PROJECT VILLAGE GUATEMALA HISTORY
When Project Village first visited the village in 2005, there was a modest elementary school with only one teacher responsible for educating all 57 students across grades 1 through 6, housed in a three-room school building. Upon completing sixth grade, students were compelled to seek education in private or limited public schools outside the village, leaving older children with limited options and resources to continue their studies.
During our initial meeting with community leaders, the villagers expressed a strong desire for their children to receive a high-quality education, believing it would enhance their future prospects. Since the inception of Project Village, significant developments have occurred in the village’s education landscape. The school has grown to accommodate 300 students, now offering programs spanning elementary, middle, and high school education.
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of villagers engaged in volunteer construction work and the financial support provided by Project Village, the original three-room school building has expanded significantly. It now features eleven fully equipped classrooms, a library, an administrative office, a computer lab boasting 32 workstations, and an atrium that includes a lounge area. This space has evolved into a dedicated elementary school, where students benefit from a fully bilingual education. They receive English instruction for two and a half hours each school day, with the remaining five hours conducted in Spanish. Our educational offerings have expanded to include kindergarten, pre-elementary classes, and grades one through six. It is worth noting that while most educational institutions in Guatemala operate for only half a day, either in the morning or afternoon, Project Village Guatemala provides full-day instruction, thereby placing double demands on our dedicated teachers and staff in comparison to their peers.
The success of our elementary school paved the way for the construction of a separate building, Colegio San Bernabé, dedicated to middle and high school education. Project Village Guatemala acquired the land, and the building was constructed through the combined efforts of villagers, parents of students residing outside the village, and hired laborers. Colegio San Bernabé boasts eight modern classrooms, a fully-equipped computer lab, an advanced science lab, an administrative office, a teachers’ lounge, modern restrooms, and green spaces where students can relax during breaks from their studies. Last year, Project Village completed the construction of a fully-equipped cafeteria. Each day, students arrive at 7 am for a two-hour study block, which is utilized for homework completion, practical lessons in the computer and science labs, and preparation for national and international academic competitions. Formal classes commence at 9 am and conclude at 4:50 pm.
To support students residing far from the village and to attract quality faculty members and volunteers from foreign countries, Project Village constructed student dormitories for up to thirty-two students, two apartments for faculty or volunteers, a director’s residence, and a basketball court. These facilities are also used during school vacations for math, science, band, and theater camps, teacher training seminars, and other programs serving the local community.
San Bernabé students attend free of charge. Children from outside the village currently pay a modest tuition of less than $350 per year, which decreases after two years, contingent on their parents’ demonstration of collaboration with the school and community. Those unable to afford this tuition have the opportunity to work at the school in lieu of payment. From its inception, Project Village has consistently required active community participation. Villagers and parents living outside the village regularly contribute labor and organize local fundraising events to support the construction and maintenance of the school buildings.
Over the past eighteen years, Project Village has continuously adapted its role based on available resources and measurable outcomes. Its primary mission is to provide a high-quality educational opportunity to a specific population of indigenous and economically disadvantaged residents in San Bernabé Vista Hermosa and the surrounding area of Guatemala.
The organization’s emphasis has always been on collaboration with local residents and the broader community to ensure that children receive a top-notch education, unlocking opportunities that would otherwise be inaccessible to them due to their socio-economic circumstances. Project Village has achieved remarkable success, rivaling both non-profit and for-profit educational programs in Guatemala and beyond. This success is attributed to the invaluable contributions of numerous students, teachers, parents, villagers, benefactors, and supporters.
