Team Member Spotlight | Lucas Pinzon

Boys Hope Girls Hope is excited to highlight team members whose time serving on the team has had a major impact on scholars, collegians, alumni, and colleagues. This month, we’re chatting with the Executive Director of our Guatemalan affiliate, Esperanza Juvenil. Lucas Pinzon is celebrating 15 years at Boys Hope Girls Hope!

Patience Randle: You’ve been the Executive Director at Esperanza Juvenil for 15 years now! How does it feel?

Lucas Pinzon: Yes, wow! It has been a very fulfilling opportunity for me. It’s given me a chance to accompany many scholars from the beginning of their education until the end. 

Patience: How did you first learn about Boys Hope Girls Hope, and what made you decide to take on the role as Executive Director?

Lucas: I went to college in the United States, because I received a scholarship to study there for four years. One thing I always had in my mind was to come back to Guatemala and to make an impact here based on the education I got when I was in the U.S. 

I actually grew up in the same home for boys as Benito, the husband of President and CEO, Kristin Ostby, so we all knew each other. Kristin knew that I had just returned to Guatemala from the U.S. She had this position available at Esperanza Juvenil back in 2005. That’s when she invited me to be a part of the program. Based on how I grew up, I didn’t hesitate to get involved, because I was in the same position as the scholars when I was a kid. I saw it as an opportunity for me to serve these scholars as I was served back then. 

Patience: How do you connect personally with the mission of Boys Hope Girls Hope?

Lucas: I feel that every child should have the opportunity to show what they are capable of, but I know that there are not many opportunities. That’s the reality here in Guatemala. Sometimes you don’t get a good quality education or good jobs, and it’s not that you can’t do it, it’s just that there aren’t that many opportunities. 

I relate to that because that’s how I grew up. I am the sixth of seven siblings, and I grew up in a home in the west part of Guatemala. We were sent to school, but no one was watching over us, therefore we weren’t really doing well in school.

My mom was the one providing financially for us. She would go to the fields and pick crops, so we had no one to check that we did our homework.  She was busy working, and she couldn’t read or write. 

So, that’s how I relate to the Boys Hope Girls Hope mission, because I got the opportunity to finish high school and then was awarded a scholarship. I remember how I was back then and what I’ve become today. That’s what I see, and that’s how I relate to the scholars in Guatemala. 

Patience Randle: You’ve been the Executive Director at Esperanza Juvenil for 15 years now! How does it feel?

Lucas Pinzon: Yes, wow! It has been a very fulfilling opportunity for me. It’s given me a chance to accompany many scholars from the beginning of their education until the end. 

Patience: How did you first learn about Boys Hope Girls Hope, and what made you decide to take on the role as Executive Director?

Lucas: I went to college in the United States, because I received a scholarship to study there for four years. One thing I always had in my mind was to come back to Guatemala and to make an impact here based on the education I got when I was in the U.S. 

I actually grew up in the same home for boys as Benito, the husband of President and CEO, Kristin Ostby, so we all knew each other. Kristin knew that I had just returned to Guatemala from the U.S. She had this position available at Esperanza Juvenil back in 2005. That’s when she invited me to be a part of the program. Based on how I grew up, I didn’t hesitate to get involved, because I was in the same position as the scholars when I was a kid. I saw it as an opportunity for me to serve these scholars as I was served back then. 

Patience: How do you connect personally with the mission of Boys Hope Girls Hope?

Lucas: I feel that every child should have the opportunity to show what they are capable of, but I know that there are not many opportunities. That’s the reality here in Guatemala. Sometimes you don’t get a good quality education or good jobs, and it’s not that you can’t do it, it’s just that there aren’t that many opportunities.

I relate to that because that’s how I grew up. I am the sixth of seven siblings, and I grew up in a home in the west part of Guatemala. We were sent to school, but no one was watching over us, therefore we weren’t really doing well in school.

My mom was the one providing financially for us. She would go to the fields and pick crops, so we had no one to check that we did our homework.  She was busy working, and she couldn’t read or write.

So, that’s how I relate to the Boys Hope Girls Hope mission, because I got the opportunity to finish high school and then was awarded a scholarship. I remember how I was back then and what I’ve become today. That’s what I see, and that’s how I relate to the scholars in Guatemala.

Patience: Can you tell us about a favorite memory you have of a scholar at Esperanza Juvenil? 

Lucas: One scholar, in particular, had so many struggles that he had to push through, but he finally finished high school with us. One time later, he visited me and said “thank you so much for being patient with me, because I didn’t have any other family that could provide what you provided in the end. And, I’ve become what I am right now because of you guys.” That’s really fulfilling for me to see those cycles being broken by Boys Hope Girls Hope. 

A board member donated their construction company services to help make the transformation of school into functional dorm a reality.