Meet Sofi.

She’s 7 years old, bright-eyed, kind-hearted, and thriving — a word that means everything when you get to know her.

The first two and a half years of Sofi’s life were incredibly difficult. But five years ago, everything changed. She became part of a loving foster family — the family that has been her safe place ever since. About three and a half years ago, she was granted permanent placement with them. Legally, they are her custodians. Practically and emotionally, they are her mom, dad, and siblings — her forever family.

But being in a permanent foster placement in Guatemala comes with many challenges, including financial ones. Unlike foster and adoptive families in some countries, families in permanent foster care in Guatemala receive no government assistance. And with two other children at home — a 4-year-old and a new baby arriving in July — resources are stretched thin.

Yet Sofi’s education cannot wait.

She currently attends one of the best schools in Guatemala — a school that truly sees her potential. They’ve generously provided a partial scholarship, but the remaining costs of tuition, books, and supplies still exceed what her family can manage on their own right now, especially after a financially difficult 2023 and 2024.

And here’s the reality:

Public education in Guatemala is severely underfunded and overcrowded — often with 40–50 students per classroom, frequent teacher strikes, and very limited support. Pulling Sofi from the school she attends would mean placing her in a system that simply cannot meet her needs or support her continued growth.

This GoFundMe campaign is to help cover the remaining cost of her tuition and school expenses for the 2025–2026 school year.

Your donation — no matter how small or large — will directly support:

• Tuition not covered by her scholarship

• School books and learning materials

• Supplies she needs to continue learning and thriving

Sofi is smart, resilient, and full of potential. She's overcome more in her young life than many do in a lifetime. All she needs is a little help to stay on the path she's on — a path filled with hope, stability, and opportunity.

Her family is working hard to provide everything they can. But today, they need our help to ensure that finances aren’t what stands in the way of her future.

Will you help Sofi stay in school and keep thriving?

Give what you can — and share with others who might want to help too. Together, we can invest in a little girl’s education… and change her life forever.

With gratitude,

Melvin y Doris