About Our Programs

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Eph 2:8-10 NLT)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:8-10 ESV)

Zone 18 Workshop / Co-op

Zone 18 is a gang-infested community in Guatemala City where World Orphans’ partner churches are actively bringing the light of Jesus. In the fall of 2020, Pastor Nicolas Tellez and his wife Adela began meeting with three women on the covered terrace of their church, teaching them the basics of sewing. Although these women had no prior experience, their perseverance and teachable spirit allowed them to create beautiful handmade products now available for purchase.

In the spring of 2024, the sewing workshop moved to the World Orphans Vocational Training Center in Zone 18. Today, it serves as a hub for a dozen women learning sewing, leatherworking, and crochet. Under the guidance and discipleship of Nico and Adela, these women are not only producing beautiful masterpieces but are also experiencing God’s restoration in their lives and their children’s.

Zone 7 Workshop / Co-op

Women with Vision Co-Op began in 2017 with just four women from La Verbena, a challenging inner-city community near the Guatemala City dump. Today, the group has grown to include more than a dozen women who are not only honing their sewing skills but also deepening their walk with God.

With meticulous attention to detail, these women have made significant strides in their craftsmanship and the quality of their products. Their passion for sewing is matched by their dedication to earning a dignified wage, enabling them to support their families. Eager to learn and grow, they embrace new techniques that keep their handmade products both modern and marketable.

In the summer of 2023, after years of working in the small but generous third-floor space of Nazareth Church in La Verbena, the workshop relocated to our World Orphans Vocational Training Center in Zone 7, just a mile away. This new space provides not only more room for the women to work but also tutoring and daycare for their children, allowing them to focus on their craft while building lasting friendships and community. The Vocational Training Center is also home to our cooking and crochet co-ops, creating a vibrant, supportive environment for growth and empowerment across multiple trades.

Familia Tellez – Pastor Nico and Adela

Pastor Nicolas Tellez, originally from Nicaragua, learned to make shoes and leather goods from his father. After moving to inner-city Guatemala City with his wife Adela, they planted a church and began crafting handmade leather goods to supplement their income. Several family members help create these beautiful products, and they eagerly share their skills with the women in the Zone 18 sewing cooperative, teaching them to make leather purses, belts, aprons, and more. Their love and skill are crucial to the success of our efforts to train women in these valuable crafts. The Tellez family is dedicated to Christ and serves their community with selfless devotion.