CNN Hero Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes has a vision for the children of his community, which includes a future free from the violence, drugs and poverty which pervades Jocotenango, Guatemala. When Romero Fuentes was just 23-years-old, he converted the garage of his family home into a school with the help of a few volunteers. In 2008, he met JustWorld International Founder Jessica Newman alongside Guatemalan Olympic Show Jumper Juan Andres Rodriguez. Together, Romero Fuentes and JustWorld International launched an educational institution called Los Patojos, meaning the “Little Ones.” Since then, the school has reached K-12 accreditation and maintains two campuses as El Patojismo. In 2023, the doors opened to the innovative Centro de Oportunidades (CDO), a vocational school which offers comprehensive academic and technical training programs. El Patojismo additionally provides nutrition programs, a community medical clinic and art, music and cultural development programs.