Tomas’ Story: Building a Bright Future and a Healthy Home

In a remote village in La Democracia Huehuetenango, Guatemala, Tomas is building a new future for himself and his family—without having to leave home.

Tomas lives with his grandmother and aunt in a small house without many basic services. There are no primary schools in his community, and until recently, no running water in his home. Faced with limited opportunities and harsh living conditions, Tomas attempted to migrate in search of a better life. When that journey proved unsuccessful, Global Refuge’s Camino a Casa program helped Tomas find stability, education, and hope right at home.

With the support of our team, Tomas completed his primary education remotely—something that would have been nearly impossible without the help of a local tutor supported by Camino a Casa. While studying, he also worked in agriculture to help support his family.

When our team first visited Tomas’ home, we learned about the family's lack of running water and the fact that they only received water deliveries twice a week—in the middle of the night—and had to make it last. Thanks to generous donations from Global Refuge supporters, our Guatemala team purchased a water tank for Tomas’ family and worked with the local municipality to get it delivered and installed. We also provided funding to help fix serious damage to their roof, making their home safer and more livable.

Tomas’ grandmother, who sells tacos at the market to help make ends meet, was connected with the Women’s Office at the local municipality. We advocated for her to be included in a support program for women entrepreneurs so she could grow her small business and continue to care for her family.

This kind of wraparound support is what makes Camino a Casa so effective. Tomas and his family now have a safer home, better access to clean water, and a stronger path forward. Most importantly, Tomas has the chance to stay in his community and build a life there—rather than feeling forced to migrate in search of opportunity.

About Camino a Casa 

Camino a Casa is a Global Refuge program, operated with support from Islamic Relief USA, that helps young people who return to Central America after trying to migrate to the U.S. With more immigration restrictions and rising deportations, the need for this kind of support is growing fast. Funded entirely by private donations, the program has helped more than a thousand youth and families since launching in 2024.

Every young person in the program gets a personalized plan that may include help with education, mental health, job training, family support, and emergency needs.