Colegio Juan Wesley in San Cristobal Totonicapan

Students: 350 / Teachers: 25 / Grades: K - 6, three years of secondary

Founded in 1997, Colegio Juan Wesley in San Cristobal Totonicapan, Guatemala has experienced rapid growth. There is a great need for an alternative to the public school system in this region, as there are only half of the needed public schools in Guatemala. This means that those who cannot attend public schools nor afford the expensive private schools are left behind.

Colegio Juan Wesley is made up of 300 students - mostly from Quiche families of Mayan descent. The school's vision is to form men and women who are elements of social, economic, political, and religious change, and its mission is to provide an education that pays attention to the individual needs of the students, and create an alternative to the overtaxed public school system.

Since its beginning, Colegio Juan Wesley has experienced rapid growth and is quickly outgrowing its facilities. Classes are currently held in downtown San Cristobal in the Sunday school rooms of the Methodist church. Students learn in seven classrooms, a tight squeeze for the school's 300 students and growing. To maximize space, the school holds elementary school classes in the morning and junior high classes in the afternoon.

The donation of a site at a local Christian camp was a great relief to the parents, students, and director Karla Santiago, but money is scarce when it comes to purchasing the actual building materials for the new school and paying for labor. The school also has the long-term vision of teaching elementary, junior high, high school, vocational training, and eventually university classes on this site. Please consider partnering with this school to reach its dream of expanding the influence of Christ and quality education in the western highlands of Guatemala!

For more information on this school, visit EduGuate.org.

Act now!