Our Work

Desperate Situations

Those who live in poverty-stricken communities of the Northern Triangle (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras) find themselves trapped. They're ensnared by vicious cycles of crime, violence, unemployment, lack of eduction, and family disruption.

Youth fortunate enough to survive the violence of these environments often find themselves behind bars for the crimes they’ve been groomed or coerced to commit. Once imprisoned, they are abandoned by society. Dismissed as futureless. But when does a person’s future become hopeless? When does it become so dark, that even the brightest light can’t flicker within it? When should we just quit and give up hope that the future will ever — could ever — be different? We say never.

We fight for hope beyond bars.

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Behind Bars

Counteract International meets youth in their most desperate moments, going behind the bars of some of the toughest juvenile prisons to stand by their side as they fight for their futures.

Each day, we send workers into government-run juvenile correctional centers across El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to mentor and guide each one of these young men and women. We establish Success Academies where we provide life skills, leadership training, and Bible studies. We work with each Academy student to develop a personalized Success Plan so each one has a roadmap for life after incarceration.

Our goal is to move youth into close relationships with God, themselves, family and friends, and their community as a whole. This holistic approach equips youth — whom society has written off as hopeless — to achieve amazing life turnarounds!

Beyond Bars

The foundation of Counteract’s work starts in the government-run juvenile correctional centers, but it doesn’t stop there.

Once the youth are released from custody, they still face significant obstacles and many challenges. That’s where our Success Coaches go into action! Success Coaches identify opportunities in the community and support youth in their reintegration.

What does this look like? As the youth return to society, they…

  • Enroll in university or a vocational education program

  • Connect to a local church for continued spiritual growth

  • Avoid any repeat offenses or gang activity

  • Start family counseling to reconcile and mend broken relationships

  • Acquire apprenticeships and jobs at local businesses

  • Mentor other youth that are in similar life situations they once were

Why? Because we believe that every youth has a future worth fighting for!

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Serving Others

Previously incarcerated youth are not only changing in their personal lives, they also are becoming agents of positive change within their local communities.

Youth who’ve been taught behind bars in the Success Academies, and mentored upon release by Success Coaches, are now expressing their gratitude through acts of service. Projects have included:

  • Hosting a neighborhood fair for children in an impoverished and crime-ridden neighborhood.

  • Serving a meal and worshiping with elderly and disabled residents at an assisted living facility.

  • Visiting young boys and girls at a children’s hospital and delivering gifts to them.

  • Playing games, providing snacks, and leading devotionals for more than 100 children who live around a city dump.

“We want to give back, to glorify God, and to show the community we have changed,” one of the Success Academy alumnae said.

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Together, we can build hope-filled futures

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Give vulnerable youth the life-changing gift of an education.

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Support local teachers who provide holistic services to incarcerated youth every day.