Location of Impact
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 165 communities in Guatemala to ensure our students overcome these, and other, barriers to accessing a quality education. To date, PoP has impacted over 218,000 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 Guatemalan regions 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 over 80 schools in Boca Costa and plan to continue to scale our builds, along with teacher training workshops, across PoP schools in the region.
Before a PoP School Build
Previously, 1st grade, 4th grade and 6th grade students of the Eca Agraria El Paraiso school were learning in provisional structures. These temporary classrooms were made out of concrete and wire. The roofs on all but one of these classrooms were made out of a poor material known as durolita, which allowed for several holes, further exposing students to the elements. Additionally, while Eca Agraria El Paraiso had 5 washrooms, the school did not have access to an adequate drainage system. This lack of a safe space dedicated to education affected student engagement and learning.
Your Impact with a New PoP School
You recognized and responded to the needs of the students of Eca Agraria El Paraiso. Through your impact, the Eca Agraria El Paraiso school now has formal classrooms for all students. PoP was able to partner with the community to complete construction on 3 new classrooms and to construct new roofs for 5 existing classrooms, ensuring proper shelter and structure for all students. The community will also now have access to 7 new washrooms, complete with a drainage system. You made this build possible for the students of Eca Agraria El Paraiso and created a safe environment where they will be able to learn and realize their potential and promise.