Humanitarian Aid Programs

Humanitarian aid program for orphans is one of the most compelling facets of our mission. We are committed to providing aid through education for older orphans and through sponsoring medical services and pre-natal care for poor women and children.

The education program is geared toward the needs of older children. Most adoptive families prefer to adopt infants or pre-school age children. Many children remain adrift in orphanage life, with little preparation for their futures. As young adults, most of these children end up in crime, prostitution or drug addiction. The cycle then repeats itself: young adults without employment or life skills having babies they cannot shelter.

What are the solutions? Adoption is one solution. Adoptive families provide love, protection and education. Adoption allows children to develop social skills, be productive, to have voices, to belong, to have healthy marriages and become responsible parents.

For children not adopted, educational programs provide training essential to breaking the cycle of physical and emotional impoverishment that imperils children all over the world.

Our humanitarian medical mission sponsors caring medical services to pregnant women and young mothers with children in the poor zones of Guatemala City.

Guatemala ranks as the Latin American country with the highest rate of infant and child mortality, after Haiti. There are 1,000 children born daily in Guatemala, of which 66 die from lack of medical attention. It is estimated that nearly 10 women die out of every 500 deliveries.

In Guatemala City there are more than 3 million people and approximately five public hospitals. There is about 1 doctor for every 10,000 people among the poor. Access to health care is beyond low, it is virtually nonexistent.

It is widely believed in the world of humanitarian aid that if you educate the women, you educate the families. It is critical in Guatemala that mothers have access to information about family planning, pre-natal nutrition, disease prevention and infant care. The scope of this program includes empowering women through education and medical services, to gain control of their lives and thus provide better nuturing for their children.

Our families, our partners, and our donors support these programs. ICF also works in conjunction with other non-profits and the philanthropic arms of larger corporations to support programs and provide resources.

Many adoptive families wish to assist the children "left behind" in orphanages. Many families, when confronted with the sad conditions that exist in other countries, are moved to send aid to their child's country of origin.