Reality can be a bitch. Sometimes it hits you so hard when you least expect it. I have heard countless terrible stories of children going missing throughout Guatemala and young girls being sold into the sex trade, stories of rapes on the way to school and widespread sexual and physical assault in homes.
These stories have risen up too frequently. Every day I see the cycle of poverty that has trapped the town and everyday it motivates me to try to help the children of Proyecto Genesis break free of that cycle through education. Dayana is 17 years old and attended church with her mother and siblings and upon leaving the church went to the corner to use a public phone and her mother watched as she was forced into a car by men and driven off too far away to be able to do anything. She has not been seen since.
Dayana planting a seedling at Proyecto Genesis. Seemingly not a singular occurance as only weeks before 2 girls from the same church were found raped and murdered. In a place where these incidents are not unique and prostitution is a widespread issue I fear for the safety and wellbeing of this young girl.
Despite hearing countless similar stories, personally knowing the child to whom this terrible thing has happened to is an entirely different experience. Dayana is a wonderfully kind, timid, intelligent and hardworking girl. She has always dreamed of attending university and becoming a doctor. To think that at the age of 17 such dreams might be taken away from her breaks my heart. Myself with Dayana left and her 2 younger sisters at the project.
Local police have spoken to the family for details on her disappearance but seem unlikely to do further investigation due to the multitude of other cases and the corruption within the police force, as the family is very poor and unable to pay the police they see little motivation to search for the young girl. Her family and everyone at the project worry for her and miss her enthusiasm and smile.
