Where Love for Youth and Soccer Unite
OUR CALLING
We’re a nonprofit committed to giving at-risk youth a safe environment to grow, learn and do life together, equipping them with the skills to bring themselves and their families out of the poverty and violence cycle of the red zones.
Current Locations
Guatemala City
Guatemala City has many zones that are considered “red zones” due to their high crime and poverty levels. We currently work with more than 200 kids in the most dangerous and abandoned zones, like zone 18, La Verbena in zone 7, and Villa Nueva.
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Chimaltenango
We launched our hub in Chimaltenango at the end of 2021. Chimaltenango is a department next to the capital of the country. It’s known for its rural areas, where agriculture is the main economic activity. Sadly, extreme poverty is very common in the area, accompanied by alcohol abuse. In addition to this, the presence of gangs has increased in the last few years. The area is no longer safe as it used to be for people living in the area or passing by.
Mission
We connect disadvantaged youth to life-changing mentors, education support, and soccer.
Vision
To empower a generation of at-risk youth – through mentorship, education, and soccer – to transform themselves, their families, their communities, and their nation.
Our CEO
Meet Joseph Houser
Hello.
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At Youth in Action we are committed to loving the at-risks youth of Guatemala. We do that by meeting the youth where they are at. Life in the red zone is full of violence, crime, poverty, and hopelessness. However, soccer is often the one thing these kids dream and look forward to. So we meet the kids where they are at and provide them soccer leagues to join so we can build relationship with them and show them the love.
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For us, t is about the kids. We desire to see these kids break free from the cycle of violence, poverty, and oppression.