Christmas on the road to Tecpán: why children wait by the highway and how to help

Why do children wait by the road at Christmas in Guatemala?

Drive toward Tecpán in December and you will see them: groups of 5 to 50 children, sometimes whole families, standing by the highway. They are waiting for a car to pull over with something for Christmas. Some wait all through December; others come only on the 24th.

They come from remote communities around Iximché and Tecpán, as Guatemala.com reported. A few numbers help explain why:

• In the municipality of Tecpán Guatemala, 54.1% of residents live in poverty, according to the 2023 municipal poverty maps published by Segeplan, the government's planning office.
• Nationwide, 64.8% of children and adolescents live in poverty, and the rate reaches 80.8% among Indigenous children, according to UNICEF's 2026 country programme document for Guatemala, based on the national ENCOVI 2023 survey.

For many families, waiting by the road is a way to make sure Christmas passes through their community too.

Where is the road to Tecpán, and how cold does it get in December?

Tecpán Guatemala is a highland municipality in the department of Chimaltenango. It is home to Iximché, the archaeological site that was the capital of the Kaqchikel people (AGN). From Antigua, the route climbs through Chimaltenango to the Pan-American Highway, and after about an hour and a half on the road the first groups of children appear.

Pack a jacket. On December 19, 2023, frost covered cars in Chimaltenango city and crops in nearby Patzicía, Prensa Libre reported. For December 2026, INSIVUMEH, Guatemala's weather service, forecasts four cold fronts (La Hora). That is why blankets and sweaters matter as much as toys.

What happens on December 24?

Start with a Smile Project, known in Spanish as Proyecto Sonrisas, has made this delivery every December 24 since 2014. Here is how the day goes:

1. 6:00 a.m. Founder Amalia Jarquín leaves Antigua with family and friends, the cars loaded with packages.
2. About 90 minutes later. The first groups appear along the road to Tecpán: sometimes 5 children, sometimes 50, sometimes entire families.
3. Stop by stop. Packages are handed out at every stop, and the drive continues as long as there are gifts left in the cars. In 2022 the delivery ran from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., according to Guatemala.com.

One recent year, the project gave out 500 packages and, thanks to donated toys, close to 1,000 gifts. You can see what the day looks like on the Paint Smiles for Christmas page.

What goes in a Christmas package, and what is needed?

Every package has three things: a toothbrush and toothpaste, a nutritious food item and a toy. For the 2022 delivery, the project also asked for the items below, as Guatemala.com published on December 19, 2022:

• Shoes for children and adults, flat with no heels.
• Sweaters in sizes S and M, children's clothes and blankets.
• Incaparina (a fortified flour that is cooked into a warm drink), food, bar soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
• Stuffed animals, non-violent toys (no toy weapons) and school supplies.

Use the list as a guide, but needs change every year, so message us before you shop. If you are giving shoes, sizes matter: in one of the project's photos, a woman traces a child's foot on a sheet of paper to find the right size. For toy ideas, see our Guatemala Christmas toy drive guide.

Can I join the delivery or hand out gifts on my own?

The delivery is done by Amalia, her family and friends. Start with a Smile Project is a nonprofit community initiative, non-political and non-religious. It is not a registered NGO and does not run a formal volunteer program. If you will be in Antigua in December and want to pitch in, write to us and we will figure out together how you can help.

If you decide to hand out gifts on your own, keep in mind that up to 50 children may gather at a single stop:

• Pull over only where there is room off the pavement, and turn on your hazard lights.
• Hand each gift over in person; never toss anything from the car.
• Bring similar packages so no child gets less than the others.
• Ask before taking photos, and never post a child's face without the family's permission.

How can I help children in Guatemala at Christmas?

Since 2014, every delivery has been built from what people donate. Here is how to take part:

• Donate online through GoFundMe, the project's fundraiser. It is a personal GoFundMe campaign, so donations are not tax-deductible.
• Pack toys, shoes or warm clothes if you are traveling to Guatemala. Check what to bring to Guatemala to donate and what not to bring; the full suitcase list is on our How to help page.
• Give from the US or Canada: see how to donate from abroad.
• Message us to coordinate in-kind donations: WhatsApp +502 5562 3313, email amaliajarquin@gmail.com or our contact form. We will tell you how we can receive your donation in Antigua Guatemala.

This year's details are on the Christmas 2026 campaign page. Photos from every delivery go up on Facebook and on Instagram at @proyectosonrisas.gt.