SOS Children's Village San Jerónimo was set up in 2001 in the little town of San Jerónimo. The town is situated in the district of Baja Verapaz at about 100km from Guatemala City. The civil war hit this region very badly, and its inhabitants (most of them belong to the American Indian tribe of the Quiché) still suffer from the consequences. The extreme poverty of the people and the big number of social problems were the two most important reasons for choosing this region to establish another SOS Children's Village in Guatemala.
SOS Children's Village San Jerónimo consists of 10 family houses, the village director's house, an SOS aunts' (family helpers') house, an administrative building and a multipurpose hall. It offers a new home to up to 90 orphaned or abandoned children and youths.
In January 2005, an SOS Youth Facility was set up on the site of the SOS Children's Village. In this facility, young people gradually prepare for their future independence in so-called youth communities while they continue their education and/or training.