You’re Making a Difference Here
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 4 years and 24.1% of the population is illiterate (US Aid 2014; World Bank 2014).
Pencils of Promise works with 168 communities in Guatemala to ensure our students overcome these, and other, barriers to accessing a quality education. To date, PoP has impacted over 219,000 lives in Guatemala.
BOCA COSTA REGION
The region of Boca Costa, located southeast of PoP’s Guatemala headquarters in Xela, is home to a more tropical climate than any of the other regions in Guatemala in which we work. PoP expanded to Boca Costa in early 2012, with our regional office located in Santo Tomás La Unión.
To date, we’ve built 80 schools in the region and plan to continue to scale our builds, along with programmatic work, across PoP schools in the region.
Before a PoP School Build
Previously, not all students of Caserío Pasin had access to formal school structures. All of the community’s 1st grade students and the majority of its 4th grade students attended classes in 1 of 3 provisional classrooms. These structures were made of wood and metal and had no constructed floors or adequate roofs, exposing the students to the elements. While 3 previously existing classrooms were in relatively good condition, they required roofing and electrical repairs. Your support made it possible for all students of Caserío Pasin to have a new, safe and dedicated learning environment.
Your Impact with a New PoP School
With the help of the incredible Caserío Pasin community, we completed work on a 3-classroom build. The new Caserío Pasin School, made possible by your generosity, will grant all of the community’s students access to formal and safe classrooms. These classrooms will include: proper furniture, doors, windows and electricity. The students, teachers and parents were so happy to have you present at the official inauguration in June. You’re compassion has touched the lives of so many in Caserío Pasin, and that legacy of heart will live on through the quality learning environment and educational opportunities that you made available to these students. The entire community thanks you for your support and the kind spirit you shared with them on your visit to Guatemala.
