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 classrooms at the Línea B-2 School were part of an old structure and experienced severe overcrowding, with two or three grades of students learning in each classroom. The conditions of these informal classrooms posed a hazard to student safety and wellbeing, as well as to student engagement and learning.
Your Impact with a New PoP School
You’ve recognized and responded to the needs of Línea B-2, San Jose La Maquina by helping PoP and the community complete a new four-classroom school build. This new structure provides the appropriate space for all currently enrolled students. Community members, parents, and teachers were in full support, contributing up to 20 percent of the build. We’ve officially completed this new school, with an inauguration ceremony held in September 2018! Your support is creating a safe and strong structural foundation that will foster an environment of educational growth and promise for the students of Línea B-2, San Jose La Maquina.