• The small things matter

    THE SMALL THINGS MATTER I sometimes wonder whether the world is changing so quickly that we are losing sight of what really matters. Every day, we are bombarded with news of technological advances, artificial intelligence, political upheaval, economic uncertainty and the latest innovations promising to make our lives easier, faster and more productive. We seem

  • He is still here inside

    “HE IS STILL HERE INSIDE” Sunday 11th October, 2026 All children reach a stage in life when they realise that growing up brings a whole new set of expectations and responsibilities. For many, early childhood is relatively carefree, filled with fun, friendships, and the excitement of discovering the world through play. Then comes that awkward

  • A country reclaimed

    A COUNTRY RECLAIMED Last week, Peter Silverman and I drove to San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. I have made this trip many times before, almost exclusively taking this route on my way to Honduras.  This time, I visited to better understand whether the population of street-living children in Latin America was truly declining.

  • A tale of two girls

    Saturday 1st August 2026 I never imagined what my role as a charity worker would include. Had I known, I might have prepared myself a little better before stepping onto that plane in 1992, bound for Guatemala with little idea of what lay ahead or whether I would ever return. No one explained that I

  • I wish you were my dad

    Saturday, 25th July, 2026 Sometimes, the quietest words are the ones that leave the deepest impression. This week, I visited one of our mentoring centres in Guatemala, where we work with children growing up in difficult circumstances. It had been a good afternoon. The children had enjoyed playing football together, there had been plenty of

  • Keeping girls safe

    Saturday, 23rd of May, 2026 Violence against women and girls in Guatemala is not simply a women’s issue. It is a human rights crisis, and a reflection of deep social inequalities that continue to scar one of Latin America’s most beautiful yet troubled nations. I have been deeply burdened since returning to Guatemala this week

  • Fragile Lives

    Sunday, 7th of June, 2026 Yesterday, I was reminded just how fragile our lives can be. I had travelled to visit Go Guatemala, an inspirational project working with around one hundred at-risk children and young people in the largest and most dangerous zones of Guatemala City – the notorious Zone 18. To many people, Zone

  • The “invisible” children of Cobán, Guatemala

    Sunday, 25th of January, 2026 Cobán is tucked into the green highlands of Alta Verapaz and feels a world away from the noise of Guatemala City. The air is cooler here, the clouds hang low, and the streets move at a gentler pace. The surrounding hills remind me of Germany and Switzerland, and their likeness

  • Change does not always begin with bold gestures

    Sunday, 18th of January, 2026 A single choice can feel insignificant in the moment, a word spoken, a hand held at the opportune time, a door left open rather than closed or a smile in the midst of discontent. Interestingly, the butterfly effect reminds us that small actions are rarely small in their consequences. Just

  • There´s no time limit on a hug!

    Saturday, 20th of December 2025 No time limit on a hug! At Dunedin Airport in New Zealand, hugging has been given a time limit! Three minutes. That’s all you’re allowed. The rule was introduced to keep traffic flowing in the drop-off zone, with polite signs encouraging travellers to move to the car park if they’re