2024 Completed Projects
Preschool Desks
The Guatemala Education Ministry is requiring preschool education for all children in the country. At the same time, no funding for classrooms, tables, chairs or instructional materials is allocated to the districts. Some of the schools in the Zacualpa area have made classroom space available. Still needed are tables, chairs and some instructional materials. The original request for 100 sets came from the superintendent of schools for the municipality of Zacualpa. In 2022, Amigos de Guatemala was able to provide 30 sets to outfit six preschool classrooms. Seventy more sets of the brightly colored tables and chairs are needed. The sets are made locally and cost Q1,000 or $135 US. To furnish all of the schools needing tables and chairs cost $9,450 US. They were made in Guatemala, providing work for local people.
Computer Labs
Education in Guatemala is compulsory up through the 6th grade. However, many children leave school after the 2nd or 3rd grade when they have learned enough Spanish to help the family earn a living by working in the fields, selling in the market or being a domestic. Amigos de Guatemala has implemented several computer labs in the Zacualpa area. These labs provide all of the educational materials required by the Ministry of Education as well as the Khan Academy in Spanish. A wonderful by-product is that the children want to go to school. Attendances, literacy and grades are at the highest levels where this labs have been implemented. The goal is to provide computer labs in as many schools as possible. Partnering with Funsepa, we are working to make this a reality. The cost is $6,000 per computer lab. Two were implemented this year and many more are needed.
Medical Center Roof
A few years ago Amigos de Guatemala, partnering with Project CURE and the medical center in Zacualpa, was awarded over a half million dollars worth of donated medical equipment. To recognize the value of the equipment and the medical centers’ contribution in keeping locals healthy, the Guatemala Ministry of Health updated and greatly expanded the facility which was built in the 1970’s. This update also changed its status to be a 24/7 medical center. The entrance to the emergency area did not have a roof large enough to protect the ambulances and more importantly the patients from the elements. Cost: Q74,475/$9,700
Reforestation
Amigos de Guatemala is working with local villagers to improve the environment by replanting 5,000 fast-growing pine and cypress trees. Fifty families received 100 saplings and be educated to maintain the trees in a healthy and sustainable method by harvesting limbs rather than whole trees. The trees will help fend off erosion and rebalance the local ecosystem. Cost: Q22,500/$3,000 includes delivery from the nursery.
Vector Control Sprayers
Amigos de Guatemala never has received an emergency request from our partner, Fredy with ADIZ. Unfortunately, there has been a high occurrence of Dengue fever, which has no preventative vaccine. There have been reports of several fatalities including one of Fredy’s good friends. The local medical center has been doing education outreach about mosquito abatement including minimizing standing water. The vector control technicians have been using spraying equipment that is not as efficient to effectively address the mosquitos. They requested two new sprayers to be used in the Zacualpa municipality. Thanks to all of your past donations, we were able to support the need and within a week the technicians were using the sprayers to help address mosquito born illnesses. Cost: Q13,000/$1,700 for two sprayers.
Dictionaries
Every year, Amigos de Guatemala distributes books to third graders who live in the remote communities. For many, this is the first book that they or their family owns. It is a book where they can write their own name. A powerful statement. Cost: Q4,200/$575 for 120 dictionaries.