Friends of Casa Bernabé

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United States
Wheaton, IL
Friends of Casa Bernabé

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Providing hope and healing for vulnerable children in Guatemala.

In addition to our children's home our ministry includes a school, clinic, church, vocational and transitional programs for our children aging out, and follow up care for reunified families.

10/29/2026

We get by with a little help from our friends.

Many of the children who come to Casa Bernabé have missed out on some of the ordinary experiences of childhood. Because of the challenges they’ve faced, they may arrive without skills that other children their age learned years ago.

And that's where something beautiful happens: their friends help them catch up.

They teach each other how to play, how to do things, and how to navigate new experiences. Sometimes it looks like a friend giving you a hand. Sometimes it looks like two girls figuring out a bike together. And sometimes, it looks like simply having someone beside you who says, “Come on, I’ll help you.” 💙

10/28/2026

Casa Bernabé has quite a few furry, feathered, and four-legged residents. 🐶🐱🐰🐔

From Numa chasing soccer balls with the boys to Mylo the chocolate Lab, Cherry the bunny, Loki and Botas the cats, and a whole collection of chickens, ducks, turkeys, rabbits, parrots, doves, pigs, and even fish, there’s always an animal to find around campus.

For kids who have survived trauma, receiving the unconditional love of animals meets an important need, and the kids also learn responsibility by caring for their pets.

Read the full story and meet our furry and feathered family: https://bit.ly/3TpRVJS

10/26/2026

ICYMI, we need your help!

Friends of Casa Bernabé is nominated for a $10,000 grant through Champions of Change, and we need all of you to vote for us. You can vote once a day through November 6th with each email address you have.

Follow the link below, scroll down and click the heart, and enter your email address. The first time you'll need to enter the confirmation code they send you, and then after that it'll work with just your email address each day.

$10,000 would go a long way for an organization our size, so please share this with all your friends and family and help us win this grant! 💙

https://www.joinvelora.com/champions-of-change?sre=MzVwqrhzVgjzOFG

10/25/2026

We want to introduce you to an important group of staff members at Casa Bernabé. Our Consejo, or Advisory Council, is made up of the heads of several departments and key staff members at CB. They are separate from the local Guatemalan Board of Directors, and they provide advise and support to our Directors as they make important decisions.

Each member of the Consejo has a different area of expertise, and each of them have proven to be a Christlike, wise, trusted member of the Casa Bernabé team over many years. The Consejo meets each week to discuss things happening on campus, ongoing cases with the kids or staff, upcoming events, financial concerns, and decisions that need to be made. Together with the Consejo, Edgar and Sara work to make the best decisions they can to lead the ministry.

Lisbeth Cáceres (Director of Accounting & Finance), Grecia Ailón (Director of Psychology & Social Work), Wendy Villeda de Aquino (Director of Education), Sara & Edgar Salguero (General Directors), Christian Santa Cruz (Pastor), Fabian Vásquez (Director of CB Homes), Not Pictured: Donie Hernández (Director Emeritus)

10/24/2026

Despite the rain, our annual 5K in Guatemala was a great success! Thanks to everyone who sponsored a racer, every child and staff member on campus was able to participate. Local sponsors covered the event costs, meaning all ticket sales proceeds go directly to Casa Bernabé. 🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽

We’re so grateful to everyone who helped make this special day possible! You can read the full recap with lots of photos HERE: https://bit.ly/4yrk1mk

10/22/2026

We need your opinion!

The team behind the newsletters and social media posts is meeting soon to plan the stories and content we'll be sharing with you in 2027, and we would love to know your thoughts before we get to work.

What types of stories are you interested in hearing? Are there things about Casa Bernabé you don't know that you're curious about?

Let us know in the comments, or you can send us a message.💙

10/20/2026

Helping children heal takes more than a safe place to live. It takes people who understand their experiences and can help them process what they’ve been through.

Casa Bernabé has three psychologists providing individualized therapy: Grecia works with our older girls, Pedro with our older boys, and Keily with our youngest children.

Depending on their needs, children may meet weekly, every other week, or monthly. Our psychologists use play therapy, art therapy, and our sensory room to help children express feelings and experiences they may not yet have words for.

They also work closely with house parents, sharing strategies to help each child feel supported at home.

Together, they’re helping our children grow, heal, and discover healthier ways to navigate the world around them.💙

10/18/2026

Sunday mornings at Casa Bernabé always include music, and a big part of that comes from our worship team.

Our house dads, Leonel and Danny, take turns leading worship, joined by Danny's wife, Nancy, members of the pastor’s family, Ruth and Annelize, and other staff or visiting musicians.

The worship usually starts with upbeat songs of praise before moving into quieter songs focused on who God is. But the goal isn’t about putting on a great performance. It’s simply about coming together as a church family to worship the Lord. 🎶

Want to get to know the team a little better? Read the full story:https://bit.ly/3TWWpYv

10/17/2026

We need your help!

Friends of Casa Bernabé is nominated for a $10,000 grant through Champions of Change, and we need all of you to vote for us. You can vote once a day through November 6th with each email address you have.

Follow the link below, scroll down and click the heart, and enter your email address. The first time you'll need to enter the confirmation code they send you, and then after that it'll work with just your email address each day.

$10,000 would go a long way for an organization our size, so please share this with all your friends and family and help us win this grant! 💙

https://www.joinvelora.com/champions-of-change?sre=MzVwqrhzVgjzOFG

10/15/2026

Why does education in Guatemala matter so much?

For many children in Guatemala, getting an education is far from guaranteed, and simply attending school doesn't always mean a child is learning the skills they need.

According to the World Bank and UNESCO, 79% of Guatemalan children at late-primary age are unable to read and understand an age-appropriate text, and about 11% of primary-school-age children aren't enrolled in school at all.

That’s why Casa Bernabé Christian School is such an important part of our ministry. Some of our students arrive having had little or no formal education and may be years behind their peers.

Our teachers meet each child where they are, without shame, and give them the patience, encouragement, and individual support they need to catch up.

Because education is about more than passing a class. It gives children skills, confidence, and possibilities for their future.📚

Will you consider sponsoring a child's education or a teacher's salary? You can read the details of how to help HERE: friendsofcasabernabe.org/school

Address

PO Box 4833
Wheaton, IL
60189

Website

http://www.friendsofcasabernabe.org/

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