Ütz B’ey Guatemala | The Right Path

Formerly known as Project Somos

Ütz B’ey means The Right Path in Kaqchikel, the Mayan language spoken in Aldea Chivarabal - the community we’ve called home since 2009. Our new name was a gift from this community, a reflection of our shared vision: to guide children toward their right path in life.

We equip children and families by fostering safe, loving communities where they can access quality education, nutrition, health, and economic opportunities.

We imagine a Guatemala where every child grows up healthy, safe, and loved, within strong communities that nourish their potential and expand their future.

Since 2011, Ütz B'ey Guatemala has been on the ground developing a strong relationship with the local Guatemalan community.

Guatemala has the lowest literacy rate in all of Latin America. (Source: UNESCO) Latin America suffered the longest school shutdowns during the pandemic. On average, children received only seven hours of formal education each week during 2022.

The pandemic seems to have unraveled the decades of progress made, setting the situation back to what it used to be like in the 1960s. The current situation has become direr than ever.

At Ütz B’ey Guatemala, we guide children onto the right path, into adulthood and to achieve their dreams. From age four to 24, we provide free, quality education, nutritious meals from our onsite organic farm, a space to dream, and ultimately, career guidance and job opportunities. Our programs are shaped by the communities themselves, building strong, lasting bonds between families, local leaders, and us.

By creating a safe, nurturing environment and opportunities to grow, we help children and families walk the right path toward a life of dignity, purpose, and potential.