Welcome to Paraje Xejuxup, Aldea Chuacorral Uno, Santa María Chiquimula, Guatemala!
With Sean Aron’s support, PoP is partnering with the Paraje Xejuxup, Aldea Chuacorral Uno, Santa María Chiquimulato community to construct a new two-classroom structure and create a quality learning environment for hundreds of students and teachers.
You're Making a Difference Here
Why Guatemala?
In Guatemala, where 59% of the population lives below the poverty line, socioeconomic status is one of the biggest barriers to accessing quality education (World Bank 2018).
The average length of schooling for a Guatemalan child is only four years and 24% of the population is illiterate (US Aid 2014; World Bank 2014). This is one of the highest illiteracy rates in the Western Hemisphere.
Pencils of Promise works with 215 communities in Guatemala to ensure students overcome these, and other, barriers to accessing quality education. Currently, PoP is impacting over 265,000 students and teachers in Guatemala.
Paraje Xejuxup, Aldea Chuacorral Uno, Santa María Chiquimula
With a population of around 1,500, this community is located within the Totonicapán district. Here, members of the community engage in agriculture, growing predominantly beans and corn. K’iche and Spanish language is spoken here.
Sean’s Impact in Paraje Xejuxup, Aldea Chuacorral Uno, Santa María Chiquimula
Paraje Xejuxup currently has three formal and two informal classrooms, only four of which are in use. These four classrooms are insufficient to meet the needs of the student population. The classrooms are also in urgent need of renovations in ceilings, walls and electrical installations. Additionally, the existing toilets are unhygienic and unsafe for students and teachers. These conditions hinder learning, posing a hazard to student safety and engagement.
In the coming months, PoP will be partnering with the Paraje Xejuxup, Aldea Chuacorral Uno, Santa María Chiquimula community to build a new two-classroom structure, four toilets and two latrines. The community is committed to providing higher-quality education to its students and will contribute 20% of the resources and labor required for construction. We expect to break ground in August 2021 and hope to complete construction in November 2021.
The new Paraje Xejuxup School will provide a high-quality learning environment where every child can reach their unique potential.
Paraje Xejuxup School
MADE POSSIBLE with support from:
Sean Aron
BREAK GROUND:
November 2021
COMPLETION:
January 2022