Tuesday 16th September, 2025
This past weekend, Guatemala lit up with colour, noise, and pride as thousands of children and young people celebrated Independence Day with the traditional Antorcha (Torch) Run.
I watched with joy as our kids joined the crowds running to El Obelisco (The Monument to the heroes of Independence), carrying their torch high. Whistles, vuvuzelas, and laughter filled the streets, while families stood by to cheer them on, and, of course, throw bags of water over the runners! It was chaotic, loud, and beautiful. Best of all, we made it back safely with every child we started with — a big tick for our safeguarding team.
But behind the noise and excitement lies something far more profound. For the children we accompany, many of whom live on the very edge of society, the Antorcha is more than just a run. It is a chance to belong, to feel seen, to carry the light of a story that is much greater than their own.
Children growing up in fragile or at-risk contexts often feel invisible. Events like these remind them that they have value, dignity, and a place in their community. They are not outsiders; they are heirs to a history and a hope that extend beyond their daily struggles.
As I watched the children run, I thought of the wider world. In the USA and the UK, people are searching for their place, heading to the streets, raising their voices, and longing to belong to something bigger. Isn’t this what we all long for? A strong identity rooted in who we are and where we fit within the whole.
Helping our children discover this is not easy. Many of them have been hurt, betrayed, or overlooked. But with God’s help, we will not give up. We will run alongside them, torch in hand, until they learn that they are loved, that they matter, and that they, too, can shine a light in their community.
Your gifts make this possible. Without you, we could not offer these children the chance to belong, to celebrate, and to grow into citizens who will one day shape the future of their nation. Thank you for standing with us.
Duncan Dyason is the founder and Director of Street Kids Direct and founder of TOYBOX UK, El Castillo in Guatemala and SKDGuatemala. He first started working with street children in 1992, when he moved to Guatemala City after watching the harrowing BBC documentary "They Shoot Children Don´t They?" His work has been honoured by Her Majesty the Queen, and he was awarded an MBE the year he celebrated working over 25 years to reduce the large population of children on the streets from 5,000 to zero. Duncan continues to live and volunteer with the Street Kids Direct charity in Guatemala City.