EDUCATION
Education: Opening Minds, Transforming Futures
Education is the foundation of lasting change.
Through our sponsorship program, Amigos de Guatemala is helping students continue their education and build a different future. In the rural highlands of Guatemala, free education ends after the sixth grade. For most families, continuing school is simply not possible. With an average annual income of around $1,000, the cost of middle and high school—$450 and $800 per year—places education out of reach for many Maya children.
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty
When our founders, Jan and Bob Hatmaker, first arrived in 2003, they discovered a heartbreaking reality—not a single girl had completed elementary school. Many children spoke K’iche’ as their first language and needed to learn Spanish to succeed in school. But as soon as they began learning, families often had to pull them out to help support the household—working in markets, fields, or as domestic help. Today, the need remains great:
- 75% of Maya men cannot read or write
- 90% of Maya women cannot read or write
Education is not just an opportunity—it is a lifeline.
A New Generation Rising
Because of sponsorships, change is happening.
Families are beginning to see the value of education and are choosing to keep their children in school.
- 75% of the 70 students in our scholarship program are young women
- Students are now completing middle and high school
- Graduates are returning to serve their communities
Some of our students are:
- Teaching Spanish to their own parents
- Working as educators in their local schools
- Building careers and creating financial stability for their families
What once seemed impossible is now becoming reality.
More Than Education—It’s Hope
Become a Sponsor
In a region deeply impacted by the civil war in the 1980s and 1990s, education represents healing, dignity, and hope. Amigos de Guatemala is not only supporting students—we are helping transform families and communities for generations to come. You too, can help change a life. Through sponsorship, you provide access to education, opportunity, and hope for a child who would not otherwise have the chance.
EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS
COMPUTER LABS
In rural Guatemala, access to education is limited—and access to technology is even more rare. While education is compulsory through the 6th grade, many children leave school early to help support their families, often after only learning basic Spanish.
Amigos de Guatemala is working to change that.
Through the development of computer labs in the Zacualpa region, students are gaining access to tools and opportunities that were once out of reach. These labs are equipped with Ministry of Education–approved curriculum as well as Spanish-language learning platforms like Khan Academy, helping students strengthen literacy, comprehension, and critical thinking skills.
But the impact goes beyond academics.
Children love the computer labs. What began as an educational initiative has created something even greater—a desire to attend school. Attendance has increased, engagement has grown, and in schools with computer labs, students are showing higher literacy levels, improved grades, and stronger test scores.
For many students, the computer lab is the reason they don’t want to miss a single day.
Our vision is simple:
Every school should have a computer lab.
In partnership with Funsepa, we are working to expand these programs and bring this opportunity to more communities. Each lab creates a lasting impact—not just for today’s students, but for future generations.
💙 The cost to build one computer lab is $6,500.
Help us continue transforming education—one school at a time.
MIDDLE SCHOOL DESKS
In Pachalum, Guatemala, nearly 200 middle school students show up each day with a desire to learn—but many do not have a proper place to sit.
Desks are broken, worn down, or borrowed from other schools. Some students share, while others try to learn without a stable surface to write, read, or complete their work. What many of us take for granted—a simple desk—becomes a daily barrier to learning.
The local school and community have done everything they can. In Guatemala, communities are responsible for maintaining and replacing school furniture, but in regions like Pachalum, resources are extremely limited. Even the most basic improvements are often out of reach.
Recently, the school formally requested support to replace 75 unusable desks, creating a safe, functional, and dignified learning environment for their students.
A desk is more than furniture.
It provides:
- A space to focus
- A sense of stability
- A place where a child can take ownership of their education
When students have a proper place to learn, confidence grows, participation increases, and the classroom becomes a space of possibility instead of limitation.
💙 For just $4,000, we can provide 75 new desks.
This is a simple, tangible way to make an immediate impact—one that will be used every single day by students working toward a better future.
Dictionaries
In the rural communities of Zacualpa, many children grow up in homes without books. For some students, school is the only place they encounter written materials—and even then, resources are limited.
Each year, Amigos de Guatemala provides dictionaries to third-grade students across local elementary schools. For many of these children, this is the very first book they have ever owned—and the first book they can take home to share with their parents and siblings.
And it matters.
Receiving a dictionary is more than just getting a school supply—it’s a moment of pride, excitement, and possibility. Students eagerly flip through the pages, discovering new words, expanding their vocabulary, and building confidence in their reading and writing.
Teachers incorporate the dictionaries into daily lessons, helping students strengthen language skills that are essential for continued education. These simple tools become a bridge—connecting children to greater understanding, communication, and opportunity—not just for the student, but for their entire family.
Something as small as a book can spark a lifelong love of learning.
💙 For just $600, we can provide dictionaries for students in three schools.
Together, we can place books directly into the hands of children who need them most—giving them not just words, but a foundation for their future.