AMIGOS DE SANTA CRUZ, GUATEMALA

HIGHER EDUCATION IN GUATEMALA GIVES YOUNG WOMEN MORE OPPORTUNITY AND CHOICE

Amigos de Santa Cruz supports the communities of Santa Cruz la Laguna, located on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. Executive Director Jessie Cohen and a dedicated staff comprised almost entirely of local women and men operate educational and technical training programs to equip future leaders with the tools they need to improve their own communities. When Amigos was founded in 1998, typically only six students graduated from primary school, and few even dared to dream of attending high school or university. This year, 57 students receive scholarship support from Amigos, including 15 in middle school and 23 in high school. Nineteen students now attend university, many with CCI support. And 65% of Amigos-supported students are female! University scholarship recipientas must pass all of their classes each semester and maintain their grade point average. In addition, they give back to their communities by mentoring high school students to help their younger peers succeed, and by completing a community service program each year.

This year Amigos opened a new elementary school in Santa Cruz where children ca reach their fullest potential. The tri-lingual school (Spanish, Kachiquel and English) offers a quality education based on critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration and confidence in each student.

WITH YOUR HELP

BRENDA GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY AND NURSING DEGREE!

“MY DREAM WAS TO BECOME A NURSE and help those most in need in my community. My parents supported me, but we didn’t have the means to pay for my studies. Thanks to [Amigos and CCI] I’ve earned a university degree in nursing. The path to follow my dream was challenging, but it was all worth it, because I’M THE FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO HOLD A UNIVERSITY DEGREE! Now I work at the Santa Cruz Health Center. I’m committed to help my community, especially the villages where access to health services is difficult.”