International Samaritan

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International Samaritan Fighting poverty for children and families in garbage dump communities around the world. International Samaritan was founded in 1994 by Father Don Vettese, S.J.

International Samaritan is an international nonprofit dedicated to raising the standard of living in garbage dump communities. For 25 years, we have worked to change the lives of the most vulnerable people in the world through a unique blend of hands-on service and advocacy work. On a school trip to Guatemala, Father Vettese’s group was diverted from their route due to traffic and drove through the garbage dump community instead. Father Vettese was horrified by what he saw and pledged to do something about it. That chance encounter led to the creation of International Samaritan. All these years later, International Samaritan has grown beyond Guatemala, and our mission is carried out by people across many nations and faiths. International Samaritan currently has offices in Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, and Ethiopia, and gained consultative status with the United Nations in 2011. Our United States office is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

For children growing up in settlements near garbage dumps, school often isn’t an option. Parents can’t afford the fees, ...
10/23/2026

For children growing up in settlements near garbage dumps, school often isn’t an option. Parents can’t afford the fees, and children are needed to help search through trash for recyclables and other items to sell or use.

But a scholarship can change that path for a child. It covers school fees and supplies and provides food, mentorship, and basic health care, helping a child get the education most of their parents never received.

This International Samaritan Day, we’re looking for Samaritans to take a step with 20 children on their path out of poverty.

Learn more: https://intsam.org/international-samaritan-day/

Alesha, a scholar in Jamaica, has started a course in geriatric nursing. Not long ago, she said, “I don’t know what I wa...
10/21/2026

Alesha, a scholar in Jamaica, has started a course in geriatric nursing. Not long ago, she said, “I don’t know what I want to do after high school.” She took career assessments, researched her options, asked questions, and made the decision herself. She’s nervous and excited as she takes this first step toward a career she chose.

As a boy growing up near a dumpsite in Ethiopia, Mulualem found a crumpled boarding pass and made himself a promise: he ...
10/19/2026

As a boy growing up near a dumpsite in Ethiopia, Mulualem found a crumpled boarding pass and made himself a promise: he was going to travel one day. Two months ago, he finally boarded a flight, bound for a new destination and a new career. See his story: intsam.org/boarding-pass

This October 25, our Samaritan Scholars are doing more than celebrating International Samaritan Day—they're leading it. ...
10/16/2026

This October 25, our Samaritan Scholars are doing more than celebrating International Samaritan Day—they're leading it. They are running 5Ks or hosting sports tournaments to raise awareness and support for scholarships that give children a path out of poverty. It's their way of making the same choice the Good Samaritan made: to stop and help.

Some of our scholarship students were showing up to school hungry, so our team in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, started Come...
10/14/2026

Some of our scholarship students were showing up to school hungry, so our team in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, started Comedor Pequeños Corazones (Little Hearts Soup Kitchen). 💛

What began with our own resources has grown into a community effort — parents, our program alumni, neighbors, and local churches all pitching in. So far, we've shared two meals with about 45 kids, and with every plate, a little more joy.

"I can stand up for myself." Recently, 49 of our female scholarship students went through self-defense training. Kellen ...
10/12/2026

"I can stand up for myself." Recently, 49 of our female scholarship students went through self-defense training. Kellen said she now knows how to defend herself, especially when walking home alone. Leticia said she now knows what to do if someone grabs her from behind.

"Their words carry a powerful message," said David Kafambe, Country Director in Uganda. "They no longer see themselves as helpless."

See the story on our blog: intsam.org/standing-taller

What does it mean to be a Samaritan? The Good Samaritan saw someone in need and made a simple choice: to stop and help. ...
10/09/2026

What does it mean to be a Samaritan? The Good Samaritan saw someone in need and made a simple choice: to stop and help. On October 25, in honor of that story in Luke 10:25, our scholars and teams around the world will celebrate International Samaritan Day—honoring Good Samaritans and the difference each of us makes when we choose to show up for someone else.

Here are a few ways to celebrate this year:
📞 Call or text your own Good Samaritan and tell them what they meant to you.
🏚️ Learn what it's like to live in a settlement next to a garbage dump: https://intsam.org/about-garbage-dump-communities/
🧭 Walk through our choose-your-path story and see what choices you'd make: https://intsam.org/imagine/
💛 Donate and support scholarships—100% of your gift goes directly to children and families living next to dumpsites: https://internationalsamaritan.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donation

Movie night magic! 🍿 Our scholarship program alumni in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, threw a special night for the kids in o...
10/07/2026

Movie night magic! 🍿 Our scholarship program alumni in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, threw a special night for the kids in our program.

They watched "Exchange," a story about empathy, adapting to change, and working as a team — perfect themes for a room full of scholarship students and their siblings. With homemade popcorn, soft drinks, and a cozy theater vibe, the kids got to just be kids — laughing, bonding, and soaking up a little movie magic together.

Grateful for the team behind this one. 💛

Scholars, their families, team members, and friends recently gathered in Guatemala City to celebrate the grand opening o...
10/05/2026

Scholars, their families, team members, and friends recently gathered in Guatemala City to celebrate the grand opening of a new Family Life Center.

"It's a time to build," said Fr. Robert Karle, S.J. in his homily. "To create this Family Life Center. To create a home for International Samaritan here in Guatemala, but more importantly, a home for this community—a place where people can gather, learn, grow, receive support, strengthen families, build relationships, and imagine new possibilities together."

Read his homily on our blog: https://intsam.org/a-time-to-build/

Exciting news — we've launched a new Tae Kwon Do program, led by instructor Aneeke Brown, who believes our girls should ...
10/02/2026

Exciting news — we've launched a new Tae Kwon Do program, led by instructor Aneeke Brown, who believes our girls should be able to defend themselves. Last Saturday, we kicked off our very first class, and everyone left excited!

Thanks to donations for sports and arts, self-defense classes are now being added to programming in every country we work in. Next up: getting uniforms and gear for our scholars as the program grows.🥋

Address

803 N Main Street
Ann Arbor, MI
48104

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17342220701

Website

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