looks forward to weekly devotions, and during Kids Alive Guatemala’s first camp in October, she was one of 17 girls who chose to invite Jesus into her heart. She is beginning to understand that her identity is not defined by what was done to her.

In November 2025, Valeria celebrated her milestone fifteenth birthday, surrounded by the girls in her home and honored with a Quince Años celebration, she experienced joy and belonging — a reclaiming of childhood.

A Future Still Unfolding

Today, Valeria is healing and growing. The protective instinct that once shielded her siblings now shapes how she cares for others at Oasis. She speaks up when something feels unjust and runs eagerly onto the soccer field, embracing life as a child again. Her story is not over.

But today, she is safe. She is known. She is being restored.

Become a Safe Haven Champion

Children like Valeria deserve safety, healing, and the chance to rediscover the joy of childhood. Your support helps provide protective care, counseling, education, and the steady relationships that allow children to rebuild their lives after abuse. Become a Safe Haven Champion today and help create spaces where children are protected, heard, and restored.

*Pseudonym used for child's safety.