Guatemala
Education in Guatemala is free and mandatory for children aged seven to 14. They are then eligible to study at a university level. The curriculum is broad, including English, history, geography, mathematics, science, music, social science, and technology.
However, the situation isn’t as positive as it may seem.
The education system is sadly underfunded, with many classrooms, especially in rural areas, not meeting minimum standards for space, teaching materials, classroom equipment, furniture, and sanitation. Nearly 10 percent of children have to work before and after school to contribute to their family income. They are therefore commonly tired and disengaged in an education system delivered by under-qualified teachers, with few resources. Consequently, positive outcomes are limited.
The other challenge is that when each child reaches the age of 14, mandatory education ends. There is no financial support for students to continue their studies. The biggest challenge for educational improvement in Guatemala is therefore the high dropout rate. Questioning the practical value of an education in their communities’ economies, poverty, and the need to contribute to their family’s income results in only about 29 percent of students continuing their basic education beyond the age of 14 (AACRAO). The result is that 83.3 per cent of the population age 15 and over is literate.
Learning Centers
English Immersion
Women’s Empowerment
Fresh Water Resources
Kaleidoscope’s journey
It was one of KCF’s board members, Randy Stephenson,
who first raised our awareness of the plight in Guatemala. When we first visited the country, we wanted to understand how we could best help the improvement of education. It quickly became clear that supporting more students to continue their education beyond the age of 14 would have the most significant impact.
In 2021, we partnered with FORMA, an education-focused charity in Guatemala, to offer education scholarships to 25 students residing in impoverished, rural areas.
Collaborating with local schools, we supported students meticulously vetted based on their ambition, work ethic, financial need, leadership potential, and their families’ commitment to the program. Without the scholarships, every student in our program would have dropped out of school, facing inevitable economic disadvantage.
We continue our fundraising to provide scholarships to more students.
Furthermore, we provided financial assistance to two learning centers to fund computers, books, and librarians. All FORMA students attend the Jabel Tinamit language school for additional training in life skills and English language proficiency.
Clean Water Initiatives
Guatemala’s 95 percent surface water contamination prompted our 2017 ‘Clean Water’ mission. We delivered 100 water filters and funded water safety and filter usage training, for indigenous families near Lake Atitlán.
Guatemala Spotlights
Meet Vilma!
Vilma endured the harsh realities of slave labor, which remain prevalent in Guatemala. Determined to break the cycle of poverty and multi-generational illiteracy, she found solace and support at our sponsored school in Panajachel. Today, she stands as a proud graduate in business administration, using her talents to inspire young women in her village to reclaim their dignity and self-worth.
Meet Luz Emilia!
Luz Emilia, a young orphan, left school early to care for her younger siblings after her parents’ passing. Recognizing her situation and her desire to continue her education, Kaleidoscope Child Foundation renewed her scholarship support. Despite the challenges of balancing schoolwork with raising her younger brother, Luz remains determined to succeed academically, aiming to secure a job that will allow her to support her aging aunt and younger brother.
Meet Rodolfo!
Living in a village near Lake Atitlán, Rodolfo slept on the floor of a tiny hillside dwelling with his mother and siblings. Abandoned by their father, they struggled to survive by doing odd jobs. Despite dental problems and the inability to afford healthcare, Kaleidoscope Child Foundation renewed his scholarship and recognized his determination to improve his family’s future through education. Today, Rodolfo balances work and school while also tutoring younger students—his way of paying it forward after experiencing the life-changing benefits of education.
Meet Alvaro!
Originally, Alvaro didn’t speak any English, had no experience with technology, and had no other opportunity to continue his studies. Today, he is one of our scholarship students and also helps the children in his village with their homework.
Meet Yoselin!
Many families in Guatemala, like Yoselin’s, struggle to survive. Yoselin, the eldest of five, sells food on the street with her mother and helps care for her siblings. After Kaleidoscope Child Foundation sponsored the completion of her high school equivalency coursework, she began assisting in teaching mathematics, English, and reading to ten children in her neighborhood. Yoselin’s story highlights the resilience and determination of Guatemalan families facing hardship.
