The Project
Teaching English in Guatemala

Education

The indigenous Maya in Guatemala make up a huge percentage of the population, yet many live off just $1 a day. Global Vision International is currently working with two indigenous communities, San Andrés Itzapa and Santa Maria de Jesus, which are both within a 45-minute journey from Antigua through lush mountain scenery and typical Guatemalan villages.

Our aims are first and foremost in education, paying particular focus on literacy and educational reinforcement for the children of each community. Any extra money the families have goes towards primary education for the boys, with the girls sadly neglected. Illiteracy rates are high and the standard of education for those that do go to school is low. Many children can only attend school for just a couple of years before being unable to continue due to economic constraints or being sent to work in the fields. Coupled with this is a lack of knowledge in basic hygiene and nutrition. Global Vision International, with the full support of the indigenous leaders of the communities, aims to tackle these issues in many different ways through education.

When it comes to teaching English, we work very closely with the leaders of the communities, to the extent that we eat with them each day to discuss any issues. English has become very important in secondary school education. The children you will be teaching will vary in age from 10-18. All our children receive scholarships to attend National School now, including primary, secondary and college education.

San Andres Itzapa

In October 2003, with the help of the indigenous leader, Elena Siquinajay Suy, GVI set up the Pajaro de Fuego (Phoenix) project. On a piece of disused land we renovated two buildings, with the help of volunteer donation money, into suitable teaching areas for over 60 children. In 2005, due to an increased number of children, we also rented out an abandoned house for more classrooms and at the start of 2008, rented further space as the number of children passed over 300 split into nine different classes, both in the morning and afternoon. Thanks to volunteer donations we were able to act quickly to help over 80 families affected by Hurricane Stan in October 2005; providing shelter, basic food supplies, medicine, clothing, water, cooking utensils, livestock and reconstruction.

Santa Maria de Jesus

In July 2004 we set up our next project in Santa Maria Jesus – an indigenous community on the foothills of Volcan Agua – with the help of Santiago Colin providing first time education to many children whose ages range between 5-13. In 2005, due to the increased number of children we opened our second project in another house, and now give education to over 200 children.