“My name is Mariano Pérez. I support the administrative team at Niños de Guatemala. I help in finance and human resources—organizing files, managing databases, and supporting my coworkers.”
Before joining the team, Mariano had already heard about the organization. “Through friends and conversations, I heard of NDG. I thought, ‘How nice! The world needs more people who think about others.’ Never imagined I’d be here one day.”
When the pandemic hit, Mariano lost his job. “I started doing deliveries—groceries, food, anything to keep going. It was tough. My resume had been sent to dozens of places, including NDG. Then one day, out of nowhere, a call came in. They said they’d seen my profile and wanted to interview me. During my lunch break, I rushed over—and left that interview with a huge smile.
For Mariano, NDG is more than just a workplace. “One of my first days, we went to Nuestro Futuro Primary School. I helped serve snacks to the kids. Watching them laugh and play—it filled me up. A wave of pride washed over me. In that moment, I thought, ‘This is something good.’ Witnessing those smiles felt like a gift. They were pure and full of life.”
Today, he dreams of continuing this work. “I want to keep helping. I’d love for more people to join, even a friend of a friend. Remember, from the smallest mustard seed, great trees can grow.”
His hope is simple but powerful. “I want people to see our logo and think, ‘NDG is more than education. It’s opportunity. It’s the beginning of something great.’”
