You’re Making a Difference Here
WHY GUATEMALA?
In Guatemala, where over 50% of the population lives below the poverty line, socioeconomic status is one of the biggest barriers to accessing a quality education (World Bank 2013). The average length of schooling for a Guatemalan child is only four years and 24.1% of the population is illiterate (US Aid 2014; World Bank 2014).
Pencils of Promise works with 190 communities in Guatemala to ensure our students overcome these, and other, barriers to accessing a quality education. Currently, PoP is impacting over 37,000 students in Guatemala.
SUCHITEPÉQUEZ REGION
The region of Suchitepéquez, called Suchi by locals, lies southeast of our headquarters in Xela. PoP expanded here in early 2012, with our regional office located in Mazatenango.
Suchitepéquez offers a variety of exotic fruits and coffee as main crops, and the climate is much more tropical than the other regions in which we work. To date, we’ve broken ground on 47 schools in Suchitepéquez and plan to continue our partnership with these communities for years to come.
Before a PoP School Build
Previously, the Canton San Miguelito school had four formal classrooms each shared by two different grades. Because these classrooms were occupied by students from different grades with their respective teachers, it was difficult for students to focus during class. In addition to the distraction that this caused for students, it also posed a hazard to student safety and wellbeing, as well as to engagement and learning.
Your Impact with a New PoP School
You’ve recognized and responded to the needs of Canton San Miguelito, Santo Domingo by helping PoP and the community complete a new two-classroom school build. This new structure will provide the appropriate space for the current 121 students attending school. Community members, parents and teachers were in full support of the build, contributing 20 percent of the resources and materials required. The school was officially completed in August 2018, with an inauguration ceremony soon after. Your support has helped make this school build possible, creating a safe and strong foundation that will foster an environment of educational growth and promise for the students of Canton San Miguelito, Santo Domingo.
