From Guatemala to the World: Cadaniño Shares Its Model at CAFO Summit 2025

From Guatemala to the World: Cadaniño Shares Its Model at CAFO Summit 2025

Earlier this month, members of the Cadaniño team had the privilege of teaching and training at the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) Summit, the largest and most influential gathering in the world dedicated to serving orphans and vulnerable children and families. Every year, CAFO brings together thousands of leaders, practitioners, academics, and advocates from around the globe to learn from experts in family preservation, orphan care, foster care, discipleship, and community-based solutions.

Guatemala is a nation of tremendous beauty and potential, but the challenges it faces are not unique. Across much of the developing world, children grow up in contexts where poverty, malnutrition, and limited educational opportunities create powerful cycles of vulnerability. In Guatemala, for example, over 57% of the population lives in poverty, and nearly half of all children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition. Educational gaps are severe: many children drop out early, literacy rates lag behind, and schools often lack the resources needed to help students thrive. Economic opportunity is closely tied to education, with research showing that each additional year of schooling is linked to significantly higher lifetime earnings, yet systemic barriers keep many from completing their studies. These intertwined realities of poverty, educational disadvantage, and family instability are widespread throughout the Global South. It’s precisely in these contexts that Cadaniño’s work offers a model of hope, providing safe spaces, trusted relationships, and transformative learning opportunities that equip children to build a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities.

For us to be invited to lead workshops at CAFO was a tremendous honor and speaks volumes about the work our team has done over the past decade to create effective programs that lead to proven results, and transform lives.

To see that what began in 2016 as a small after-school program with one teacher and 35 students in a small garage in the slums of Guatemala has now grown into a model that not only transforms the lives of the hundreds of students in our after-school programs, but also provides valuable guidance to others doing the same, is truly humbling.

Gospel-Centered After-school Programs as a Family Preservation Strategy

Our sessions focused on practical, Gospel-centered strategies for launching or strengthening after-school programs that serve vulnerable families in developing countries. Drawing from our model of spiritual formation, academic reinforcement, and family strengthening, with a special emphasis on STEM education, literacy, discipleship, and service, we shared concrete steps that individuals and organizations can take to build sustainable, faith-driven programs that foster transformation and bring lasting impact.

The turnout was excellent, and the room was full of leaders eager to learn. Many were either operating after-school programs and looking for ways to deepen their impact, or preparing to launch new initiatives in their communities. We were able to connect with several afterward for one-on-one coaching, answering specific questions and helping them think through their next steps.

When we began the journey that would become Cadaniño, our goal was to explore what it truly means to serve vulnerable children well, shifting the focus from orphanage care to family preservation. At that time, there were very few resources or roadmaps to guide this kind of work. Over the years, we have not only developed effective programs for our ministry, but we continually share what we've learned with others. From our community impact center operations manuals to our STEM curriculum and literacy tools, as well as our reading lessons and Bible classes, our goal is to equip others to effectively serve vulnerable children and families in their own communities.

Participating in CAFO in this way felt like a full-circle moment. What God has done through Cadaniño in Guatemala is now being used to equip and inspire others around the world, multiplying our impact far beyond what we could do alone.

The work of serving vulnerable children and families is far greater than any one person or organization, but together, we can make a lasting difference. As we continue to walk alongside others, equipping and empowering them to serve children well in their own communities, we ask that you keep us in your prayers so that we can do this well.

We want you to know that your help and partnership not only brings transformational change to the children and families we serve, but is also enabling us to equip people and organizations worldwide to do the same.

Together, we can bring hope, strength, and the love of Christ to the vulnerable, empowering countless children to discover their God-given gifts and abilities and learn to use them to their greatest potential in a way that glorifies God. 

Sincerely, Timothy Martiny

Partner with Cadaniño today and impact lives for eternity!

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Did you know?

Everything we do at Cadaniño...feeding children, providing safe spaces, helping students excel in school, and equipping teachers to disciple the next generation depends...entirely on the support of donors?

It’s made possible by individual believers like you, answering Christ’s call to serve the vulnerable, feed the hungry, preach the Gospel, and make disciples.

And here’s something remarkable: 100% of your gift goes directly to our community centers in Guatemala.

Cadaniño has a proven track record of lasting, measurable impact: transforming children, families, and communities through faith, education, and love.

Would you prayerfully consider giving or becoming a monthly partner to help us continue our work empowering vulnerable children to discover their gifts and abilities and be empowered to use them to their greatest potential in a way that glorifies God.

Together, we can keep changing lives...one child, one family, one community at a time.

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