Building Schools in Guatemala
Our third Project 2009 –Rio Mactzul
Spring 2009
Desks in The Temporary school which
we replaced in February, 2009.
Rio Mactzul is a new village formed in 2008, which had 71 families and over 100 children eligible to attend school. For the first time we built a school where there had not been one previously. Since the Guatemalan government allocates teachers only where there are schools, Derek had the village build a temporary very primitive two room school out of readily available materials (scrap lumber, logs and used corrugated metal) to meet the teachers allocation requirement.
The plan worked and the students started school in January in the temporary school as you can see in the accompanying pictures. A relative of one of the teachers is a regional school official and was able to get the government to supply desks when our construction project was finished. You can also see the sanitary facility we encountered. We brought water onto the site and have provided two flush toilets in a new concrete latrine.
In a fun filled, fireworks supported farewell ceremony attended by the entire Rio Mactzul population, we heard many speeches. One in particular was very powerful. The lead elder said, “Ustedes nos ayudaron dar cuenta de la necessidad…””You made us become aware of our need”. We had done more than just construct a school… we made them aware of how important it was to educate their children! That statement came as a windfall bonus to our tired Gringo Volunteers. It was like doubling the payoff… the icing on the cake.
Martin Lavanhar cartooning for the children.
Derek completed the school (welding roof beam, electrical work, windows and doors installed) in early May and the children were attending classes immediately… just prior to the rainy season.
In late 2009, Derek received a request from Rio Mactzul for an additional classroom (a third one). Remember there was no school in this new village until we arrive. There are many children that never went to school at all., who by then should have been in upper grades. True to the leaders words about understanding their need, the elders decided to bring the uneducated older children in from the farm fields and start them learning to read and write. We agreed and the additional classroom was completed by May 2010.
Another facility we upgraded,
crucial for the health of the children.
Rio Mactzul’s first PTA meeting.
Temporary school which we replaced in February 2009.
