Only A Child

Cedar Boxes from the
Carpentry Shop

Only A Child program participants spend a few hours each week working in our carpentry shop to produce finely crafted
cedar boxes.

The shop does not exist to turn a profit. Rather, it serves as a training ground for our youngsters. Having been
systematically rejected by their families and the Guatemalan society, they come to us with the lowest of self-esteems,
believing that they can accomplish little with their lives. As they learn to produce a beautifully crafted product, they come
to see that when given opportunity, training and the proper resources, they are indeed capable of accomplishing good and
great things, just like anyone else. Our carpentry shop gives our youngsters the chance to begin to see themselves in a
different light. Working together, we create dreams for a better future, where they previously did not exist.

"Before coming to Only A Child, I struggled to find work and a sense of purpose for my life.
I felt useless and battled despair on a daily basis. I now have work that enables me to produce a product
which gives me pride and satisfaction. This has created in me not only a sense of purpose,
but also the feeling that I am prepared to contribute to my society in any number of ways."
-- Daniel Veliz, Only A Child program member