Our origins
Arlaine Cervantes was the founder of Niños del Lago. Originally from the USA it was while traveling, one of her great loves, that she had a vision of a special and safe place where Guatemalan children could visit, enjoy nature, and be safe – an experience similar to the one she had had during her own childhood at various children’s camps she attended.
"I had an epiphany so powerful that I had to stop my van. I knew what I was going to do with the rest of my life.”
How it all began
Arlaine was adopted as a child and had a very difficult childhood. She was even homeless at one point and had to survive on the streets. In her early life she went to summer camps in Oregon, USA, one of the first ever places where she finally felt safe and peaceful; something she had never felt before. The friendly counselors and interaction with others helped her to see and believe in her own potential.
Her experiences and stay at the camps helped her to later realize what she wanted to do with her life: give disadvantaged children the same opportunity she had been given. Arlaine knew what she had to do; the seed for Niños del Lago (NdL) was planted.
Arlaine has previously been living in Mexico but moved to Guatemala. Based on her vision and with the help of a large team of volunteers in Guatemala, the United States, and the Netherlands, her dream started to become a reality.
The original idea was of a camp and although many children were received for day and overnight visits, NdL had to change its direction to fit the realities and necessities of vulnerable children in the Lake Atitlan area around Panajachel. However, its mission and vision to help vulnerable children thrive and transform their lives has not changed.
Now, via NdL’s Stay in School, Health, and Personal Development Programs Arlaine’s dream is being achieved and the lives of children are being changed each and every day.
Sadly, Arlaine passed away in the summer of 2021. She is still greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. However, her mission and vision very much live on and are carried on by the many people who met and were inspired by her over the years. Her perseverance, dedication, and kind spirit is something that motivates everyone involved to keep the dream of Niños del Lago alive.
If you want to help keep Arlaine’s vision alive, please consider donating to our cause, and/or reach out to see if you can help in any other way.
